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news
"That's a human being" - Chris Boardman slams Sainsbury's response to close pass video
Supermarket operator Sainsbury’s has come under heavy criticism on social media after it tweeted a response to a video showing one of its delivery lorries making an extremely close pass on a cyclist in which it said the driver had done nothing wrong since he had remained in his own lane.
The footage, taken in London on a camera mounted on the bike’s handlebars, shows the rider entering a non-mandatory cycle lane. As the cyclist reaches a pinch point created by a traffic island, the driver of the Sainsbury’s lorry overtakes, leaving inches to spare.
The video was originally uploaded to YouTube on 29 March by user CBL. It gained wider attention yesterday when a link to it was tweeted from the account @HackneyCyclist and caught the eye of Chris Boardman.
I don't normally retweet this stuff but watch the video and then I'll show you @sainsburys response. https://t.co/yM5NTYTdbv
— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) April 5, 2017
The British Cycling policy advisor, whose mother Carol was killed last year when she was hit by a pick-up truck while riding through a roundabout, then tweeted his reaction to Sainsbury’s initial response on Twitter.
THATS A HUMAN BEING @sainsburys how about if it was one of your kids, would you feel the same? https://t.co/miZWZ3rUHj
— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) April 5, 2017
Besides condemning the driver’s actions, Twitter users replying to Boardman’s tweet described Sainsbury’s response as “disgraceful” and “shameful.” Sainsbury’s has this morning said that the issue is being investigated.
@GlasgowCT Sorry to those who felt this issue wasn't being taken seriously. Safety is taken seriously and we’re investigating. Ryan
— Sainsbury's (@sainsburys) April 6, 2017
Discussion of the incident on Twitter also focused on the inadequacy of the cycling infrastructure, with this tweet from James Hayden reflecting a view shared by many.
@Chris_Boardman @sainsburys These cycles lanes are worse than none. Encourage and validate close passing. There use must be stopped. I just ride on the dotted line.
— James Hayden (@JamesMarkHayden) April 5, 2017
In 2015, Boardman teamed up with cycling journalist and author Carlton Reid and driving instructor Blaine Walsh for a video showing motorists how to pass cyclists safety, in line with instructions given in the Highway Code.
> Video: Chris Boardman demonstrating safe overtaking of cyclists
The previous year, at an event attended by then Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Sainsbury’s unveiled a new lorry to deliver to its outlets in London that it said incorporated features to improve cyclist safety.
> Sainsbury's unveils safer lorry as Boris Johnson launches consultation
But in June last year, BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine, who commutes by bike in London, said that large signs on the back of Sainsbury’s lorries warning cyclists not to pass the vehicle on the inside were responsible for “increasing general fear of cycling."
> Sainsbury's truck cyclist warning increases "fear of cycling"
It won’t have gone unnoticed that in this case, it was the actions of the driver, not the cyclist, that led to the rider being put in danger.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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51 comments
What a crock of shit. If Mr Sainsbury gets wind of this then he immediately rolls out a memo to all of the drivers to sort out their behaviour or get a new job. Done. What a ridiculous notion that you can't expect your employees not to buzz cyclists unless you're sitting in the cab with them.
If they've got a great big "Sainsbury's" marked on the side of the truck, then you most certainly can complain to them about one of their drivers. They don't have to do much policing - just sack drivers that get complaints from the public. If they use a sub-contractor, then just make it perfectly clear that they'll use a different sub-contractor if they're going to sully the brand.
Also, I think you'll find that they have a small fleet of lawyers ready to pounce on anyone violating their brand/trademark, so even if they can't do 24 hour a day monitoring, they can certainly hang someone out to dry when they've been caught on video.
But you can judge higher management on how they are now acting. They could for example have said what you have above - though perhaps without the excusatory tone
- and then made it clear what steps they have previously taken and will now take to prevent similar events in the future.
If nothing else, I think any "marketing guy" should appreciate the significance of Chris Boardman passing comment and drawing attention to your employer's brand like this, and pass the issue along to higher ups.
So the impression people are left with is that overall, Sainsburys doesn't actually care that much, because at best it has fairly rubbish systems in place to deal with reports of bad driving by drivers of lorries carrying its logo.
Edit: and as others have said, rubbish infrastructure again plays a huge role in this, but still no excuse for the driver.
I'd happily accept their cashiers calling me any names if their vans would stop close passing me. It may just be time to start shopping elsewhere.
[shudders]
Whoever installed that pathetic cycle lane also has a case to answer.
Cygnus,
The problem with adopting primary is you could argue that if the lorry was coming up behind at a speed relatively quicker than yours, you would be obliged to check the lane you're moving into. A shoulder check could make you move out slightly (further endangering you) and would result in deciding it wasn't safe. What do you do then? Stay where you are with the same outcome or pull in on the left? I don't fancy having to pull in every time there's a traffic island.
One option is to ignore the cycle lane, but we all know we then put our lives at risk with a punishment pass.
One last thing, I wouldn't particularly hammer Sainsbury's, this is one bad driver and one ill informed person sitting monitoring social media...
There is only one lane there, so no need to move if you're already taking the lane by not riding in the gutter to begin with.
Nope, they employ both and are responsible for their actions, hammer away, it's the only way to change this dangerous culture.
Perhaps a little easier for me , since as a recumbent rider I have to use a (glasses-mounted) mirror for a decent view of the road behind. But if you plan ahead enough taking the lane isn't an issue, and funnily enough drivers generally seem not to get arsy (tho there's the occasional dick that insists on a late overtake).
But occasionally I forget to adopt primary, usually when there's not much traffic around, and still get some muppet overtaking through pinch points.
Agree - it might not always be safe to transition to primary, although with planning ahead and several shoulder checks to spot the safe gap this should be mitigated.
Personally, from what I can see in the picture I would go with your last option and ride secondary in the main traffic lane so that to pass drivers would be forced to cross the median line - this should prevent the attempt to overtake next to a traffic island (although I would still attempt to move out further to make it clear to motons behind that the pass is DEFINITELY not on). Yes, this approach could "invite" a punishment pass but at least then you have the space to your left as a refuge.
However defensively (or not) we ride we're damned if we do, damned if we don't.
Ultimately, drivers need to take responsibity to pass only when its safe and there is space to do so, and hang back and give room when its not.
The times I've had this happen to me!
It sends a chill down your spine, before the anger that someone gives so little of a sh&t about someones life that they would do this!
I also had a builder do this to me in his van, who then pulled over ahead of me to 'have a go' at me because I had shouted at him when he did his close pass!
I mostly read road.cc to make fun of British bike lanes
This sums up the whole problem of close passing. Too many drivers think that so long as they don't actually hit whatever it is they are trying to pass, then it is a OK. Most of them care more about not damaging their own vehicle than not scaring the crap out of the cyclist.
If I had been on that road, I would have been just to the left of the white line, and that truck would have scared the living daylights out of me. I'd have punched the side of it and been screaming my head off.
It's a remarkably calm reaction from the cyclist, to his credit. The driving is awful - terrible overtake, which gets the lorry ahead for about 20 seconds, before it has to stop in a queue. The driver should be severely disciplined or sacked.
To add to that, on the reverse camera view you can see the lorry actually pulling closer towards the cyclist coming up to the point where he passes by.. But as many say this is unfortunately not surprising and happens all the time, and they will all try to get away with it if they can.
"Sorry to those who felt this issue wasn't being taken seriously. "
Weasel words ... It's your fault for feeling this...
C'mon Sainsbury's. 'Fess up!
Doesn't make it right or acceptable obviously but the reality is this happens all the time.
Can't watch the video due to office restrictions but the still on the front page tells me all I need to know. That is way too close.
Not victim blaming but even if I was using the marked cycle lane (which is way too narrow), I would make sure I moved out into primary position if there was a traffic island coming up.
Crap infrastructure - inexperienced cyclists use it even though it puts them in danger, and many drivers take the view expressed by original Sainsburys tweet - they think if they stay right of the line its okay.
agreed - I have belts wider than this "cycle lane" - it encourages him to ride in the gutter
A fine demonstration of why cycle lanes made only of paint are a bad thing for cyclists.
Certainly when they are that narrow. A painted cycle lane that narrow is much worse than just pointless. It's downright irresponsible. I'm inclined to be more angry at whoever put that lane in than I am at the lorry driver or even Sainsburys. Not least because they probably aren't getting any 'heat' at all, unlike the lorry driver or Sainsbury's PR department.
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