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Interesting YouTube GCN interview with Mikey. Didn't know he rode an electric bike.
Didn’t know he rode an electric bike.
Standard dedicated cyclist behaviour. Bike replaced car, these are not those weekender mtber types 😉
I personally think the law is overly strict. In the vid the hero was berating a driver about using their maps app, which he said was not allowed, even in traffic light queues
Maps are relatively new addition to driving, and being able to update info while sitting at the lights should be possible
You might've sparked more of a discussion if you'd provided a link to whatever it is you're wanting to talk about. "Man rides bike" with no further content is hardly a conversation starter on a cycling forum.
In the vid the hero was berating a driver about using their maps app, which he said was not allowed, even in traffic light queues
I've not yet watched the video, but he'd be correct. It's illegal to be poking at your phone even whilst stationary. 6 points now IIRC.
Maps are relatively new addition to driving, and being able to update info while sitting at the lights should be possible
You can do this through Android Auto (and I assume the iPhone equivalent). It disables some functionality if it detects motion.
There's a guy in Germany who took it upon himself to visit every town in his area/state and document every parking infringement or any other injustice he saw.
He ended up hospitalised after being recognised by a group of ultras on a train.
Mikey used to be an in-line skater and instructor and did ride a standard bike some years ago. There is history as he lost his dad to someone's poor driving so you can see where he is coming from. Personally I think he goes too far.
Moting law enforcement is far to lenient. Handreds killed by bad driving every year.
Should he really be cycling up the centre of the roads/on the opposite side when there is oncoming vehicles? (e.g. at 5:23).
Just watched it. I think it's a pretty fair discussion on the video.
He walks a line. If a copper was doing what he did, no one should have a problem, but they don't have the resources. He came over much better in the video than I expected him to.
Not always convinced by his road positioning, but mines not perfect either.
I’ve met him on my commute. Very nice man when I chatted with him. I’ve also seen him roller skate in Hyde park.
The algorithm offered me that video earlier. Honestly can't imagine I'd enjoy it...
I have enjoyed his Gandalf videos. My fave was the doctor who showed massive entitlement and wasted loads of her time. Funny as anything
Watched it over breakfast. I don't usually like motorist/cyclist confrontation videos. They are often one idiot meets another idiot. This video was great though. Nice balance, interesting story and Mikey seems like one of the good guys.
More vigilantism for YouTube earnings. Just what the world needs. Just because he supports cyclists doesn't make him any more palatable than any other YouTube vigilante
More vigilantism for YouTube earnings. Just what the world needs. Just because he supports cyclists doesn’t make him any more palatable than any other YouTube vigilante
Nice of you to pop up and demonstrate that you don't know what 'vigilante' means
I’ve not yet watched the video, but he’d be correct. It’s illegal to be poking at your phone even whilst stationary. 6 points now IIRC.
I thought the rules depended on where the phone was, ie hands versus phone mount, with hands being the worst of the two.
noun
noun: vigilante; plural noun: vigilantes
a member of a self-appointed group of citizens who undertake law enforcement in their community without legal authority, typically because the legal agencies are thought to be inadequate.
Sounds pretty accurate to me
It’s illegal to be poking at your phone even whilst stationary. 6 points now IIRC.
Meanwhile modern cars, particularly electric ones, have dashboards that are basically huge phone screens, that even if disabled when moving, can still be played with at traffic lights etc
More vigilantism for YouTube earnings. Just what the world needs. Just because he supports cyclists doesn’t make him any more palatable than any other YouTube vigilante
As pointed out, the Police do the law enforcement, as they have the legal authority - I assume you are equally opposed to Crimestoppers?
But having watched the film, how do you think he handled the criticism that he was a vigilante from the sceptical GCN reporter?
I actually really enjoy the 'update' videos he does, or the text after each video, demonstrating that a crime has been recognised and punishment given (points, fines etc).
I find it SOOOOO enfuriating to see drivers dipping eyes down into the lap, or holding a phone up on speaker, and driving/shiftin/signals with just one hand, or testing with the phone blocking a quarter of their field of view...
I get some poepl may argue "i'm sat still in traffic"... BUT..... these are the same people who STILL keep messaging/texting/not looking when pulling away.
I'm REALLY considering a go pro or insta260 cam to stick on my car or helmet when I commute..!
DrP
Meanwhile modern cars, particularly electric ones, have dashboards that are basically huge phone screens, that even if disabled when moving, can still be played with at traffic lights etc
The law does not prevent you from operating a cradle mounted phone. The video shows a driver operating her phone in her hand (not cradle) whilst in a queue of traffic, she tried to justify it by claiming it was a maps app.
However whether phone or inbuilt system you can still be prosecuted if operating it affects the manner of your driving.
Fair play to him, getting a little fed up with some drivers close passing and generally taking the p*ss, averages around 2 per ride and I live in a relatively rural area. I've joined the band of camera wielding survivalists, I don't bother with the majority of incidents, I'd just spend all my time filling in forms and uploading footage. However, on Friday, I was chased up the road, brake checked, threatened, had stuff chucked at me and almost forced into the gutter by an 'enraged motorist'.
My 'crime' was to be in the wrong position (in his eyes) although when I checked the footage back i couldn't see the problem, but there are plenty of infringements by him in his desperation to give me a piece of his mind, lets hope the boys in blue have a word.
The law does not prevent you from operating a cradle mounted phone. The video shows a driver operating her phone in her hand (not cradle) whilst in a queue of traffic, she tried to justify it by claiming it was a maps app.
Also, car screen systems are limited in what you can do. I CAN'T:
- youtube
- insta
- message with text
- take photos
- film my drive
All this can be, and is, done with a phone in hand.
I guess the same could be said for a phone in a cradle too, which I appreciate is a grey area until it isn't. but the law is clear - phone in hand = illegal.
Also, I have a strong feeling that those operating a phone in a cradle are more likely to be using it for maps and music, because the other factors are limited, especially camera use.
DrP
If a copper was doing what he did, no one should have a problem, but they don’t have the resources.
Its interesting - if the police (or a police traffic warden, remember them?) did it, plenty of people would still object. War on motorists / haven't you got real criminals to catch etc. The resources argument should be easily soluble - we all know that there's enough mobile phone use in built up areas that at £200 a pop you would very easily cover the costs of enforcement. Currently the proceeds of fines from mobile phone offences does not go back to the police. I'm torn on that - police should not only be pursuing offences because it makes money, but clearly it makes no sense to ignore if resource is the issue.
CyclingMikey (and his ilk) don't sit quite right with me. He stopped his bike and took time out of his trip to go back and talk to the van driver. Whilst he was civil and she was calm too - everytime he actually interacts with a driver like that he slightly increases the "bloody cyclists" factor amongst drivers. Everytime its posted on line it does the same. There is actually no need for him to post on youtube at all. Even if we assume that achieves a wider education message, the videos do better in the algorithms if there's some controversy about them. I know the angry drivers will always be angry drivers etc - but I don't want to wind them up.
I actually really enjoy the ‘update’ videos he does, or the text after each video, demonstrating that a crime has been recognised and punishment given (points, fines etc).
I find it SOOOOO enfuriating to see drivers dipping eyes down into the lap, or holding a phone up on speaker, and driving/shiftin/signals with just one hand, or testing with the phone blocking a quarter of their field of view…
I get some poepl may argue “i’m sat still in traffic”… BUT….. these are the same people who STILL keep messaging/texting/not looking when pulling away.
I’m REALLY considering a go pro or insta260 cam to stick on my car or helmet when I commute..!
There's two good reasons not to be using your phone in stationary traffic:
1) It'll not be stationary in a moment and a lot of people will just carry on. Just make it clear that they should not be on their phone at all.
2) The light will go green, and you'll put the phone down and set off. But won't have been keeping half an eye on traffic and seen the cyclists filtering up behind into your blind spot, the mother and pushchair that just disappeared off the pavement between two parked car and is about to re-appear in front of you, the scaffolder stepping backwards on the pavement to catch a pole, the school bus that's just stopped opposite, etc etc. All that information get's missed because they're distracted and at the inquest they'll say "but they came out of nowhere".
Having nearly been run over at a crossing by a driver in stationary traffic, more interested in their phone than their surroundings, who then decided to put their foot down at the sight of the car moving in front within their peripheral vision, I would concur it is not safe to use your phone in stationary traffic.
You can use voice activation for maps while keeping your eyes on the road.
*please don't think for one second I don't abhor mobile phone use in stationary traffic... It's soo dangerous and an indicator of, basically, not giving a shite about your surroundings..
I was just pointing out that "it's just still traffic" is a common (but false) argument excusing their actions..
xxx
DrP
CyclingMikey (and his ilk) don’t sit quite right with me.
I've not seen him for a long time but there used to be a character who rode around London with about 8 or 10 cameras very obviously mounted all over him and his bike. Had about 6 rear lights, 4 front, a bell, an Airzound. The whole works. He went by the name Traffic Droid on YouTube.
He had a basket on the front filled with red cards which he'd hand out to motorists for any infringements. Not seen or heard of the guy for years though. We met him once, quite by chance - group ride coming back into London along the Embankment superhighway route and there in the middle of the lane was Traffic Droid.
As you say, it seemed to be deliberately confrontational, looking for angst. I mean, I have nothing at all against reporting bad driving, I just think that it's possible to do that on the quiet, without getting involved in any confrontations. Maybe it's just me - I'm very much someone who'd avoid conflict at all costs.
The light will go green, ....they’ll say “but they came out of nowhere”.
Saw a classic a while back. Light went green, car set off, suddenly realised that an old lady was crossing, had only managed to get half way across and was stood right in front of him. Luckily he slammed on the brakes just in time. She was literally right in front of him went the lights went green but he set off anyway
I get it alarmingly regularly on my commute. There's a DC T-junction with pedestrian crossings but no yellow box so if traffic is bad it can get stuck in the junction between the lights. They'll then sit there, on their phones oblivious to what's going on. I've had vans almost drive into me halfway across the crossing because they've looked up from their phone and seen an empty car length of road to drive into ?.
Crazy legs. Look at sone of his Gandalf vids. Stopping car drivers driving on the wrong side of the road at a junction where cyclist are both numerous and vulnerable.
All it takes for evil to flourish is for good folk to do nothing
He has had many hundreds of drivers prosecuted. I think that a good thing
If a copper was doing what he did, no one should have a problem
Traffic Wardens being traditionally the most beloved of all public servants after all.
It was an interesting video and he did seem a bit more reasonable than I expected when I watched the video. It's almost always people on their phones that are the most dangerous when road cycling. So I'm generally behind what he's doing although it feels all a bit OTT to me. I do worry if it increases the antagonism towards cyclists.
I wonder if he videos cyclists riding through red lights? I presume not.
I wonder if he videos cyclists riding through red lights? I presume not.
He might do if that activity killed hundreds of people a year (not that I condone red light jumping.)
I commute regularly in London. It’s not hard to find drivers on the phone and plenty more besides.
I think the problem is it starts a conversation. You are in WhatsApp group chat and you post something while stationery.
A reply pings in whilst you are moving, a few minutes later and you feel compelled to read it.
If you hadn't sent the original message, a reply would not be necessary
I think the problem is it starts a conversation. You are in WhatsApp group chat and you post something while stationery.
A reply pings in whilst you are moving, a few minutes later and you feel compelled to read it.
If you hadn’t sent the original message, a reply would not be necessary
When I used to drive a lot for work I'd actually post to the chat that I was driving for the next 5 hours and would catch up when I arrived, phone [my boss] if it's urgent.
Avoids getting a whole stream of progressively more irate messages and I believe it did actually influence others to stop taking calls / check messages while driving rather than just pay lip service to the usual "don't do it" on the induction pack.