Police spotting (junction watch)

To misinterpret the Freedom of Information request doesn't really have much bearing on what Boris said.

Yes it does, in context Boris was responding to the recent fatalities. He could have mentioned anything- speeding, drivers on mobiles, blue stupid paint, anything. He's a canny politician so he lobs a hand grenade into the debate and waffles on about earphones. He hysterically inflated the danger and the obvious implication was that cyclists were at fault. It turns out he had no sensible reasons to make the claim, but the damage is done, most people went away with the impression that cyclists are foolhardy and reckless. At best, that's unhelpful.