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Chris Boardman films cycle safety video instructing drivers how to pass safely

'I shouldn't have to wear a helmet to pop to the shops' adds Olympic and Tour veteran...

Chris Boardman has been in Exeter this week filming a road safety video about how to pass cyclists safely.

The Olympic and Tour de France veteran took time out to speak to the Western Morning News about his decision to leave his helmet at home while filming a segment for BBC Breakfast about cycle safety.

Viewers complained when Boarman was seen riding around Manchester in a dark coat and jeans.

“I had the audacity to ride a bicycle in normal clothes and was pilloried for it,” he said.

“I dressed as I would to drive down the shops. I have nothing against helmets.

Video: Close-passing, ultra-sweary driver takes a tumble after chasing and kicking out at cyclist

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“If I go on a long ride I wear one – sometimes out of habit, often on a mountain bike – but I am under no illusion about the effect on my safety. I manufacture the things. In an incident with a car they will have almost no effect.

“They are being used to deflect from making real decisions and I won’t waste air time talking about them. The danger for me is being hit by a vehicle doing something it shouldn’t. We should focus on how we stop accidents not what happens to people who have them.”

He said that cycling around town was a clear winner for health and the environment.

“We are drowning in data – economic, health, pollution, you pick any battleground you want and using cycling as a mode of transport for short journeys wins hands down,” he adds.

“The only way to get people to exercise more is to get them to include it in their daily life. It is not about cyclists but communities. We need infrastructure and there need to be laws to protect people. At the moment the easiest way to kill somebody is to do it in a car with the minimum penalty. As a logical person I am desperately frustrated that we are even talking about this. The fact that we have to push for it is ludicrous.”

The video about cycle safety will be released online this week, partly made by Carlton Reid, executive editor of BikeBiz.com, who flew the drone camera and is now editing the final cut.

“In the good old days a video like this would been produced and disseminated by the Government as a public information film but the Government doesn’t do them any more so the Bicycle Association and British Cycling funded this one,” said Reid.

“Some motorists don’t give cyclists sufficient space when overtaking, failing to take into account the wobble room a cyclist needs. Cyclists don’t always ride in a straight line partly because they can spot potholes and other road imperfections that motorists can’t.”

The short film, called Space, highlights Highway Code section 163 – which requires overtaking drivers to give cyclists and horse riders as much room as a car – and reinforces the legal right of two bicycles to ride alongside one another.

“You don’t encounter people very often and when you come around the corner on a lane with high hedges and encounter cyclists, it’s a shock, you weren’t expecting them,” said Boardman.

“But the law does not protect cyclists, and so often incidents are written off as driving without due care and attention which attracts paltry sentencing and penalties.

“I want to see our villages, towns and communities prioritising people – putting them and businesses first. I want everybody to think “what’s the nicest place I have been to?” And I can guarantee it was not full of cars.

“That’s what we need to be aiming for. It’s not about cyclists, it’s about communities. I want the car to be a visitor not dominating where me and my kids live.

“I want my daughter to be able to ride 300 yards to the local park because there is space to do it and the laws and infrastructure allow it. It needs a holistic approach but people will get used to it and prefer it.

“The scary one is on a political level. There is only a finite amount of road space around our towns and cities and you have to take it away from someone else. People don’t like change.”

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47 comments

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2and2and4 | 9 years ago
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A suggestion that could apply to many roads, urban and country. Mark out a cycle lane with a broken white line, at least 1m wide, regardless of road width. Clarify the law, that all traffic may use this lane at any time but vehicles passing cyclists must pass clear outside this line with a penalty equal to crossing a double white line for non compliance.

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2and2and4 | 9 years ago
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A suggestion that could apply to many roads, urban and country. Mark out a cycle lane with a broken white line, at least 1m wide, regardless of road width. Clarify the law, that all traffic may use this lane at any time but vehicles passing cyclists must pass clear outside this line with a penalty equal to crossing a double white line for non compliance.

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mrmo replied to 2and2and4 | 9 years ago
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2and2and4 wrote:

A suggestion that could apply to many roads, urban and country. Mark out a cycle lane with a broken white line, at least 1m wide, regardless of road width. Clarify the law, that all traffic may use this lane at any time but vehicles passing cyclists must pass clear outside this line with a penalty equal to crossing a double white line for non compliance.

The problem with marking lanes is that they seem to treated as walls that can't be crossed.

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kie7077 | 9 years ago
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Link to the video:
SPACE on Vimeo

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Carlton Reid | 9 years ago
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Blaine, the driving instructor, said he could see what was ahead at this point.

(Note, it was a private road circuit so nobody was breaking any laws or putting anybody in danger.)

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LarryDavidJr | 9 years ago
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I could well be wrong here, and please correct me if so, but during this 'safe overtaking' example (at 1:52), the overtaking manoeuvre takes place on the brow of a hill ...... hardly safe!

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harrybav | 9 years ago
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One day there'll be a kickstarter featuring a paint spray can, a proximity sensor and a mount for the end of the handlebar. Our worries will be over!

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BikeBud | 9 years ago
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Chris Boardman for Prime Minister!

Seriously though, he doesn't have to do this stuff you know, but he's one of the few people who IS doing something! He sends out such a logical message that is difficult to argue against.

This video won't change things overnight, but it is a step in the right direction.

For those moaning about it, what are YOU doing?

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Carlton Reid | 9 years ago
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The video is done and ready to publish – just waiting for the final OK from the funders, British Cycling and the Bicycle Association. I'm hoping to release it on Monday.

There will be a companion video to "Space" and that's "Side by side". This is about how it's not illegal to ride two abreast. Both films were shot at the same time, with Chris Boardman and master driving instructor Blaine Walsh.

"Side by side" will be released in a week or so.

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MikeCope | 9 years ago
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Chris- again yours is the voice of sanity and common sense. Here in Denmark today, everyone's out on their bikes ,going to the bakery early morning , taking the, kids for a gentle social ride , or just plodding around. for the pleasure of riding a bike.....the key. ...good safe bike paths ...which have over the past 20years encouraged everyone to do just that .

Time for all you political cyclists , Boardman nit picking critics to work together with someone level headed like Chris to push for the UK infrastructure to be be fixed ..just back from Germany ..incredible to see devts in industrial heartland cities like Bochum .. People again just ride bikes cos its convenient and makes sense . ...no need for helmet.

I'm a Londoner living in Copenhagen ,so constantly see what needs doing ( and can be done with political commitment)..why oh why can t UK wake up.......?

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velobetty | 9 years ago
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Chris has never snubbed me and in fact not so long ago he was at a meeting in Westminster when a bicycle protest ride came past. He grabbed a hire bike and joined in. Top guy, really! He's just what we need.

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FluffyKittenofT... | 9 years ago
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He talks a lot of sense.

Awful overtaking is probably my biggest single reason for being cheesed-off with drivers (except as a pedestrian, when it would be illegal pavement parking!).

Why do so many motorists have such an uncontrollable compulsion to get in front immediately, no matter whether its sensible or not? They do it even in the face of obvious oncoming cars (leading to loud horn-blasting and dangerous cutting-in). It happens very frequently.

What's wrong with waiting 10 seconds till either the oncoming traffic is clear or the door-zone/choke-point is past so I can make room again? I just don't get this behaviour.

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wycombewheeler replied to FluffyKittenofTindalos | 9 years ago
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FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

He talks a lot of sense.

Awful overtaking is probably my biggest single reason for being cheesed-off with drivers (except as a pedestrian, when it would be illegal pavement parking!).

Why do so many motorists have such an uncontrollable compulsion to get in front immediately, no matter whether its sensible or not? They do it even in the face of obvious oncoming cars (leading to loud horn-blasting and dangerous cutting-in). It happens very frequently.

What's wrong with waiting 10 seconds till either the oncoming traffic is clear or the door-zone/choke-point is past so I can make room again? I just don't get this behaviour.

They even do it when they are going to turn left/right within 100 yards anyway.

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Ush | 9 years ago
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I like Boardman's message on this.

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ironmancole | 9 years ago
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Boardman is a star in every sense but he can't do it by himself. Anyone slagging him off needs to do one quite frankly, do these same people slag off cancer research groups because they've not solved cancer yet?! Support him, after all we have few that speak boldly for us.

For me it's all about legislation change. The DFT are useless, they pander to the motorist and their death toll at all and any cost whilst issuing patronising and murderous ignorance to those paying the cost for this lack of action with their lives.

I see it as a human rights issue and we should collectively challenge government in this way.

You have a moral right at the very least to use a lawful means of transportation on a public right of way without unreasonable risk of being killed or maimed or just plain intimidated by others imposing themselves in a reckless (& wholly preventable after all) manner against you.

We are protected in all manner of ways from sexual and various other discrimination in our lives with many agencies ensuring our wellbeing (councils/food standards/healthcare etc etc) but when the road is concerned we can be killed in unbelievably arbitrary ways and government continues to do nothing.

Why? We should challenge this in a human rights court. Why does DFT refuse to act? I'd like answers.

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WolfieSmith | 9 years ago
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The subject of having to make an independent safety film is an interesting one. I think the Dept of Information was cut about 5 years ago? No more 'Charlie says' or Rolf Harris in the swimming pool with kids...

Gawd but we need the D of I back. I would welcome Clarkson: lecturing folk on what indicators are for - especially on motorways, Tailgating, Using the phone when driving, Leaving your trolley in a parking space at Tescos because you're too f**king idle to put it back.

Since the 1980's there has been a steady drop in both road manners and safety because people, like children, need to know the rules and need to be reminded of them. Just like the banks, if you do not constantly remind some people what is right from wrong and not to take the p*ss they will just take the p*ss.

Sorry. Didn't get my ride in this morning. I'm going away to lie down now..

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WolfieSmith | 9 years ago
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With close to 800 people in the House of Lords it's a shame one of them isn't Uncle Chris. He could rally keen cyclists like Lord Sugar into helping enforce cycling rights. Can't see him in ermine though.

If only other lords with Olympic gold medals were realists and talking sense this week...

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Alan hall | 9 years ago
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I totally agree with Chris.
It's perceived unsafe to go cycling without wearing a helmet and car drivers think people riding a bike without a helmet are breaking the law.
Also, this website has reports on slack sentences for killers way too often. It needs to stop.

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Beaufort | 9 years ago
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I don't think anyone can argue with anything CB says here.

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Kadinkski replied to Beaufort | 9 years ago
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Beaufort wrote:

I don't think anyone can argue with anything CB says here.

You don't know the readers of this site very well, do you?

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doubledex | 9 years ago
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We do have to undertake these campaigns for any hope of change. It seems that, if looking at these forums, we are quite divided as a cycling community? I don't know if that is really true but it looks like it sometimes. I agree with Chris, we have a law in the Highway code, we are just asking it to be implemented - really simple principle. Maybe if more of our PCSOs were on bikes - it might become the norm? Also, hopefully as electric bikes get much, much cheaper more 'normal' people might like to try cycling and see how bloomin dangerous it is out there.

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mikroos | 9 years ago
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vbvb wrote:
mikroos wrote:

I don't think riding closer to the middle of the road.. is wrong in any way.

Sure, sure, but the only people happy to assert space against angry young male drivers are angry young male cyclists. On my commute drivers are highly confrontational to anyone cycling a safe distance from parked cars.

Oh, so in your opinion it's better to let them overtake the way *they* find it appropriate even when you know they won't give you enough space? That's interesting.

Actually it's all about letting the drivers pass whenever there's space or at least they slow down behind you, so that they will overtake you at a lower speed. That makes a huge difference. When the driver overtakes you at a lower speed, you fully expect it and it happens under your control, it's much safer even if the passing distance is theoretically illegal. Trust me, it makes a huge difference.

I know riding further from the kerb makes some drivers aggressive. But still IMHO it's much better than actively letting drivers pass you in an unsafe way. At least I personally have never had any serious incident related to overtaking since I started riding closer to the middle of the lane (only when necessary and immediately going back whenever overtaking was possible!) a few years ago. And I live in Poland, where road safety statistics are even worse than in Britain.

don simon wrote:

So that means it's oncoming traffic that causes delays and is the root of motorists' anger and not cyclists.
Who'd've thunk it?  17

These are your words, not mine. Cyclists do slow the traffic down, but that doesn't mean they should give up their right to be overtaken in a legal (or at least safe) way. I don't know how about you, but I won't sacrifice my health and life for the sake of road's capacity.

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FluffyKittenofT... replied to mikroos | 9 years ago
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mikroos wrote:

I know riding further from the kerb makes some drivers aggressive. But still IMHO it's much better than actively letting drivers pass you in an unsafe way. At least I personally have never had any serious incident related to overtaking since I started riding closer to the middle of the lane (only when necessary and immediately going back whenever overtaking was possible!)

The problem with that is its not unknown for a driver to try to overtake anyway, even if you 'take the lane' they still try and pass you (often by nearly hitting oncoming cars). It happens all the time.

Most people are never going to be up for the level of 'assertiveness' required for vehicular cycling, which is why most don't cycle. And it doesn't even work that well anyway.

Edit - the other thing is, to be able to confidently 'take the lane' you have to be a fast cyclist. Not everyone wants to or is able to go at a speed that can cope with drivers (invariably breaking the limit themselves) potentially coming up behind at 40mph. The slower you are the more impatience/aggression you are going to induce in drivers when you take the lane.

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mrmo replied to FluffyKittenofTindalos | 9 years ago
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FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

The problem with that is its not unknown for a driver to try to overtake anyway, even if you 'take the lane' they still try and pass you (often by nearly hitting oncoming cars). It happens all the time.

Taking this to an extreme yesterday, i am coming off a local hill c30mph, bus coming towards me stops, car following decides to overtake. Due to the road and loosing speed from the decent, i am in the middle of the lane and there is no way i am going anywhere near the kerb due to the road surface GCC deem acceptable.

Car ends up passing me on my left! whilst i skim the bus with my right arm.

I really don't understand the level of stupidity of some drivers!

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.874758,-2.076234,3a,75y,349.73h,75.51t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0uQ1fNcsqOL9K3mDXkL43w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

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kie7077 replied to mrmo | 9 years ago
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@ mrmo

The worst kind of driver - the I don't have to alter my driving I'm just going to pretend the cyclist doesn't exist whilst seriously endangering their life driver, the police would no doubt class this as just careless driving.

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Jonny_Trousers | 9 years ago
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I think Chris Boardman is a wonderful spokesman for cycling in the real world, but I can't help but be cynical about the effectiveness of this campaign. No one's going to watch it and think, oh wow, I never knew I was passing cyclists so closely!

So what's my solution? I'm afraid I don't really have one. Segregated lanes everywhere? Tougher sentencing for those convicted of unsafe driving? Cars to be manufactured so that they don't feel uncomfortably slow when driven at a relatively slow pace.

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don simon fbpe | 9 years ago
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Quote:

When it's easy to give plenty of room, over 50% of drivers do. When it's not easy, for example because of oncoming traffic, less than 50% wait until it's safe to overtake.

So that means it's oncoming traffic that causes delays and is the root of motorists' anger and not cyclists.
Who'd've thunk it?  17

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brooksby replied to don simon fbpe | 9 years ago
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don simon wrote:
Quote:

When it's easy to give plenty of room, over 50% of drivers do. When it's not easy, for example because of oncoming traffic, less than 50% wait until it's safe to overtake.

So that means it's oncoming traffic that causes delays and is the root of motorists' anger and not cyclists.
Who'd've thunk it?  17

But that's different, because those are cars and they're supposed to be there, they're one of us; but you, you're on a bicycle, you're just weird and shouldn't be allowed on the road.

Or something like that.  35

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dexradio | 9 years ago
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Thankfully we have Chris Boardman who always makes a sensible, balanced and compelling argument. And while some people might think this may have been done a different/better way. If it wasn't for Chris Boardman, it might be be getting done at all. Where are the government in providing their explicit support, not just in word, in support of this. Seems to me they jump on the cycling bandwagon when they need votes, and then let the cycling agenda slide back into the weeds not to see the light of day for another four years.

Insurance, Helmets, so-called Road Tax etc etc are all a distraction from the real issues the Boardman promotes so well.

Good on him! Lets hope this gets the airtime it deserves.

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HarrogateSpa | 9 years ago
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Boardman is quite right, but there's a slight nuance to the way people in cars overtake. When it's easy to give plenty of room, over 50% of drivers do. When it's not easy, for example because of oncoming traffic, less than 50% wait until it's safe to overtake.

I have asked Mr Goodwill, the minister with responsibility for cycling, to do something about publicising and enforcing rule 163. I suggested signs similar to the French ones, and a round of interviews from him to raise the profile of the current rules. (The gist of it is here http://hedgehogcycling.co.uk/cyclist-passing-distance-signs.html). He wasn't the slightest bit interested. As far as the DfT is concerned, it's enough that rule 163 exists, and it doesn't matter if it's routinely disregarded in practice.

But Boardman is brilliant - he keeps making his point, and in the end it will get through.

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