Update: Europcar claims it didn't place cyclist & pedestrian warning stickers

Car hire company Europcar has come under fire for fixing stickers on some vehicles warning pedestrians and cyclists to keep clear.

The stickers were pointed out on Twitter yesterday:

Consider #BoycottEuropecar until @Europcar_UK removes these liability-dodging stickers from their fleet. Please RT. pic.twitter.com/MiUnGFCwLv

— Mike Stead (@tweetymike) September 29, 2014

A storm of criticism followed as people asked what the stickers were intended to achieve and a seemingly rather bemused social media person at Europcar failed to take the issue seriously enough.

In a now deleted tweet, Europcar replied:

As you can imagine, that really didn't help. Lizzie Reather of Leeds Cycling Campaign responded and got this reply:

Hi @LizzieReather the response was meant to be light-hearted as clearly the van is visible on its own. Stickers are meant to help not enrage

— Europcar UK (@Europcar_UK) September 30, 2014

Other tweeters pointed out that the stickers can be considered victim-blaming; that it's legally the responsibility of the person opening the door to look out for other road users such as pedestrians and cyclists; and that the sticker alerting pedestrians was on a sliding door anyway, so there was no danger to warn about.

Europcar sponsors the French cycling team of the same name, which might account for some of the outrage, and eventually Europcar played the sponsored team card:

@tweetymike @richardf we LOVE cyclists which is why we sponsor @TeamEuropcar_en we want road users and drivers to be more aware of cyclists

— Europcar UK (@Europcar_UK) September 30, 2014

They also tried one of those 'sorry not sorry' apologies:

We are sorry to learn that these RHA issued stickers have caused such offence @domesticbod

— Europcar UK (@Europcar_UK) September 30, 2014

The stickers in question are not original to Europcar. They are sold by the Road Haulage Association and like Transport for London's notorious 'Stay Back' stickers appear to be intended to warn against the blind spot issues of large vehicles.

TfL's stickers are now being replaced after representations from cycling campaign groups.

Rather than selling stickers, the other major lorry lobby organisation, the Freight Transport Association, sells educational cards with bullet-point reminders to drivers of how they should behave around cyclists. Perhaps Europcar should get a few of those and give them to customers.

Update: Europcar says it didn't put the stickers on the van

Europcar's Twitter account went quite for five hours or so today. When it returned, it was to post this:

@Europcar_UK do not apply these warning stickers to vehicles; these are rental vehicles and any stickers are removed when they are returned.

— Europcar UK (@Europcar_UK) September 30, 2014

and shortly afterwards, this

Hi @tweetymike we didn't place the stickers on the van but can see how warnings to alert pedestrians of potential dangers can be beneficial

— Europcar UK (@Europcar_UK) September 30, 2014

It's all a bit odd after the Europcar Twitter account had previously vigorously defended the stickers:

(Hat-tip to Bez for grabbing all those tweets.) 

We have contacted Europcar for comment.