The war on Britains roads, 5th Dec BBC

msmancunia

All public comments on all programmes go on a log on the Beeb intranet asap after the programme, verbatim. I'll have a look and see how many complaints we get.

Koncordski

msmancunia wrote:

All public comments on all programmes go on a log on the Beeb intranet asap after the programme, verbatim. I'll have a look and see how many complaints we get.

I won't be watching, it's a pointless program with no clearly defined aim. There is simply no 'war' on the roads, most cyclists are also drivers anyway. It will appeal to the average daily mail reader by confirming their suspicion of lycra louts and it will scare new cyclists away from trying a perfectly safe activity for no good reason. I think there is a slimmed down role for the BBC as a national broadcaster (and a reduced licence fee) but when they buy cheaply commissioned shite like this with our money it makes it easier to not care about what happens to them.

anti_podean

I'm expecting it to be BBC's attempt to replicate The Great Global Warming Swindle's tabloid, fact-light sensationalism. I'll be watching it, though I've already watched Brunelle's Line Of Sight, in which the controversial UK Alleycat footage was used.

anonymousblackfg

This is starting to look like a BBC backed dig at the Times for them running a cycling initiative.

I am not sure having a licence plate is that bad an idea, the police seem to ignor them to enforce traffic offences so why would it be that different for cyclists?

notsoblue

anonymousblackfg wrote:

This is starting to look like a BBC backed dig at the Times for them running a cycling initiative.

I am not sure having a licence plate is that bad an idea, the police seem to ignor them to enforce traffic offences so why would it be that different for cyclists?

I can just imagine how ludicrous it would be to obtain and affix a "bike license plate" to a 12 year old's bike.

bompington

anonymousblackfg wrote:

This is starting to look like a BBC backed dig at the Times for them running a cycling initiative.

I am not sure having a licence plate is that bad an idea, the police seem to ignor them to enforce traffic offences so why would it be that different for cyclists?

Bike licence plates been debated a few times round here. For starters, I am not going to be happy to spend the time and money necessary to get them on all my bikes, not to mention my kids' bikes - and what exactly are the police going to do when a CCTV catches Bompette riding on the pavement on her way to primary school?

notsoblue

Anti_Podean wrote:

I'm expecting it to be BBC's attempt to replicate The Great Global Warming Swindle's tabloid, fact-light sensationalism. I'll be watching it, though I've already watched Brunelle's Line Of Sight, in which the controversial UK Alleycat footage was used.

I'm not going to lie, I love Lucas Brunelle's work.

Cycloslalomeur

bompington wrote:

anonymousblackfg wrote:

This is starting to look like a BBC backed dig at the Times for them running a cycling initiative.

I am not sure having a licence plate is that bad an idea, the police seem to ignor them to enforce traffic offences so why would it be that different for cyclists?

Bike licence plates been debated a few times round here. For starters, I am not going to be happy to spend the time and money necessary to get them on all my bikes, not to mention my kids' bikes - and what exactly are the police going to do when a CCTV catches Bompette riding on the pavement on her way to primary school?

Flanders (or maybe Wallonia as well but I've never seen a French-language plate) used to have a bicycle registration scheme complete with licence plates and, yes, vehicle excise duty. It was abolished quite some time ago, probably for being more trouble than it was worth, but I often see bicycles whose owners never bothered to remove the plate from their machine.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/52 ... 10er9.jpg/

iPete

fortunately I'll be down the pub tonight, can't be dealing with such cringe worthy, sensationalist, stereotyping tv.


but looking forward to alley catting across london, blind drink on the fixie chasing the last train

gtvlusso

iPete wrote:

fortunately I'll be down the pub tonight, can't be dealing with such cringe worthy, sensationalist, stereotyping tv.


but looking forward to alley catting across london, blind drink on the fixie chasing the last train

Good man!

If I watch it at all, it will be on iplayer later on - after a bottle of **Merlot

**For Merlot: insert; Super strength lager in the park shouting at Pigeons with Mudcow.

SteppenHerring

iPete wrote:

fortunately I'll be down the pub tonight, can't be dealing with such cringe worthy, sensationalist, stereotyping tv.


but looking forward to alley catting across london, blind drink on the fixie chasing the last train

Club AGM tonight. Could actually be more soothing/entertaining than this programme by the sound of things.

itboffin

gtvlusso wrote:

iPete wrote:

fortunately I'll be down the pub tonight, can't be dealing with such cringe worthy, sensationalist, stereotyping tv.


but looking forward to alley catting across london, blind drink on the fixie chasing the last train

Good man!

If I watch it at all, it will be on iplayer later on - after a bottle of **Merlot

**For Merlot: insert; Super strength lager in the park shouting at Pigeons with Mudcow.

You missed out shaking fist held to the sky with the other hand rummaging "up front"

You're welcome

anti_podean

notsoblue wrote:

I'm not going to lie, I love Lucas Brunelle's work.

Can't disagree with you. I'd rather not think about or know how it's made, but enjoy the final product.

Like sausages.

veronese68

I'll be here. Might watch it on iplayer, but it will probably just annoy me.

nich

a painful start with all those crashes

Fireblade96

Argh !
Who is that nob ?

I don't think I'll watch that for long...

ojo

Hmmm, not too sure what to make of some of these cyclists...

London looks fun to cycle in, though!

HasselHough

You tube vigilante :-) traffic droid. Bless him :-)

DanDax1990

Lorry on the roundabout was scary!

bigpikle

doesnt seem to be doing anyone any good really does it

just feel for the mother of the poor girl killed by that cement mixer...

DanDax1990

Yeah that is gutting, And police do nothing.

Glad I don't live in London, 90% of the people on here look like idiots, cyclists and drivers.

bpsdesign

While it's good they were showing stories from both sides of it, I still don't understand what they were hoping to achieve with this programme. They seemed to be demonising people from both sides of the story without showing even remotely any kind of solution to the issue at all. And the fact that they showed that courier footage as common place is a disgrace.
If anything they've helped make the roads seem even more unsafe and may drive people away from cycling.

TheStone

Expected worse.

I thought it was very pro cyclists.

Mikey41

Yeah, I wasn't sure what to expect from it. It was pretty hard-hitting, but I felt it was actually very balanced and showed just how vulnerable cyclists can be.

TheEnglishman

It wasn't nearly as sensationalist as I thought it would be. I'll ride a bit slower and take a few fewer chances for a few days/weeks.

Then I'll revert back to what I am. A bit of a risk taker. I don't really think you can change human nature. With a million people about there's always going to be a full spectrum of reactions/accidents.

Well done to the lady whose daughter was killed though. She turned a huge negative into something of a positive. My hat comes off to her. Brave lady! I wish someone had helmet cammed her speech at the shareholders meeting 8) - that would have been a speech to rival Earl Spencer's, I'm sure!

bigmat

I fear someone will end up buying me a whistle for Christmas... :roll:

mattsaw

TheStone wrote:

Expected worse.

I thought it was very pro cyclists.

You think?

Overall I don't think it was particularly great PR.

A couple of major incidents that weren't explained very well, but mostly focusing on a lot of cyclists coming across a whiny, provocative vigilanties.

Using the allycat footage was just ridiculous. :?

walkingbootweather

Not as bad as I feared. Apart from the ridiculous footage of courier racing it was reasonably sympathetic towards the cyclist. Not sure why anyone expected the programme to offer solutions though. Car crash TV isonly designed to attract ratings>

pete54

Utter c**p. Was this BBC1 or had someone re-tuned my telly to Channel 5?

mattsaw

A quick check of social media and other forums finds people on my Facebook stream moaning about cyclists not paying toad tax, and elsewhere a discussion about how cyclists should be next to the kerb.

:sigh: