BBC announces documentary focusing on cyclists and motorists in 'The War On Britain's Roads'

Well folks - having actually watched it I think you all owe the BBC a big apology. They did a fairly good job I think. They certainly put both sides, even those who were quite clearly in the wrong. However I'd say that the programme overall was in favour of cyclists. Particularly impressive was the cycling policeman who caught someone on a motorbike.

A lazy and cheap way of documentary making for, what is to many of us, a mundane daily activity.....

F*ck off BBC and don't waste what little money you have nabbing the footage from the public just to cause a bit of sensationalism.

FWIW - 20+ years of cycle commuting and racing, very few incidents for me; never needed a camera, don't intend to buy one. This, of course, is up to the individual and how they feel on the road, newbie or just not confident, or what hobbies they enjoy - youtube and video editing is not for me.

I see more road idiocy by cyclists daily than by motorists. This will do more harm than good IMHO.

I agree that the programme needs to be seen before judgment is passed. However, just the title is sensationalist and wildly innacurate. If it were a 'war', it would be a massacre of a wealthy, high tech weapon-rich state against sticks and stones. One thing which is often missed in these discussions is just how vulnerable and unprotected cyclists are compared to motor vehicle drivers, sat in a couple of tonnes of metal, padded by bags and seats etc., while cyclists are protected by nothing. Is it any wonder, then, that cyclists are on edge and defensive when their lives are regularly threatened by said tons of metal, while the threat to drivers is more along the lines of being irritated, or held up for a few seconds, or,horror, sustaining a scratch to paintwork.
I say this as a driver as well as a cyclist. I'm always aware when driving of how safe I feel in relation to cyclists.

Copied from The Cycle Room Facebook page.
Dear Mr Preval
Reference CAS-1422506-17FWBY

Thank you for contacting us regarding the upcoming BBC One programme 'The War On Britain's Roads'.
I understand you’re unhappy because you feel the above programme will portray cycling and cyclists in a negative light.

I'm sorry you feel this way. We feel this timely documentary highlights a growing issue on Britain’s roads, from the viewpoint of both the motorist and the cyclist. As more and more people take up cycling as a way of beating the traffic or just keeping fit on their commute, the potential for conflict between cyclists and drivers has increased massively.

We will seek to provide the information which will enable viewers to make up their own minds; to show the reality and provide the forum for debate, giving full opportunity for all viewpoints to be heard. We aim to reveal a shocking picture of life on Britain’s roads from both the perspective of the cyclist and drivers.

I'd also like to assure you that I've registered your complaint on our Audience Log. This is a daily report of audience feedback that’s made available to all BBC staff, including members of the BBC Executive board, channel controllers and other senior managers. The Audience Logs are seen as important documents that can help shape decisions on future BBC programmes and content.

Once again, thank you for contacting us.
Kind Regards

Four minutes. Liking this game already.

Just for fun, anyone like to do a 'Road Tax' sweepstake for this programme?

Just state the time at which you believe the words "road tax" will be mentioned together in a sentence and in that order, the context or speaker are irrelevant.

The correct time will be the one showing when the programme is watched in iPlayer on a PC/Mac browser (just in case the other platforms are slightly different)

Winner gets.. I dunno... a 5% increase in their sensitivity to vertical compliance.

I'm going to stake my claim at 11 minutes 18 seconds.

TiNuts - while commending your open-minded view, I think such intelligent programming to which you refer is all but non-existent.

My Dad has first-hand experience of Panorama looking for an environment that suited the intended 'findings' of the programme, with complete lack of interest in the reality.

Unfortunately, entertainment is valued far more highly than education.

I will be more than happy to be wrong, since I would like driver-cyclist relations to improve. I just retain a degree of cynicism regarding the makers of TV programmes and/or the nature of products which will be bought up by the various channels.

If my experience is anything to go by sensationalist would be about right. I have been on the receiving end of a driver swinging his car into my car after dazzling me from behind (who then had a relative claim I had accelerated as he was passing me and the Police were going to charge me - why do these people never get charged?) the level of road rage out there is extraordinary.

When I've seen it, I *may* comment. Until then, everything else is just conjecture...or saber rattling.

Batch.

all of the above - and more. Its typical 21st century bollix programming. Sensationalist, aimed at the lowest common denominator, wooing the floating couch potato (is that an oxymoron?) with their 20 second attention grab span as they dither over this, monster truck racing, coppers-in-fast-cars-part-7914, killer sharks and nasty nazis.

And I'd wager the program will be worse than it sounds even.

Next week - death on the high seas... swimmers versus jet skis.

didds

I have to agree with Eyebrox. Cycling has been such a niche activity that BBC1 would never have been interested for most of the last 50 years.

There are pillocks riding bikes and driving cars. Regardless of the balance of the programme, it will inform and entertain. Many motorists will appreciate that most cyclists are also car drivers. They will also be more aware that their on-road bullying may be captured on video and used as evidence to prosecute them. These are significant factors that may counter what Colin Pooley's report called 'power asymmetry between road users'.

Don't knock the programme until it has been aired - and then we can offer a measured, considered view. Friction between cyclists and motorists is a hot topic and we should welcome any initiative that lays out the issues in front of the general public. Years ago there was so few bikers about that the BBC would never have contemplated showing this kind of programme, especially on its main, biggest-audience channel. This is an opportunity to inform, educate and even change perceptions.

Apologies for the spelling in my last post. When is it going to be aired?

After a particularly fraut ride to work one morning, I was tempted to get in touch with the Beeb to do a show like this, tentatively called "A day in the life of an ordinary cyclist - the flip-side of Top Gear", but then I changed my mind as it won't be watched by anybody who cares or would modify their selfish, ignoant behaviour.

I love to count ha ha ha

Oof!

Could have been worse - you might have said it was on BBC Von-hahaha!

(Sincere apologies to anyone with fond childhood memories of "The Count" in Sesame Street - that's his laugh above, not mine...)

After midnight on a small channel the BBC has a stake in

I'll get my coat....

What time is the docu-reality-drama-soap about bulimic teenage vampires on?!

re: the "why isn't the BBC making a proper documentary?" question. This is not Panorama, this is an independent production company that will be seeking to make their product as re-sellable (is that a word?) as possible so they are not interested in a real documentary, just some light entertainment in the vein of 'World's Mentalist Police Raids' that will end up on one of the freeview channels or dubbed for foreign consumption.

The BBC are just buying in some crap to sandwich between a docu-reality-drama-soap about bulimic teenage vampires and a re-run of a comedy panel show. It'll be watched by about 7 people, half of whom won't be old enough to drive and forgotten by the weekend.

As sad as it is, being shown current court cases and hearing about those who lost their lives on the road will probably be the best way to get people to think about their own actions on the road.

The hidden positive in this is that viewers will be made aware of the fast growing use of cameras on cycles and the reduced chance of getting away with being reckless.

I like bikes, but wait a minute...I like cars too. There's only one way to sort this out -Fight! Doh, looks like I'll be fighting myself then...

Sounds as this sensationlist rubbish will end up putting more people off cycling in the future rather than a balanced documentary giving a fair representation of the advantages of cycling, although I will watch it and then commnt afterwards (if the apoplexy allows)
A suggestion for the opening score would have to be Bowie's putting out fires with gasoline.

Was going to say that I don't like the sound of this for various reasons. But others have already beaten me to it! Those reasons are above! I just simply like riding a bike. I find that the vast majority of motorists show me every consideration. People pull out in front of me and cut me up regardless of what vehicle I drive! But generally I have no problem. I would like to see a documentary about a 'war' between the idiots who think the road is their own personal race track and people who treat it with the respect that the road deserves. That way we can lump the dickheads regardless of their transport on one side and the rest of us (he says in expectation) on the other. Then let battle commence!