Taking the lane or taking the mickey?

Why do some people on bicycles insist on riding down the centre of the lane?

A: Well, that's easy. They want to make it to the end of their journey on their bike. Not in an ambulance. And certainly not in a hearse.

No, seriously, why can't they ride at the side of the road and let faster traffic pass?

For starters, they are the traffic. They may take up much less space than a person in a motor vehicle, but they are still the traffic.

They may also be faster overall in towns and cities than a person in a motor vehicle (as demonstrated by Richard Hammond).

This image was posted by Jeremy Clarkson (you know, the silly one off Top Gear) along with the comment:

"It's middle of the road point-makers like this who make car drivers so angry about cyclists."

One of the good things about the internet is you frequently get to hear the other side of the story. As is often the case with Mr Clarkson, the other side is usually a lot more interesting.

For example, we now have information that suggests the photograph was taken here by Mr Clarkson whilst driving (and leaning out of his window). Dracott Place is a short, narrow, two way residential street in London. Most of it has no centre line and cars parked on both sides at the western end. Cars are parked along its length on the left (relative to the photo) and there are numerous side junctions.

In other words, a regular residential street, with all the regular dangers posed to (not by) people who are not in motor vehicles. In this type of residential environment, the street is ridiculously 'designed for motor vehicles' forcing people on bicycles to either 'take the lane' and be safe or place themselves in mortal danger in the 'dooring zone'.

Dracott Place is 0.17 miles long. That's less than 300 yards. The speed limit is 30 mph. If you were foolish enough to drive at 30mph on this residential road it would take a mere 20 seconds to go from one end to the other. The person on the bicycle looks to be fairly fit, so was likely moving at 15-20mph. If he were to travel the whole length of the road at 15mph it would take him 40 seconds.

So, Mr Clarkson, are you suggesting that the additional 20 seconds you would have gained from driving at 30mph for 300 yards are worth more to you 'celebrity' life than all of the remaining life of another human being and their loved ones? Starting to look a little petty now isn't it?

Yet, not content with valuing your 20 seconds of life over the life of another, you publish a photograph to more than 2 million people with a title guaranteed to fuel animosity between fellow human beings?

What kind of person does that make you?

People on bicycle are subject to frequent 'near death experiences' because of the animosity engendered by this kind of inflammatory publication. Many people (on bicycles and on foot) die and many more suffer life changing injuries because of the lack of care and consideration given by people in motor vehicles toward other people. In part, you are responsible for endangering the lives and well-being of others.

I realise (as do you, I'm sure) most of what you do and say is just fluff - some might say attention seeking - but is it really worth it when the fallout has such a negative impact on so many?

Update: Jim Davis (@lofidelityjim) pointed me to this:



In Jim's words: "It's the most beautifully paced intelligent piece of stand-up." Quite agree.