- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
news
Jeremy Vine Sainsburys truck tweet.PNGSainsbury's truck cyclist warning increases "fear of cycling"
Signs on the back of Sainsbury's supermarket chain trucks have been accused of "increasing general fear of cycling" by Radio Two DJ and daily London cyclist, Jeremy Vine, as well as a number of other Twitter users.
The words "Alert today... alive tomorrow" found their way into a number of critical tweets on Thursday following Mr Vine's original tweet which offered his own take on the meaning of the phrase.
He wrote: "Translation, 'If I kill you it's not my fault.'"
Translation, "If I kill you it's not my fault." Great way of increasing general fear of cycling @sainsburys pic.twitter.com/AZOMUOIEVm
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) June 9, 2016
The signs, which have been in use on Sainsbury's trucks since 2014, bear a striking resemblance to the much maligned 2014 Transport for London "cyclists stay back" stickers which the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) called offensive.
Those signs were successfully repealed, and replaced by a non-cycling specific sticker warning other road users of the dangers of truck blind spots following widespread and vocal criticism from cyclists all over the country.
At the time a spokesman for the LCC said "The ‘Stay Back’ message is seen as a prohibition and has been interpreted by drivers as telling cyclists to get out of their way, with the implication that if a collision occurs then it's the cyclist's fault for not having done so."
While the Sainsbury's sign isn't quite as directive, according to Mr Vine there remains a "suggestion that cyclists are unsafe only because of their own bad habits."
Mr Vine offered up that line in the midst of an 'apology tweet' to Sainsbury's for criticising their message to cyclists.
His full apology read:
"Every morning I cycle into work in London in a law-abiding way.
"I am safety-obsessed: mirrors, cameras, a helmet, bright lights even in summer. Every morning, without exception, some arrogant klutz in a vehicle endangers my safety or my life.
"Buses had signs saying CYCLISTS STAY BACK - when bus drivers constantly overtake cyclists and then immediately pull in, which is a mirror image of the very manoeuvre they tell cyclists not to do.
"So Sainsburys - sorry I reacted badly to your warning sign. It's just that I am
- sick of the danger, and
- sick of the suggestion that cyclists are unsafe only because of their own bad habits."
Mr Vine wasn't alone in his views on the matter. Road safety campaigner at Cycling UK, Duncan Dollimore, told iNews that "warning cyclists that they might be in or approaching a lorry driver’s blind spot is sensible, but it should be only a single part of a safe systems approach by any responsible company using large vehicles.
“Sainsbury’s message of ‘Alert today, alive tomorrow’ is just as applicable to their drivers’ behaviour around cyclists and walkers, and in this context it is unnecessary and tantamount to victim blaming.”
Meanwhile a Sainsbury's spokesperson said: "We launched this lorry two years ago with the sole purpose of keeping road users safe. We’ve been leading on this issue and have had positive feedback from the cycling community on our efforts."
We have our own opinions on the matter that can be most effectively summed up in our own stickers which you can buy here:
- Buy: road.cc Cyclists Stay Awesome stickers
Latest Comments
- Hirsute 1 hour 31 min ago
Was it actually a kmc chain or simply one passed off as kmc?
- Slartibartfast 2 hours 11 min ago
You're right. I'm oversimplifying it. Can you tell me a better way to describe behaviour whereby you are prejudiced against people or things from a...
- JLasTSR 2 hours 16 min ago
Living in Suffolk anything not flat is a serious hill! ...
- open_roads 2 hours 47 min ago
Mason bikes are absolutely stunning. I'd have one in a heartbeat if it wasn't for the geometry - the stack heights are just too low for long...
- Rendel Harris 3 hours 21 sec ago
How has cycling been killed when it's more popular now both as a leisure pursuit and means of commuting than it has been at any point in my...
- Another_MAMIL 3 hours 20 min ago
Why re-publish this review in October 2024 without updating it? For example, the Assos gloves mentioned in the article were superseded by the brand...
- Oldfatgit 5 hours 28 min ago
Another contender for Cycliq's crown fails to meet the grade. I'm only glad I hadn't parted with 300 quid to find out. Thanks Steve.
- hawkinspeter 5 hours 26 min ago
I saw those signs and briefly wondered whether they should be vandalised. Good luck getting high speed traffic along there that's not a bike....
- manmikey 5 hours 58 min ago
Would you mind confirming if the Canondale RDU works with a Garmin Varia radar?...
Add new comment
79 comments
We say “Don’t pass large vehicles on the nearside! It’s dangerous!”—
[bikeability-nearside]
—and then we paint lanes that put cyclists up the nearsides of large vehicles.
===================================================================
.... and install traction beams that magically haul cyclists up the inside of long vehicles against their will .....
Not on any cycle lane that I have ridden on.
What a stupid article and don't get me started on bikeunability ...
The only drawback of cycle lanes that I can see is that it encourages some people to lose all awareness of what is outside of the lane and ride like headless chickens. There is one and only one benefit of a cycle lane: vehicles are not allowed in it.
Apart from that, ride in them exactly as you would if the lane was not there and NEVER EVER ride up the inside of a large vehicle where there is potential for it to turn left. It is inexcusable.
So where did you obtain all the training that you've boasted about?
The majority of cycle lanes are not mandatory, and even where they are drivers still drive in them.
I can't help but think that one line is Willo finally giving away the fact he doesn't actually ride a bicycle on the roads. What cyclist has ever thought that all (or even most) cycle lanes don't allow vehicles in them?
Brilliant - that's the one. Thanks for the link.
Correct translation: 'If you kill yourself it's not my fault.'"
Riding up the inside of a large vehicle is suicidal. Anything that helps to get that lifesaving message across is welcomed by me. Well done, Sainsburys.
What about when the large vehicle puts you in its inside, or puts you in its blind spot? If I'm waiting in an ASL and a HGV pulls up behind me then I am placed in his blind spot and there is nothing that I can do about it.
Or would their Willoness prefer that I dismount, doff my cap as the HGV pulls away, then continue safely on my journey?
A left turning one? If there is no way out, dismount asap and get on the pavement. It will add a few seconds to your journey time but no harm done. Next time, make sure you are in primary at junctions to prevent left turning vehicles pulling alongside you.
The driver stopped. I am pretty sure he saw you before stopping, if you were already in the ASL? You were there first, right?
Filtering is not compulsory. You can turn off the cycle lane traction beam by using your brakes as the videographer clearly demonstrates.
http://youtu.be/leW8Mx1GciE
You know, sometimes lorry drivers forget what's in front of them in their impatience to complete those essential journeys. And sometimes they just can't be arsed, because they know their vehicle's size makes them safe.
You know, sometimes lorry drivers forget what's in front of them in their impatience to complete those essential journeys. And sometimes they just can't be arsed, because they know their vehicle's size makes them safe.
I saw one of these signs on a Sainsburys truck the other day, and thought it seems a bit HUGE. The little yellow stickers were bad enough, but these are ridiculous.
The truck in question was passing me on the approach to some traffic lights, so I didn't see the sign on the back until it had passed me...l
(I hadn't even noticed the "stay alert...!" bit)
The truck in question is not articulated, I think.
I think a big problem is that, in the approach to junctions, cycle lanes leading to Advanced Stop Lines are painted on the left of the road, and cyclists encouraged to use them.
The columnist Bez has already covered this in an article which I can't find right now, but the issue can be summed up as:
"Cyclists should use the cycle lane!" "Cyclists shouldn't pass large vehicles on the left!"
There's a contradiction there.
What contradiction? Is a cycle lane a magic carpet that once you have joined it you are not allowed to use the brakes?
No it isn't, but lots of new cyclists think they have to use the cycle lane so if they see one they use it. And think it must be OK because otherwise why would it have been put there?
Also worth remembering that as originally designed, the only legal way to enter the bike box is via the filter lane. That lead to the interesting position of the Police occasionally making public remarks which (inadvertently) endorsed cyclists breaking the law for their safety, by passing on the outside of traffic to reach the bike box.
You might even call that a contradiction.
Still not sure whether it's now finally legal, the details are somewhere in this years TSRGD revision.
I think you're refering to this article:
http://beyondthekerb.org.uk/2014/09/22/cut-the-crap/
Which if a certain member who quoted you out of context would bother to read will see what the contradiction is.
My problem with that is that statement is that I generally don't pass large vehicles on the left unless the traffic is stationary or very slow. Everytime I've had a near miss with a vehicle, large or small, turning left into/across me, is when they have passed me.
Really, the subtext here is that it would be better if you lot were just not on the roads.
we'll sit at home then that should solve the problem. Doh !
Bicycles were around before the automobile, in my mind we cyclists should have priority as the statement in the HW code give way to pedestrians at all times.
Pages