Lights, camera, door? As an experienced road cyclist who spends hours training on UK roads every week, Paul knows that however safely you ride, you can’t control what the driver behind you will do. That proved true on the A224 at Polhill, where a driver overtook him despite double white lines and an oncoming vehicle, passing far too close and swerving back towards Paul to avoid the oncoming car. The passenger then opened the door while the vehicle was still moving and shouted abuse at him. The incident has been reported to Kent Police using footage from Paul’s Cycliq Fly12 Sport.
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WARNING: Explicit language
Every UpRider has a story. Here is Paul’s.
What happened prior to this incident and why do you record your ride?
I’m a very experienced road cyclist and spend a lot of hours every week riding and training on UK roads. Before this incident, I was simply out riding, minding my own business and riding normally on the A224 at Polhill.
I use Cycliq cameras because, unfortunately, however safely you ride, you cannot control what somebody behind the wheel is going to do. Most drivers are absolutely fine and give me plenty of room, but it only takes one bad decision to put a cyclist in serious danger.
That is exactly what happened here. The driver decided to overtake me despite the double white lines and an oncoming vehicle. They passed far too close, ended up having to move back towards me because of the oncoming car, and then the passenger opened the door while the vehicle was still moving and shouted abuse at me.
This is exactly why I record my rides. Without the footage, it can very quickly become my word against theirs. With the footage, there is no argument about what actually happened: the camera shows the complete sequence of events.
When do you feel most vulnerable as a cyclist?
I feel most vulnerable when a driver decides that getting past a cyclist is more important than waiting a few seconds for a safe opportunity.
I’ve ridden thousands of miles on the road and I’m comfortable riding in traffic. What worries me isn’t normal traffic, it’s impatience and poor judgement. A driver can be sitting safely inside a vehicle weighing well over a tonne while I’m on a bicycle with virtually no protection. If they misjudge an overtake, I’m the one who pays the price.
This incident sums it up perfectly. There were double white lines and an oncoming vehicle, yet the driver still decided they had to get past me. There was absolutely no need for it. Wait a few seconds, let the road clear and pass safely.
What made this incident even worse was the passenger then opening the door while the car was still moving and shouting abuse. At that point, it had gone beyond a badly judged overtake.
What do you think are the most important things that can be done to improve safety for cyclists on the road?
Education and enforcement.
Drivers need to understand that giving a cyclist proper space isn’t a courtesy, it’s about somebody’s safety. If there isn’t enough room to overtake safely, don’t overtake. Losing ten or twenty seconds behind a bicycle is irrelevant compared with potentially changing somebody’s life forever.
I also think video evidence needs to continue being taken seriously by police forces. Cameras such as Cycliq are incredibly useful because they remove a lot of the argument about what happened. If somebody drives dangerously around a cyclist and there is clear footage of it, there should be consequences.
But I don’t think this should become cyclists versus motorists. I drive as well, and the vast majority of drivers I encounter are considerate. We just need the minority who make dangerous, impatient decisions to realise that a cyclist is a person, not an obstacle in their way.
Did you report your incident? What was the reporting process?
I reported the incident online to Kent Police and provided full details of what happened, including the vehicle registration, exact location, date and time.
I explained the close pass, the vehicle crossing the double white lines with an oncoming vehicle approaching, and the passenger subsequently opening the door while the vehicle was still moving and shouting abuse at me.
I also informed the police that I have clear Cycliq camera footage with audio showing the entire incident. The registration and sequence of events are clearly visible.
The online reporting process itself was straightforward and allowed me to give a detailed account of what happened and explain what video evidence I have available. The report has now been submitted, and I am waiting to hear what action, if any, Kent Police decide to take.
What is your advice for other cyclists?
Ride confidently, ride predictably, and don’t allow an impatient driver behind you to dictate where you position yourself on the road.
I would also recommend riding with a camera if you can. Hopefully you never need the footage, but incidents like this demonstrate why I use one.
Most importantly, don’t get dragged into a confrontation. I know that isn’t always easy when somebody has just put you in danger and then starts giving you abuse, but your priority is getting home safely. Remember the registration, keep the footage, report it, and let the evidence do the talking.
And keep riding. Incidents like this make you angry, but they shouldn’t be allowed to take away everything that’s brilliant about being out on a bike.
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