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news
Jeremy Vine Sainsburys truck tweet.PNGSainsbury's truck cyclist warning increases "fear of cycling"
Signs on the back of Sainsbury's supermarket chain trucks have been accused of "increasing general fear of cycling" by Radio Two DJ and daily London cyclist, Jeremy Vine, as well as a number of other Twitter users.
The words "Alert today... alive tomorrow" found their way into a number of critical tweets on Thursday following Mr Vine's original tweet which offered his own take on the meaning of the phrase.
He wrote: "Translation, 'If I kill you it's not my fault.'"
Translation, "If I kill you it's not my fault." Great way of increasing general fear of cycling @sainsburys pic.twitter.com/AZOMUOIEVm
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) June 9, 2016
The signs, which have been in use on Sainsbury's trucks since 2014, bear a striking resemblance to the much maligned 2014 Transport for London "cyclists stay back" stickers which the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) called offensive.
Those signs were successfully repealed, and replaced by a non-cycling specific sticker warning other road users of the dangers of truck blind spots following widespread and vocal criticism from cyclists all over the country.
At the time a spokesman for the LCC said "The ‘Stay Back’ message is seen as a prohibition and has been interpreted by drivers as telling cyclists to get out of their way, with the implication that if a collision occurs then it's the cyclist's fault for not having done so."
While the Sainsbury's sign isn't quite as directive, according to Mr Vine there remains a "suggestion that cyclists are unsafe only because of their own bad habits."
Mr Vine offered up that line in the midst of an 'apology tweet' to Sainsbury's for criticising their message to cyclists.
His full apology read:
"Every morning I cycle into work in London in a law-abiding way.
"I am safety-obsessed: mirrors, cameras, a helmet, bright lights even in summer. Every morning, without exception, some arrogant klutz in a vehicle endangers my safety or my life.
"Buses had signs saying CYCLISTS STAY BACK - when bus drivers constantly overtake cyclists and then immediately pull in, which is a mirror image of the very manoeuvre they tell cyclists not to do.
"So Sainsburys - sorry I reacted badly to your warning sign. It's just that I am
- sick of the danger, and
- sick of the suggestion that cyclists are unsafe only because of their own bad habits."
Mr Vine wasn't alone in his views on the matter. Road safety campaigner at Cycling UK, Duncan Dollimore, told iNews that "warning cyclists that they might be in or approaching a lorry driver’s blind spot is sensible, but it should be only a single part of a safe systems approach by any responsible company using large vehicles.
“Sainsbury’s message of ‘Alert today, alive tomorrow’ is just as applicable to their drivers’ behaviour around cyclists and walkers, and in this context it is unnecessary and tantamount to victim blaming.”
Meanwhile a Sainsbury's spokesperson said: "We launched this lorry two years ago with the sole purpose of keeping road users safe. We’ve been leading on this issue and have had positive feedback from the cycling community on our efforts."
We have our own opinions on the matter that can be most effectively summed up in our own stickers which you can buy here:
- Buy: road.cc Cyclists Stay Awesome stickers
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79 comments
I agree with the sign and the sentiment. I never ever ride up beside trucks. Why would you do that? You get into the blind spot of the driver's eyes, they make a right turn and clip you. So why take that chance? I also don't ride up beside cars while they're at a red light. This is the easiest way to get hit. I'm not sure why Sainsbury is apologizing. Cyclists are often at fault- it's a fact.
motorists are more often at fault
http://www.cyclinguk.org/blog/chris-peck/whos-to-blame-in-crashes-betwee...
I can't believe there are still people around that right "fact" at the end of there post, brilliant the classic troll move.
Has Willo changed their username?
Appears so.
I'm only surprised that "fact" wasn't written as "FACT". Pure Daily Heil stuff.
I was a competitive cyclist in the 90's and now I'm a lorry driver.
This whole thing skinks of sensationalism to me. As a lorry driver in London you need super senses to track everything. A lot of cyclists and pedestrians are oblivious to what's happening and seem to think they're invincible.
Cyclists need educating and enforcing in London. I don't know how that's possible.
How can Sainsburys be wrong for sending a polite message (In my opinion) that may save your life?
Maybe because cyclist's don't throw themselves under HGVs?
You are right! I said Rosa Parks. I should have said Emily Davison ......
True. I cannot remember which of the many idiots it was, but one of them was talking about a moral victory as he smashed into the tarmac at speed after refusing to give way to an aggressive driver at a roundabout. I just facepalmed and didn't even bother to reply. Just another muppet on here ready for an early extinction.
Unfortunately, cycle training has been hijacked by anti-motoring activists who are more interested in creating lots of cycling Rosa Parks rather than passing on realistic advice. Hence, the increasingly common phenomenon of idiots riding two abreast in the middle of the lane, uphill in busy traffic, warmed by their own smugness .... and the like.
Only below the line on road.cc. Anywhere else, applause.
Anecdata is awesome.
So who provided your training?
Just curious as to why you haven't suggested that pedestrians need educating and enforcing, as you list them both as a problem?
If cyclists took to wearing shirts with polite messages for motorists, would that help clarify what a load of old bollocks this is.
I would imagine that being a _responsible_ lorry driver in London must be a stressful business (less so for those who drive while disqualified or refuse to wear their glasses even after killing someone, but for anyone who worries about doing the right thing it clearly is a demanding job).
I'd favour separation of modes, and a reduction in unncessary private car trips, leaving more space for both cyclists and delivery vehicles (that, unlike many of those private car drivers, might be making necessary journeys), so they can be better kept apart.
But the whole point about that message is that its NOT 'polite', its downright rude, indeed its a kind of threat, and implictly claims that cyclists only die due to their 'lack of alertness'. Which is simply a lie. Alert cyclists get killed too, most likely in greater numbers than the unalert ones (as the latter are less likely to actually ride on the roads).
Should cyclists wear shirts reading 'lorry drivers - look where you are going today and you won't be a killer tomorrow'? OK, it wouldn't fit on a t-shirt, but never mind.
I'm not sure what being "a competitive cyclist in the 90's" has to do with this apart from making a pretence that you are coming from a "neutral" perspective on this ("Hey, I can see both sides guys"). We are largely talking inner city city commuting here unless I've misunderstood the thread. Also, I guess as lorry driving is, I imagine, your bread and butter, you have self-interest in this.
If you find that difficult, then you probably should not be in control of a lorry or, at least, get a lorry that is equipped to help you to drive safely and with due regard to more vulnerable road users.
No, this is self-serving nonsense from them (although they are not unique here). They need to ensure they don't endanger cyclists lives. Not the other way around. Their vehicles are bigger, heavier, faster & more powerful than any cycle. It is they who need to reign back and drive with care.
/rant
Yep, L.Willo is not a cyclist.
Apart from anything else, it obviously isn't true. The cemeteries are full of people (including, but by no means limited to, cyclists) who were fully alert the previous day.
All it does is throw doubt on every other claim Sainsburys makes!
Public service announcement:
Dealing With Trolls
When confronting a troll, it is very unwise to feed it or engage with it in any way. It only makes them stronger and more annoying.
Make sure you walk away from the confrontation completely ignoring the troll.
If we all follow these rules, then literally thousands of seconds can be saved not having to read ill thought-out drivel.
Stay safe out there everybody.
Yeah Willo right, following the Paris rush hour Lorry ban the supermarkets of Paris are now like Russa is the 1980 No body can find food, the people are up in arms.
What I find interesting is that Sainsburys claim they are interested in road safety, but still use trucks with a blind spot. If they addressed their own safety issues, they wouldn't need a sign which upsets some cyclists.
They don't. The new Sainsburys trucks (as pictured) have 360 vision via cameras.
Hey, spot on, I like your thinking!
Quite right, although the truck has a fixed axle, with mirrors, no blind spots. Their own pr talks of 360 degree visibility.
If lorries need signs warning others to stay alive, I think we maybe do need a Paris-style rush hour lorry ban.
Or more likely ban cyclists. After all, lorries are making essential journeys. Cyclists have alternatives: walk, public transport or drive but all those groceries are not going to get to Sainsburys in a rickshaw ....
Dear Public, would you rather have cyclists on the road during the rush hour or well stocked supermarkets? Vote Now! .....
I dont fancy our chances ...
A quite spectaular level of obtusity. Honestly, round of applause.
And nice use of the "essential" keyword. Very Keith Peat.
@Brooksby
Don't feed the Willo.
this
Can we do a similar sign on a t-shirt, something like "I'm in the ASZ, stay back in your area you stupid twat" even L.Willo can't disagree with that can he?
If people didn't do stupid things, there would be little need for any of the multitude of signage telling people not to do stupid things.
Don't drink bleach.
Don't fly your kite near powerlines.
Don't walk on thin ice.
Don't feed the bears.
Don't make an extra special effort to put yourself into the blind spot of a vehicle that will kill you if the driver makes a mistake or just doesn't know you are there.
I can understand why Sainsbury's are worried though. Must play merry hell with their delivery schedules when a vehicle gets held up on account of being involved in a fatal RTC.
I say b*ll*cks to jeremy vine and good work to sainsburys for trying to help. We cant have it both ways, and quite often cyclists are their own worst enemies.
nice one mate, any warning is better than no warning, what does the posh boy Vine know anyway, he probably just cycles for his street cred. With the amount of tax they take from motorists, it should be reinvested in segregated cycle lanes, there are places in the US where this happens. In Britain they paint lines then they end! Randomly, like where's the cycling lane gone? Fairies must have made it disappear lol
Ad hominem. Love it. Keep up the good work.
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