- 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
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
news
Jeremy Vine overtake videoJeremy Vine: There's a strong argument vehicles should not be allowed to overtake bicycles in cities
Broadcaster and outspoken cycling advocate Jeremy Vine has prompted a discussion about how road users share space in urban environments, and suggested vehicle drivers overtaking cyclists in cities is "pointless".
Accompanied by one of his now-famous 360-degree camera videos, in which a taxi driver overtakes him five times only to drop back behind the cyclist at traffic lights, Vine said, "there's a strong argument that motor vehicles should not be allowed to overtake bicycles in cities.
"If you watch this clip from my commute, you'll see there is no point whatsoever in any of this driver's five overtakes — even with the roads clear.
"No complaints about the cab driver: he never passed too close. But why can't he see: even without traffic, it's pointless to overtake a bicycle in a city?"
There's a strong argument that motor vehicles should not be allowed to overtake bicycles in cities. If you watch this clip from my commute, you'll see there is no point whatsoever in any of this driver's FIVE overtakes — even with the roads clear. pic.twitter.com/sbRtBSEULH
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) March 12, 2022
It was to be expected that the Vine on 5 host's eye-catching suggestion would be challenged by those who disagree, with Vine summarising his argument in response.
"The argument is that a bicycle is faster, so every single overtake he does will have to be repeated. And as you see from the film, even though he is quite a good driver, all overtaking involves a slight increase in risk," Vine tweeted.
"I think my point is that any overtake bears risk, and they should be avoided if possible, and the clip clearly establishes that motor vehicles are slower than bicycles, so it's best for him not to overtake me at all."
Despite the inevitable anger in many replies to the broadcaster's suggestion, some agreed with the sentiment of the point.
Rory Meakin said: "This video illustrates quite well how, for most journeys in cities, cycling is faster than driving. Sure, the top speed in a car is higher, and if you’re driving at 2am mainly on a 40mph+ road driving will be quicker. But for most trips it’s ill-suited"
Yes! Madness.
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) March 12, 2022
Irish Fine Gael politician Ciaran Cannon insisted the idea bikes are faster than cars at getting from "Point A to Point B" in urban environments is "not up for debate, it's just a fact".
Let’s explain what’s happening here. If you want to get from Point A to Point B in any inner city setting, a bike is faster. Not up for debate, it’s just a fact. See below for average car speeds in larger cities at rush hour. A cyclist beats those without even breaking a sweat. pic.twitter.com/GZNcy5iKA3
— Ciaran Cannon (@ciarancannon) March 12, 2022
Vine regularly shares videos on social media of footage captured while he cycles around the capital, including dangerous driving, celebrity encounters and basically anything and everything interesting.
He is also a regular on his penny-farthing, and was taken to hospital and left with a black eye after falling from his high wheeler last month.
The week before his penny-farthing fall, Vine shared footage of a high-speed overtake in a 20mph zone, which he said "not meaning to overdramatise [...] the closest I've come to dying on my bicycle."
Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Dan has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too.
Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously, when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace, or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family. Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way, he's a bit strange like that.
Latest Comments
- slc 2 sec ago
I have seen long queues on Blackswarth Rd, but they seemed to be dying down towards the end of the last week. I wondered if the queues were...
- hawkinspeter 24 min ago
Quite a few years ago, a friend of mine got into serious trouble running a half-marathon due to dehydration. I don't know how fast he was, but he...
- chrisonabike 33 min 31 sec ago
She did say (in comment) they'd suggested to the council to make this access and emergency vehicles only and the council said no....
- S.E. 17 hours 34 min ago
My guess is that they sell mainly on the German market - feel free to correct me. That might explain why they are not "pushing" their products,...
- ktache 17 hours 58 min ago
Now Emily Chappell really liked the Lezyne , I have the HV version, good, but I find the handle uncomfortable in use. I've often wondered about the...
- biking59boomer 17 hours 6 min ago
What about this one!? Taken in Cardiff Civic Centre 1939
- Muddy Ford 18 hours 9 min ago
Charlie Alliston got 18mths and is the reference case (because there are so few cases) for all campaigns by anti-cyclists that 'cyclists are not...
- belugabob 19 hours 10 min ago
My local football practice pitches (all weather, in a fenced off area, are regularly the scene of inconsiderate parking, with vehicles blocking the...
- Spangly Shiny 19 hours 35 min ago
Assos ASOS anyone?
Add new comment
40 comments
I think we have spotted the type of driver that tailgates learner drivers
I'm guessing you didn't read the tweet by Ciaran Cannon? you know the one that put average driving speed in London's main traffic corridors at 8 or 9mph..... you know the speed that you said the delivery riders are doing.....
Ok, you have pointed out a street where cyclists are slower than you..... do you find that the cyclists riding up Leece Street manage to catch up or get back in front of you when you hit traffic? If the answer is yes, which lets face it is quite likely then it just goes to prove Jeremy's point.
It's not just in cities that it's pointless, in a lot of routes in medium to small towns it's equally pointless. On my old cycle commute, in a town with a population of 30,000 (so a small town by my reckoning) I would regularly get overtaken by cars on parts of the commute where there were no cycle lanes, but less than a mile later when they got to the town centre they would be stuck in traffic where I would sail past them in the bus/cycle lane.
Thats either a different definition of most to the one I am familiar with or your city/town is different to the ones I have seen.
I think we need a bit of both. Ideally, you want to separate cycle and motor traffic. What they do in the Netherlands, is to try and encourage cars to use a particular road and cycles another, parallel-ish, street (with the bikes getting the more direct route). Overtaking can be prohibited on the quieter road, but allowed on the busier street.
I can't see that working in the UK as the most direct routes always seem to prioritise motor traffic and cyclists are persuaded to take the longer routes.
Also, I'd rather that overtaking be allowed on quieter streets. It's the busy ones that don't provide any benefit for drivers to overtake cyclists.
You forgot to put the scare quotes around 'persuaded'.
It would be a hard sell in the UK, as it does mean displacing traffic even more so than LTN's do.
The trouble with preventing overtaking on a busy street and allowing it on a quieter route, is it risks flipping that situation - i.e. the busy street becomes quiet, because drivers don't want to sit behind cyclists, and the quiet route becomes a rat-run.
Trust me with a bit of creative street furniture, restrictive infrastructure or urban architecture most drivers will stick with the busy main roads as the side streets will be less efficient for most routes.
Sure a few will get a benefit but that will be localised to the beginning and end of journeys
I can't see that working in the UK...
Because UK police aren't the slightest bit interested in enforcing traffic law with proper penalties for offences against cyclists- close passing by Discovery YG13 LWM
.
Bad, agreed, but that's nowt.
.
Today nearly got taken out at a roundabout by ... by ... by a four ken ambulance cutting across the front of me from outside lane to a slip road!
.
Pages