Jeremy Vine, the BBC Radio 2 presenter known for his outspoken campaign on cycling safety, has announced he will no longer post videos of his often tense encounters with motorists during his commutes in London. Vine, 59, has been sharing footage from his 360-degree helmet camera for years to highlight the dangers faced by cyclists on busy city roads, aiming to promote greater awareness among drivers and improve road safety standards. However, the backlash and trolling he has experienced as a result have led him to step back from posting these videos.
In a statement shared on social media over the weekend, Vine said, “The trolling just got too bad. [The videos] have had well over 100 million views but in the end the anger they generate has genuinely upset me.” He explained that his motivation was always to raise awareness about road safety, saying, “My aim was only to get all of us who drive to think about the dangers of trying to move around cities on a pushbike.” While acknowledging that he sometimes got frustrated with drivers, such as when they pulled out without looking, Vine insisted his intention was never to provoke anger but to showcase the risks faced by cyclists.
During an interview with BBC Radio 4’s World at One on 28 April, Vine elaborated on the hostile responses he had received, describing the online abuse as "flak" or "trolling." He said, “I shouldn't mind, but in the end I just thought I just want to now switch the narrative, I don't want to do this any more and in the end it did get to me.” Vine also remarked on the deeply entrenched car culture in the UK, claiming, “Driving is a religion in this country” and that challenging it often invites fierce backlash.
Some of the trolling has been particularly malicious. Vine shared a comment he found especially cruel, in which someone wrote, “Please only upload another cycling video if it's you getting run down and hospitalised.” He further revealed that “a regular theme has been the desire to see me crushed by a truck.” His videos have often sparked heated debates between cyclists and drivers online, but Vine emphasised that while he welcomes discussion, he does not tolerate abuse. “I enjoy debates but not abuse,” he said in his social media post. “It’s strange that getting interested in road safety can actually endanger a person.”
Vine’s decision to stop posting his cycling footage follows a series of personal challenges, including the recent theft of his bicycle from his home. His videos first gained widespread attention in 2017, when a woman was jailed for making gun signs and shouting at him on the street—an incident Vine recorded and which was viewed over 15 million times. The Channel 5 presenter has also disclosed that the police are currently investigating “at least two” death threats made against him.
In a more candid moment on That Gaby Roslin Podcast last week, Vine expressed his disdain for dangerous drivers, accusing some of having “small d*** energy” and suggesting their dangerous behaviour might stem from personal frustrations. Despite the confrontational tone of some snippets, when asked on World at One if he was too militant himself, Vine described himself simply as “just a safety first kind of a guy.”
The Independent is reporting that Jeremy Vine’s withdrawal from posting cycling videos marks a significant moment in the ongoing conversation about road safety in the UK, highlighting the challenges faced by advocates who confront deeply rooted attitudes on the roads.
Source: Noah Wire Services