Jeremy Vine has announced he will stop posting his cycling incident videos on social media, citing the overwhelming amount of online abuse he has received. The veteran broadcaster, known for his work on Channel 5 and BBC Radio 2, has been sharing clips highlighting dangerous and illegal driving behaviour encountered while cycling in London. However, his vigilante-style campaign, which has attracted hundreds of millions of views, has also sparked significant hostility.
Vine’s decision came shortly after his £620 bicycle was stolen from outside his home in Chiswick, west London, an event that made him reconsider continuing to act as a public critic of road safety issues. Speaking to MailOnline, Vine said, “There's just so much anger,” referring to the vitriol aimed at him on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter). He described receiving foul-mouthed comments, including threats of harm and personal attacks, with some suggesting his family life was compromised by animosity from car drivers.
Despite deciding to step back from sharing these videos publicly, Vine committed to continuing to record and report dangerous driving to the police, hoping to maintain safety standards without the added burden of online hostility.
Among those commenting on Vine’s approach is ITV's Tour de France commentator Ned Boulting, who, while supporting Vine's intentions, expressed concern that the videos may have unintended consequences for the wider cycling community. In a Substack column, Boulting acknowledged Vine’s message was "almost always right," highlighting the danger posed by reckless motorists to cyclists, supported by statistics. However, he argued that the tone of the videos could discourage potential cyclists rather than encourage active travel.
"Jeremy’s videos, frankly, would put the fear of God into you," Boulting said. He added that cycling is fundamentally "fun," "liberating," and "life-changing," but Vine’s clips might paint a more hostile picture than reality. Boulting, himself an experienced London cyclist, noted that his own experience has been "far more benign" than that depicted in Vine’s carefully edited clips, which often focus on the most extreme and dangerous incidents.
Boulting also highlighted the wider cultural context in which Vine’s videos have become embroiled, describing the work as having turned into a "senseless culture war." He noted that the issue of cycling in London has become entangled with various political and social debates, ranging from urban planning concepts like the "15-minute city" to controversies over environmental policies such as the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). This environment has intensified the reaction to Vine’s content, making the discourse toxic and divisive.
The backlash Vine faced online has included both insults and threats, with detractors seizing each new video to launch abuse. Boulting said this hostile atmosphere made Vine’s content "unwelcoming, unattractive," and potentially harmful to cycling’s wider appeal, portraying cyclists as "militant" and "unhinged," and provoking disdain among many road users and pedestrians.
Jeremy Vine has been a committed cyclist in London for many years and estimated that he covered around 25,000 miles on the bike that was stolen. Although he is currently without a bike and has been driving to work for his presenting duties, he remains dedicated to road safety advocacy, choosing to continue efforts through formal reporting rather than social media posting.
The Daily Mail is reporting that this development marks a significant moment in the ongoing public debate about urban cycling safety, road user behaviour, and the role of social media in shaping perceptions of these issues.
Source: Noah Wire Services