Ford’s ‘Share the Road’ campaign leaves cyclists unimpressed

Fluffy nonsense that will help nobody. Ford is merely trying to make themselves look good, nothing more.

Agree that the 'ghost bike' is in very poor taste. And the whole concept of swapping places, which could work if done well, also ignores the fact that 80% of cyclists are also drivers.

If Ford want to do something they could hold education days on a closed track for every Ford owner. Talk about reality, how every driver should behave (as if a policeman is sat next to you and that the cyclist/ped is your own child); show videos such as how to overtake by Chris Boardman & Blaine Walsh. They could also abandon the use of speed and motorsport in marketing their products. But they won't because they, like every other brand, really do not care.

"Keep yourself out of harm's way. If you can touch you're way too close".

What does that even mean? That the cyclist should avoid being run over by a bus? http://road.cc/content/news/242464-near-miss-day-143-left-hook-london-bus

or that cyclists should ride on the pavement if they are about to suffer a close pass?

You’ve got to love that ford poster asking cyclists and motorists to put there phones away. No reference to the fact it’s agains the law to use a phone when in a motor vehicle.  Can’t offend motorists by singling them out can we. 

That ghost bike is in particularly poor taste. But next to the panel saying ‘every road user should have equal rights’ it puts me in mind of the quotation from Thackeray at the end of Kubrick’s film of Barry Lyndon:

“It was in the reign of George III that the aforesaid personages lived and quarreled; good or bad, handsome or ugly, rich or poor they are all equal now”.

The first video is telling me people are out to kill me but they will feel guilty when it happens.

The first 30 seconds of the video ends in the word 'conflict', up to that point all I saw was anger/violence aimed at cyclists and a fat bloke holding up a supercar.

and using the term 'miscommunication'  - again, that's not the case, a blatant disregard for cyclists (safety) by the majority of drivers is the main issue that needs addressing, not sitting around singing kumbaya, let's all get on with each other.

Once a motorist realises that all road users have the same rights to use that road, and that the penalties for disregarding other users rights, could end in driving privileges being withdrawn (of course the law has to back this up and stop handing out piddling wrist slaps)....

then maybe we can 'all get along'....

(BTW: I drive and cycle and walk)

yet more responsibility deflection tactics to soften the image dressed up as we care about safety/safety of the vulnerable, do you fuck!

Pretty much what I'd exect from a campaign organised by BRAKE, the biggest helmet promoters in the UK;  it's all your own fault for not wearing hi-viz and helmets.  Definitely nothing to do with all those lovely law-abiding drivers.

Kudos in the first vid for showing quite a few helmetless cyclists, but the rest is pretty much the standard blame the victim approach.

Again missing the point on how often cyclists actually pose a risk to those in a vehicle.

Ford could do much more to promote safety; provide cars you can see out of, maximise the speed etc.

No?