Forum Topic

MailOnline Today - “Pedal Protest”

“Pedal Protest? Bizarre moment a cyclist groans and ‘falls’ onto the back of a mini cab after it stopped in a London bike lane”. The incident took place on Upper Richmond Rd and I think it could be near Dover House Rd.  Who is in the wrong the cyclist or the minicab driver?

Martine Guy ● 1370d15 Comments

Twit or twat do apply!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1369d

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-2502253/Video-Scammer-cyclist-fakes-crash-flees-spots-dashcam.htmlDon't you think it was a protest of the lane being blocked?

Philippa Bond ● 1369d

Or an "a" instead of an "i". :)

Michael Winstanley ● 1369d

Thank you Michael W.I think I would use your latter comment without the "a bit of".....

Ivonne Holliday ● 1369d

Yes Yvonne, PHV not PSV. Sorry for the typo. Whether or not the car was legally stopped, cars do stop - for example they break down. cycling into the back of a parked car in broad daylight is the action of someone not looking where they are going or of someone who is a bit of a twit.

Michael Winstanley ● 1370d

Yvonne yes so the report says.Looks like a case of the cyclist not knowing the highway code Imo.I've seen some cyclists shout at drivers that have parked perfectly legally, but because the cyclist see a broken cycle lane line they think it is illegal.

Ed Robinson ● 1370d

Yes, but it was a mini cab.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1370d

The cycle lane is a broken white line so different rules apply to solid lines. 4.43pm on September 4 was a Saturday so the red route would be in operation - so assuming he was a private hire or taxi then he should have been permitted to stop."140Cycle lanes. These are shown by road markings and signs. You MUST NOT drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation. Do not drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a broken white line unless it is unavoidable. You MUST NOT park in any cycle lane whilst waiting restrictions apply.Law RTRA sects 5 & 8"https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/multi-lane-carriageways.html

Ed Robinson ● 1370d

I do not wear a helmet but a wide brim hat for sun protection. Although I do tend to cycle in an upright position.I believe MoS Peter Hitches also refuses to wear a helmet. To infer a link between head wear and cycling care is incorrect in my opinion.

Ed Robinson ● 1370d

Not seen the video but sounds like an insurance scam to me.Throw yourself in front of a (slow moving usually) vehicle and then let the motorist prove it wasn't their fault.

Freddie Francis ● 1370d

Hi Michael W,I am not too sure about a PSV license, but the article states:"But minicabs can be offered red route exemption stickers, meaning they can pick up and drop off passengers on most red routes as long as they display their PHV licence."While I agree we should not park on cycle lanes, this mini cab had a passenger on the back seat and was waiting for a chance to pull out.  Was he indicating?  Who knows.But I do not think the cyclist's behaviour is one to congratulate.  If the other three cyclists were able to overtake, why could he not?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1370d

I've fallen into no trap. I cycle regularly myself and it is my opinion that to so on a London main road shows a reckless disregard for one's own physical well-being. I am fully aware that there is no legal requirement to wear one. Like smoking 100 a day, walking round at midday on a hot day without sun protection, drinking a pint of whiskey a day, skiing without a helmet, rock-climbing without a safety rope - all these things are both perfectly legal and damn stupid.In the "quiz" which Martine set, it gives us a little extra information about the cyclist. A person who doesn't bother to wear a helmet is less likely, other things being equal, to be looking carefully where he is going. It is not conclusive evidence, but it shifts the balance of probabilities.

Michael Winstanley ● 1370d

Please dont fall into the trap of describing someone cycling without a helmet as "reckless"....there is no legal requirement to wear one any more than there is for pedestrians or motorists.

Tim Lorimer ● 1370d

It is not clear whether the motorist is in the wrong as the article does not state whether the car had a PSV license on display and a red route exemption sticker.Equally, it is not clear from the video whether the cyclist's action was accidental or deliberate. He appears at the very least to be a somewhat reckless cyclist though in that he was cycling along URR without a helmet.But why is this incident of any interest to anyone - let alone a national newspaper?

Michael Winstanley ● 1370d

Sorry I should have put it happened in Putney, in the topic title.

Martine Guy ● 1370d