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news
London cyclists at Hyde Park Corner (copyright Britishcycling.org_.uk).jpgChannel 5 documentary next week asks if cyclists are “Scourge Of The Streets”
Next week, Channel 5 is screening a documentary called Cyclists: Scourge Of The Streets? and if the advance publicity is anything to go by, describing it as a look at a so-called “war of the wheels,” it’s unlikely to be sympathetic to people on bicycles as well as being far from the first programme to examine a perceived “us versus them” mentality between those using different forms of transport to get around.
The broadcaster has commissioned the documentary from Firecracker Films, whose past productions include Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, Mums Make Porn and The Sex Clinic, according to C21media.net.
The website says: “With increasing numbers of people in the UK choosing to cycle rather than drive, tensions between cyclists and motorists are on the rise.
“The producers say the doc will ask whether all cyclists are rule-breakers and road-hoggers, not adhering to the same laws as everyone else, or if motorists have just as much to answer for.”
Realscreen.com provides a bit more detail, saying that the documentary “will provide an unfiltered look at the enduring war between cyclists and motorists in England.
“The film will meet a variety of characters, from the cabbies of London and the residents of Surrey who no longer feel safe driving on local roads, to the cyclists patrolling the UK’s highways and law enforcement officials attempting to make the roadways a safer place for everyone who uses them.”
Executive producer Elspeth O’Hare of Firecracker Scotland, quoted on Realscreen.com, said: “This documentary promises to be an eye-opener for drivers and cyclists across the country,” said Firecracker Scotland’s O’Hare in a statement.
Of course, it’s impossible to judge the programme until after it airs next Tuesday evening, and it could be that it will be a well-balanced piece of reporting that highlights the dangers cyclists face on a daily basis from other road users.
More likely, we fear, is that it will help reinforce misconceptions held by many motorists about cyclists and how the law applies to them, as well as continuing the tribal narrative seen in past programmes such as the 2012 BBC documentary, The War On Britain’s Roads.
> Truth the first casualty in BBC's War on Britain's Roads?
In its listing for the programme, which will be broadcast at 9.15pm next Tuesday 9 July, Channel 5 says simply: “There is growing tension between two wheels and four.”
The documentary is already receiving criticism on Twitter due to its title, with this tweet attracting more than 100 retweets and 400 likes on the social network.
Dear Media - where do I even begin with this. having a show like this https://t.co/VQzuVfgQke is not helpful to moms like me (or any other human)- who CYCLE. We are human beings. Parents, families. friends. colleagues. HUMANS. @Chris_Boardman @ShanazeReade
— CycleCharterCoord (@CyclingCharCoor) July 3, 2019
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
"...but I could give it up any time."
I thought, "it's only Channel 5, it'll get 100k viewers at most!"
Then, I looked at C5's viewing figures. Amazingly, half a million people had nothing better to do with a warm, sunny, Saturday evening, than to watch "Can't Pay? We'll Take It Away!"
https://www.thinkbox.tv/Research/Barb-data/Top-programmes-report?tag=Cha...
Oh come on you lot, you're all scum and you know it! I pretty much devolve from car driver to motorcyclist to cyclist, with cyclist being the bottom of the barrel. Motorcyclists are annoying thrillseeking organ donors but cyclists are pure scum. When I go out as a cyclist I accept my place on the bottom rung.
The way to really ascend the morality tree is to become a pedestrian and you're never in the wrong then. Even if you walked in the M25 you'd have the right of way.
The fundamental points to all this are that I don't worry about my daughter being killed by a cyclist whilst walking back from school, nor have I ever been held up in a cyclist jam.
As far as I'm aware, no one has got respiratory illnesses from cyclist emissions.
So come on C5, how about renaming your programme "Drivers - Scourge of the Streets"?
The title is certainly inflammatory (flammatory?) but I'm looking forward to seeing the programme and finding out whether the title is ironic or not.
Is telly still a thing? I thought that it was all Netflix and streaming nowadays?
Whatever, I doubt that such a programme will ever change anyone’s mind about cycling (for sport or utility) or what constitutes safe driving.
Rather than jump to conclusions, we should wait until the programme has been broadcast and then pass judgement.
I am not optimistic this will be rational analysis. Programme makers are chasing viewing figures and programmes with extreme content tend to get more publicity.
Sad thing is, I wouldn't trust the BBC with a documentary on this subject either!
Channel 5; never heard of it.
"...and the residents of Surrey who no longer feel safe driving on local roads."
Not surprised given the Surrey road traffic accident stats, something like 5000+ serious injuries and deaths per year.
Is there any way that someone can get a full preview like CUK, because frankly I would want this to be censored. OFCOM are toothless/useless so the only option seems to contact the broadcaster, so we can allow this shit to be broadcast and then complain, pathetic!
If the title was Muslims/Black men scourge of the streets, Gay white men, scourage of nightclubs or any number of groups of people being described/highlighted in this manner it would be shut down instantly, in fact it would never be up for consideration.
That this is even allowed shows you that people on bikes are being deliberately targeted. That a vulnerable group is being put up as a'scourge' with not only zero evidence when comparing to the rest of society but also the ramifications that creates more division and iportantly more danger to that group.
I'm going to contact CH5 FWIW.
I hope you don't mind but I have plagiarized your message and sent it to my local MP who is also the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
I'd be happy for anyone else to copy and paste my letter to their local MP or indeed to Jeremy Wright - in his SoS role.
'Dear Jeremy, Channel 5 will be broadcasting a documentary on Tuesday 9 July at 9.15pm. It is titled 'Cyclists: Scourge Of The Streets?' Before even being broadcast, its very title appears to be suggesting the programme will be full of anti-cyclist rhetoric pitching cyclists as an enemy of car drivers. If the title of the programme was something like 'Muslims/Black men scourge of the streets', 'Gay white men, scourge of nightclubs' or any number of groups of people being described/highlighted in this manner there would be a public outcry and OFCOM would likely take enforcement action.
Cyclists are vulnerable road users and already suffer disproportionately from aggressive drivers and a programme which seems to be stirring more division is the last thing that is needed. Personally, I find the use of the term 'scourge of motorists' to be discriminatory and inflammatory - it is inciting drivers to cause harm to cyclists.
I would be very grateful if, in your role, as the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and as my local MP, if you could please exert some influence on Channel 5 to re-title the programme before it is broadcast.'
Unfortunately being a cyclist (or whatever term you use) isn't a protected characteristic, whereas skin colour, religion etc are, so I think that's a bit of a non-starter. I do agree though on the basis that the programme is attempting to tar everyone (on two wheels) with the same brush.
I’m working in Gloucester at the moment so picking up on the local news so here’s my excuse to post this
https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/all-about/abbeymead
the link back to the 2017 article is interesting. I especially like the way that a post on a private Facebook group is taken as a good source for this story (although it doesn’t sound made up) whereas we seem to struggle to get HD camera footage of downright crap driving taken seriously.
Just remember bullies make the world’s biggest victims when the tables are turned.
Don’t try this at home, folks.
The link takes you to a page with ten notices of where the mobile speed cameras are, three about travellers, two about football, one about lazy, arrogant, inconsiderate and selfish drivers, and one about foul-mouthed youths weaving in and out of traffic, which I think is the one you want us to look at.
Personally, I liked the link on that page to anti-social behaviour, which doesn't mention driving. And the quote from the police "Gloucestershire Constabulary said anyone who is subjected to threatening or anti-social behaviour can contact them by calling 101 or 999 if an incident is in progress or the offenders are still in the area." I wonder if that includes having a car driven at them?
But the comments, well, just unbelievable.
"the residents of Surrey who no longer feel safe driving on their roads"?? Because of bicycle riders? Are they having a larf?
Yeah, I have no idea why Surrye drivers would be afraid - surely they are only afraid one another, although going by where my in laws live, perhaps they are afraid of potholes and localised floods.
Well I'm not hopeful of it showing cyclists in a good light, judging by Channel 5s way of developing their particular genre of TV programme
I expect Lord Winston, Clarkson, black cab owners and every other anti cycling group in the UK to be interviewed or feature in this programme.
No chance of Sir Chris or Vine being wheeled out for a sensible discussion
No. They'll probably get that bloke with all the cameras. Dave Sherry? Or some person in head to toe Lycra and a big helmet (because they think that channel 5 viewers will get to laugh at him while also hating him). Remember: C5 doesn't even have to pretend to be balanced.
I’m hoping this is a click bait title to attract viewing from cyclist haters. Only for it to be a trap and turns out to be an informative counter to that premise.
Ideally hosted by Jeremy Vine & Chris Boardman, backed up by evidence and facts, with a segment in the middle from David Attenborough, making an emotive argument for change for the sake of the planet.
The shift in public attitudes after this series will be immense, similar to the recent vilification of single use plastic. Resulting in massive investment in cycling infrastructure and improved safety on the roads for all. Maybe...
Whatever you're on, I want some.
"Channel 5 under fire over 'Cyclists: Scourge Of The Streets?' documentary"
As someone who rarely watches television (chewing gum for the mind) I really can't comment on Channel 5's approach, but I hope this title is exceedingly ironic and they actually come to the only possible conclusion that cyclists aren't, but drivers are.
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