The War on Britain's Roads (BBC Documentary / tabloid tv)

I clicked through to that Daily Mail article, and then randomly went to the methamphetamine one. Holy fuck. That is hardcore.

Exactly what I did too. At least I won't be having to spend any money on lunch today gags

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2244242/Id-happily-run-Cyclist-took-controversial-BBC-documentary-inundated-hate-messages-death-threats.html

He was a bit of an arse, but why are people allowed to write things like this but get jailed for writing about a footballer dying or whatever?

On reflection, I think it was a program on road safety that got sexy a title an trailer in order to get people to watch; because road safety is perceived as about as much fun as root canal work, it was sort of needed if not that of an honesty approach. Jus like the modern BBC.

Once you got past the fisty cuffs it became quite watchable.

Maybe gaz will complain to the cops, or maybe he'll keep his head down and lead a life of blameless anonymity.

its an extremely tricky subject (or should be), I agree people shouldnt be allowed to say such things, but at the same time, to start getting at people for writing such things brings around a whole load of problems in terms of freedom of speech. Basically the internet is threatening freedom of speech.

Because of the way I am, I often get parro of my use of words on twitter etc. Thats what its getting to.

The HGV issue needs its own programme.

The rest was pure shite. Bollocks just not worthy of TV. Stuff destined to spend the rest of its life on some shitty bit of You Tube.

The alley cat. Please.......

I shout out ‘you’re trying to get yourself killed mate’ and as i pass him i say ‘mate you trying to WHAT THE FK ITS BORIS JOHNSON HAHA’

Incredible.

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/campaigning/article/cam20121206-British-Cycling-brands-BBC-%25E2%2580%2598War-on-Britain%25E2%2580%2599s-Roads%25E2%2580%2599-documentary-a-%25E2%2580%2598missed-opportunity%25E2%2580%2599-0?dm_i=BM6,12NU1,3ZFSNK,3B9V5,1

Meh, sound like Boris.

I'm more surprised that there weren't any footage of his cockarsely.

I agree with Corny on this, spot on, long term change is gonna be exactly that in this country, funny theres so many people working in active travel now,
the jobs a long term one

Workstand - I agree, I've thought about getting a helmet cam to film mad descents on long rides. I've spent plenty of time watching people get up and down famous hills on Youtube, before having a go at the myself. I probably wouldn't use it to film myself telling someone off for running a red light though, or if a car cut me up. I'd just take my normal approach of making an OTT gesticulation, being a bit annoyed for a minute then forgetting about it and carrying on with my day.

I'd just take my normal approach of making an OTT gesticulation, being a bit annoyed for a minute then forgetting about it and carrying on with my day.

+1

Exactly what I did too. At least I won't be having to spend any money on lunch today gags

In NZ its known as P. It is savage shit and highly additive. I had a friend who got hooked on it. Although he finally kicked it, he was left with so many demons he finally committed suicide. No ones a winner with this shit. In 2009 almost 50% of all High Court cases in Nz were related to it somehow. Nasty nasty nasty

Watched it last night when I got home late, after two near misses on le way. Went out today and brought some more/better lights.

I agree with CB, not as inflammatory as I had imagined, and I didn't even shout at the telly, which is rare.

As a bit of a HiViz nodder myself, who has been on le roads for the better part of 25 years and 99% of the time is road safe and pretty cautious and as a car driver who takes care to give fellow cyclists room, it did make me think that I have been very lucky so far not to have been more seriously injured or involved in some violent altercation. The inclusion of the 'biker mice from mars' stunt team did no one any favors IMO.

Workstand - I agree, I've thought about getting a helmet cam to film mad descents on long rides. I've spent plenty of time watching people get up and down famous hills on Youtube, before having a go at the myself. I probably wouldn't use it to film myself telling someone off for running a red light though, or if a car cut me up. I'd just take my normal approach of making an OTT gesticulation, being a bit annoyed for a minute then forgetting about it and carrying on with my day.

On the rare occasion something happens which involves some sort of response, a shout is pretty much all I do and then get on with my day. From the film of 'bikecam' clips, the viewer would imagine that this is part of the daily routine, which is nonsense.

I don't know if the two main contributors are on the forum, but it would have been good to hear from them, not only as a right to reply of sorts, but to hear if they felt their contribution was presented as they thought or were told it would be.

As regards a camera for myself, I need one which can cope with being flung about on a mountain bike at speeds way in excess of my skills level (simply as it's fun - cycling as a fun thing, now that didn't come across in the programme!) and one with a larger battery pack that can also record for a long period in low light conditions. Dunwich Dynamo 2013 for instance, assuming I can get myself to a decent standard of fitness. The Go Pro 3 Black edition seems to be the leader so far because of the improved low light performance. I'm sure this is better in a different thread, as I'd like to learn more about these cameras before I spend my cash on one.

Given time everything will end up being filmed.

Insurance companies are going towards pervasive monitoring: GPS, speed, cameras, etc.

They're started with the very young (high risk) and the sports cars (high risk due to high speed) but I wouldn't be surprised if in 5 years most motor vehicles don't come with a camera and the guarantee of a lawsuit for any screwing up.

We're just in the very early days of that.

I'm sure you're right. It's saddening that some safety measures are being driven by financial economies and profit improvement; in such cases to find out who is at fault so the relevant company picks up the bill.

I remember seeing on television years ago technology aimed at vehicles that dealt with (some issues of) speeding. A transponder on speed limit signs would alert the vehicle to the speed limit it had entered, and wouldn't allow it to exceed the maximum speed for that zone.

I wonder if this will ever be introduced, and if so, will it be a safety or financially driven introduction?

Given time everything will end up being filmed.

Insurance companies are going towards pervasive monitoring: GPS, speed, cameras, etc.

They're started with the very young (high risk) and the sports cars (high risk due to high speed) but I wouldn't be surprised if in 5 years most motor vehicles don't come with a camera and the guarantee of a lawsuit for any screwing up.

We're just in the very early days of that.

True. Happened recently with me and a taxi that was fitted with GPS.

I remember seeing on television years ago technology aimed at vehicles that dealt with (some issues of) speeding. A transponder on speed limit signs would alert the vehicle to the speed limit it had entered, and wouldn't allow it to exceed the maximum speed for that zone.

I'm pretty sure there are times when going over a speed limit is the safer thing to do, just like there are times when jumping a red light (or using the pavement) is the safer thing to do.

Not that it should be de rigueur, just that there shouldn't be a ban so effective (enforced by technology in the vehicles) that incidents then occur because the vehicle wasn't able to get out of the situation in time.

I can't think of an exception, but there always is one as nothing is truly black and white and the law trails reality by quite a margin.

True. Happened recently with me and a taxi that was fitted with GPS.

Black cabs have been tracked for many years. There was a rape accusation incident well over a decade ago in which a woman claimed to have been raped in a black cab by the driver, and during that investigation the positions of every cab in the area she described were pulled and compared to build the suspect list.

This is where it started to unravel for the lady accusing the driver as the record of black cabs in that area was complete and every one could show their movements, their fares, and it was all verifiable to the GPS records... none of them could've done it.

It eventually turned out that the lady in question had a boyfriend, and had cheated and had sex outside with someone she'd met in a club, then got a black cab home and during the confrontation with the boyfriend she'd claimed that she'd been raped to cover up the fling, which had led to the accusation.

The thing that stood out for me from that was that black cabs were tracked and recorded like nothing else. Not only are their drivers vetted to the highest standards, but the vehicles are constantly monitored.

I remember thinking back then that this was the future, and for private cars a risk to privacy and democracry. It was way more expensive back then to do this too, today it is cheaper than a spare tyre or two.

So, by the same logic, a "dangerous" driver is safer than a "safe" train driver?

Does this keep scaling, so a suicidally reckless aeroplane pilot is still safer than a safe supertanker captain?

no that is not the same logic.

because trains and planes do not use the roads that we ride our bikes on.

my logic is that if i am going to be involved in a crash whilst i am riding my bike.....

i would prefer to hit by a dangerous cyclist rather that a safe driver.

because i think i would have a better chance of survival.

i would have thought every rider would be able to identify easily with this logic.

Ok, dangerous roller blader is safer than a safe cyclist.

and the corollary to my logic is that given we live in a free country where everybody has choice as to how to move around.....

i feel that the decisions of people to use motor powered vehicles rather than walk or cycle is a decision that is leading to danger in our community and is becoming unacceptable.

and i thought the programme is helping to identify this situation.

In that case surely whenever you choose to cycle rather than walk you are actively increasing the danger to the local community, and you should stop it?

and i do appreciate that many who use motor powered vehicles feel trapped into driving.

and i do have some sympathy for this position.

and that is why it is government that must make all our community a lot safer = 20 mph please.

In that case surely whenever you choose to cycle rather than walk you are actively increasing the danger to the local community, and you should stop it?

i think cycling is a reasonable compromise between health and safety.

and a reasonable compromise between safety and our desire to move around.