Author Topic: Wendy be famous now  (Read 4480 times)


rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #1 on: 05 January, 2022, 07:13:20 pm »
I'm amazed he's still alive.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

ian

Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #2 on: 05 January, 2022, 08:34:30 pm »
Perhaps if the police did their jobs, then it wouldn't be left to 'vigilantes.' (I don't really agree with his approach, but then I'm not sure why we should hold drivers to such a low standard, and I didn't realise his father had been killed by a drunk driver.)

For reasons, we drove the merry highways of Surrey and Kent every day over the holidays. Saw no shortage of atrocious driving. In seven days over the Christmas period we saw precisely zero police officers. I think we've given up on road policing beyond the occasional speed camera.

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #3 on: 05 January, 2022, 08:52:34 pm »
I did realise his father had been killed by a drunk driver but didn't realise he'd seen the crash scene, with his dead dad covered by a blanket.

I don't think that trauma ever leaves you. For myself, I've had a thing about drunk drivers since my aunt was killed by one just before I turned three. A young adult witness is hardly the same as a toddler who is told these things she hasn't seen though.

I doubt Wendy would bother recording & reporting if he wasn't experiencing dangerous motorist behaviour in a well-policed city.

Every day.

Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #4 on: 05 January, 2022, 09:10:04 pm »
Mike is a good personal friend. Straying from the standard is the least of my worries.

Tim Hall

  • Victoria is my queen
Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #5 on: 05 January, 2022, 09:20:24 pm »
Years ago I bought a kiddy trailer from him for a friend. Does this make me famous?  (porobably not).

I was on a Friday's ride between Christmas and New Year, which included a lap of The Regent's Park.

"Is Gandalf Corner?" asked one rider. Why yes, yes it was. No Mikey though. 
There are two ways you can get exercise out of a bicycle: you can
"overhaul" it, or you can ride it.  (Jerome K Jerome)

Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #6 on: 05 January, 2022, 09:31:21 pm »
Agree with him or not (and I confess I don't) he always comports himself in an exemplary manner.

Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #7 on: 05 January, 2022, 10:49:42 pm »
Perhaps if the police did their jobs, then it wouldn't be left to 'vigilantes.' (I don't really agree with his approach, but then I'm not sure why we should hold drivers to such a low standard, and I didn't realise his father had been killed by a drunk driver.)

For reasons, we drove the merry highways of Surrey and Kent every day over the holidays. Saw no shortage of atrocious driving. In seven days over the Christmas period we saw precisely zero police officers. I think we've given up on road policing beyond the occasional speed camera.

As we know Mikey is not a vigilante, since he doesn't 'take the law into his own hands', and is actually 'supported'/acknowledged by the police.  Drivers illegally on phones annoy me intensely, so I say all power to him.
About three years ago we had a car tyre puncture on a midlands dual carriageway at night.  The police officer (in BMW) that stopped to help, said he was the only highways patrol car for the county that night - whereas they used to have multiple double teamed vehicles.
Police forces are all over twitter, probably for PR purposes - highlighting the latest unlicenced driver, with positive drug test, no VED, nor valid insurance... Makes one wonder if the detection rate is so low due to staff cuts, that most of it is actually reported on shoshul meeja.
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

Jaded

  • The Codfather
  • Formerly known as Jaded
Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #8 on: 05 January, 2022, 11:18:29 pm »
Mike is a good personal friend. Straying from the standard is the least of my worries.

Please give him my best wishes. J
It is simpler than it looks.

Jaded

  • The Codfather
  • Formerly known as Jaded
Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #9 on: 05 January, 2022, 11:21:26 pm »
Perhaps if the police did their jobs, then it wouldn't be left to 'vigilantes.' (I don't really agree with his approach, but then I'm not sure why we should hold drivers to such a low standard, and I didn't realise his father had been killed by a drunk driver.)

For reasons, we drove the merry highways of Surrey and Kent every day over the holidays. Saw no shortage of atrocious driving. In seven days over the Christmas period we saw precisely zero police officers. I think we've given up on road policing beyond the occasional speed camera.

Atrocious driving is the norm.

Police now, apparently, can't do grim drivers because they have to unglue people from roads*.

* before anyone gets excited:

1) glueing yourself to a road is perfectly acceptable, in my view
2) should be more police**

** No, they shouldn't be private forces
It is simpler than it looks.

Mr Larrington

  • A bit ov a lyv wyr by slof standirds
  • Custard Wallah
    • Mr Larrington's Automatic Diary
Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #10 on: 06 January, 2022, 01:08:57 am »
[…] Makes one wonder if the detection rate is so low due to staff cuts, that most of it is actually reported on shoshul meeja.

Can't be anything to do with axing the actual number of actual coppers actually able to do actual policing, because when the Police Federation raised this very point with the-then The Home Secretary* they were told that they were scaremongering and shit.  And surely an experienced and well-respected** The Home Secretary would not use policy-based evidence-making?

* Tess of the d'Underheads
** LOLZ0RZ
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

ian

Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #11 on: 06 January, 2022, 09:45:31 am »
Perhaps if the police did their jobs, then it wouldn't be left to 'vigilantes.' (I don't really agree with his approach, but then I'm not sure why we should hold drivers to such a low standard, and I didn't realise his father had been killed by a drunk driver.)

For reasons, we drove the merry highways of Surrey and Kent every day over the holidays. Saw no shortage of atrocious driving. In seven days over the Christmas period we saw precisely zero police officers. I think we've given up on road policing beyond the occasional speed camera.

As we know Mikey is not a vigilante, since he doesn't 'take the law into his own hands', and is actually 'supported'/acknowledged by the police.  Drivers illegally on phones annoy me intensely, so I say all power to him.
About three years ago we had a car tyre puncture on a midlands dual carriageway at night.  The police officer (in BMW) that stopped to help, said he was the only highways patrol car for the county that night - whereas they used to have multiple double teamed vehicles.
Police forces are all over twitter, probably for PR purposes - highlighting the latest unlicenced driver, with positive drug test, no VED, nor valid insurance... Makes one wonder if the detection rate is so low due to staff cuts, that most of it is actually reported on shoshul meeja.

That's why I put vigilante in quotes, that's from the article. My roundabout point was that he shouldn't have to be doing this, when I used to cycle regularly, I don't think there was any commute when I couldn't have pulled over a half-dozen drivers. It's that bad in south London. I imagine everywhere else.

Surrey do much the same on social media – and I imagine for the same reasons – but that's the only place I saw them over Christmas was Twitter. Not a jab at individual officers, but our resourcing and priorities, particularly as the news over the holiday was full of terrible stories of road deaths and significant accidents, and drink/drug driving is now largely unpunished (what happened to those Christmas drink driving campaigns?).

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #12 on: 06 January, 2022, 11:07:36 am »
I gave Mikey a wooden Brio-compatible train set, which was surplus to requirements, about 10 years ago...

Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #13 on: 06 January, 2022, 11:50:12 am »
Hopefully with the forthcoming & overdue law update (Barreto loophole closure), there'll be more efficient reporting / higher levels of successful enforcement.  Perhaps increasing to a minimum £400 with unlimited 'ability to pay' fine structure may help...
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #14 on: 06 January, 2022, 12:28:51 pm »
The sadness is, the technology and the funding (as it makes money) exists now to enforce traffic laws through video cameras, councils do this extensively, but somehow "War on the poor motorist" is confused and conflated with "War against motorists who break laws". Probably because such a large proportion of the public break laws and see nothing wrong with so doing. They are entitled to drive fast, they are entitled to park where they want, etc etc etc

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #15 on: 13 January, 2022, 10:30:55 am »
https://road.cc/content/news/cycling-live-blog-13-january-2022-289479
Quote
Cycling Mikey claims he was assaulted by texting motorist
Mike van Erp, better known by his online alter ego Cycling Mikey, has established himself over the past few years as the king of London’s helmet camera users.

Motivated by his experience as a teenager when his father was killed by a drunk driver, he has reported close to 1,000 law-breaking motorists to the police since 2006 and has proven a particular thorn in the side of those intent on using their phone while driving.

Mikey’s camera has even picked up a few famous scalps along the way, including ex-boxer Chris Eubank, film maker Guy Ritchie and footballer Frank Lampard (coming to a court near you soon).

However, last night it seems one driver – filmed while sending a WhatsApp behind the wheel – took exception to the two-wheeled videographer’s methods:

CyclingMikey tired of road crime. 🇪🇺🇳🇱🇿🇼
@MikeyCycling
Wow just had a phone driver assault me. I’m fine, broken bits on the Brompton and cuts and scrapes on my legs that I’ve noticed so far. Tried to steal the camera. Called 999 and made a report. He was a huge bloke.
5:17 PM · Jan 12, 2022
Read the full conversation on Twitter

Luckily no damage was done to Mike’s camera, so hopefully the enraged driver will have his day in court.

GOT THE FOOTAGE!!!!
CyclingMikey tired of road crime. 🇪🇺🇳🇱🇿🇼
@MikeyCycling
And one of my very smart friends has found out who he is already. I'm not going to contact him, and I'm not going to share details. Sorry. I'd much rather the justice system dealt with him and he didn't get off anything because of such contact.
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
    • Stuff mostly about weather
Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #16 on: 14 January, 2022, 12:26:36 pm »
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-south-yorkshire-59987284?fbclid=IwAR189vApgIkBx66XkJJOioNmsOOwynSnlh2V_nZbr627skLCHOm6n6_Yd8A

A nurse in Sheffield on the close passes she has to suffer.

That first one, where the lorry comes ridiculously close, is encouraged by the road layout: the "optional" (ie broken lines) cycle lane encourages the cyclist to ride in the gutter and leave the space for the lorry driver to do what he did. Had she ignored that cycle lane, and taken primary, then my guess is that that would have discouraged that sort of potentially lethal pass. But then she would have been subject to verbal abuse for "not getting in the fucking cycle lane".
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #17 on: 14 January, 2022, 05:58:22 pm »
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-south-yorkshire-59987284?fbclid=IwAR189vApgIkBx66XkJJOioNmsOOwynSnlh2V_nZbr627skLCHOm6n6_Yd8A

A nurse in Sheffield on the close passes she has to suffer.

That first one, where the lorry comes ridiculously close, is encouraged by the road layout: the "optional" (ie broken lines) cycle lane encourages the cyclist to ride in the gutter and leave the space for the lorry driver to do what he did. Had she ignored that cycle lane, and taken primary, then my guess is that that would have discouraged that sort of potentially lethal pass. But then she would have been subject to verbal abuse for "not getting in the fucking cycle lane".

I know that road, there's a reason I don't use it.

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #18 on: 14 January, 2022, 10:55:40 pm »
Sheffield is not flat and maintaining primary when grinding up a hill isn't really possible.

That road doesn't look too steep but would still make safe, assertive cycling almost impossible.

Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #19 on: 15 January, 2022, 12:47:39 am »
The only thing worse than maintaining primary through a pinch point while moving slowly uphill is maintaining primary through a pinch point while moving slowly up hill when some pillock has painted a cycle lane on it.   :hand:

Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #20 on: 15 January, 2022, 09:28:55 am »
Sheffield is not flat and maintaining primary when grinding up a hill isn't really possible.

That road doesn't look too steep but would still make safe, assertive cycling almost impossible.

The road with the close pass on is Carlisle St, along the Don Valley, the flat bit of Sheffield.

Brightside Lane, which runs parallel is my preferred choice for heading in that direction.

edit: https://goo.gl/maps/59MgMntvJQCunLRc6

Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #21 on: 15 January, 2022, 10:27:28 am »
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-south-yorkshire-59987284?fbclid=IwAR189vApgIkBx66XkJJOioNmsOOwynSnlh2V_nZbr627skLCHOm6n6_Yd8A

A nurse in Sheffield on the close passes she has to suffer.

That first one, where the lorry comes ridiculously close, is encouraged by the road layout: the "optional" (ie broken lines) cycle lane encourages the cyclist to ride in the gutter and leave the space for the lorry driver to do what he did. Had she ignored that cycle lane, and taken primary, then my guess is that that would have discouraged that sort of potentially lethal pass. But then she would have been subject to verbal abuse for "not getting in the fucking cycle lane".

The lorry is driving in the cycle lane at the island. I don't know how the traffic planners get away with painting lanes for motor vehicles that are less than the width of a lorry, but similar examples are all over the place.
Quote from: tiermat
that's not science, it's semantics.

Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #22 on: 15 January, 2022, 10:38:01 am »
Questioning a road plaaner about a proposed cycle lane (across the face of a 'T' junction with a dashed give way line at the end suggesting cycles should give way to passing traffic before a pinch point  >:( ), he came up with the line "Not all cycle lanes are intended to be used, but are there to raise the awareness of drivers."   :o :o  :facepalm:  >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is...

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
    • Stuff mostly about weather
Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #23 on: 15 January, 2022, 10:41:47 am »
That's astonishing. Maybe they could distinguish between them with a sign saying "This cycle lane is for decorative purposes only."
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Re: Wendy be famous now
« Reply #24 on: 15 January, 2022, 11:09:42 am »
Questioning a road plaaner about a proposed cycle lane (across the face of a 'T' junction with a dashed give way line at the end suggesting cycles should give way to passing traffic before a pinch point  >:( ), he came up with the line "Not all cycle lanes are intended to be used, but are there to raise the awareness of drivers."   :o :o  :facepalm:  >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(

Yes, I once had a conversation with the council planning dept about a stretch of road with crap cycle lanes on. The response was "The purpose of the cycle lanes there is to put the motor vehicles closer to the centre of the road, which encourages them to slow down past the school". So again, not for the actual use of cyclists.

They pointed out that there was an actual shared-use cycle path nearby, off road, but that was basically unusable for other reasons (which they didn't have the funds to remedy).
Quote from: tiermat
that's not science, it's semantics.