Russell is fed up of drivers’ attitudes towards cyclists so he’s challenged his anti-cyclist friend Adam to ditch his car and travel to work by bike for a whole week. This video shows Adam’s near misses and how life on two wheels challenged his views about both drivers and cyclists.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
@Jmziecoupe Last year Paris recorded 0 cyclists deaths. Last week yet another cyclist was killed in London.
@arushandapushand
PS
If I lived in Holland or Denmark I would definintely never wear a bike helmet.
It’s purely for the cultural meaning it has in this country that I wear one.
For those advocating mandatory helmets for cyclists, I trust you’ll sign my petition to make helmets mandatory for all motor vehicle occupants as well. Helmets for motorists will lead to significant improvements to crash survivability and improved accident outcomes.
@mikyt21
That study was by Ian Walker at Bath University.
I’m a bit dubious about it. Your helmet is just one aspect of your appearance and behaviour that might influence drivers.
Personally, I wear a helmet purely for cosmetic reasons.
People like the driver in this video perceive you as a responsible and diciplined road user if you wear a helmet. I think that helps.
People in this country should take a look at how others drive in Italy and France and realise how good we have got it in this country.
This video still doesn’t address the issue from the proper cyclists persepctive. Half the time this guy was in the gutter which we simply don’t do. Cyclecraft and the highway code says we don’t belong in the gutter.
The bike lanes are utter crap. End too soon and often designed by someone who will get a bonus to his pay packet per extra metre he puts in. Poorly designed and most proper cyclists wont touch them!!
The emergency stop was just a lack of forward planning tbh….but hey, not saying I’ve never missed something!
And…for some of the other issues Google AirZound 
While a Helmet is a good idea, you will hit a car (or Vice Versa) with ya legs. Unless you are lying on the road after being knocked off and the next car along hits you then… Not that the helmet will do any good then. They are designed to protect the head from low speed impacts such as falling off ya bike. Not being hit in the leg by 2 Tons of steel and plastic driven by a incompetent fool.
Great video, not sure if I should feel sorry or pleased that Adam experienced the full spectrum of problems cyclists encounter in his first week! Some of it could have been avoided with a bit of experience and reading the road (blocked cycle lanes, peds crossing on the green etc.) but then that would come in time! I personally think ALL drivers should have to spend time on a bicycle before being allowed out in a car.
What model of Bell helmet is the cyclist wearing? Is it the Bell Sequence?
@actorsapparel Hi there,
There was a study (I think by the CTC) that shows cars are more likely to pass cyclists wearing a helmet more closely than riders without helmets.
Regarding the comment, what annoys drivers about cyclists: “Not looking. Going through red lights” .. I see drivers do those things too!
From my experience the most common 2 dangers I face are:
1. Vehicles passing by too closely. Especially when roads are narrow
2. Vehicles pulling out from junctions. They just never see cyclists
Indecently, I drive too so I am not anti-driver in any way
Stop saying cycle lanes are brilliant, they’re absolute wank!
Nice video Adam and Russ!
People who don’t wear helmets clearly think they look more cool without them 
… that and they were most likely spoilt as kids!
I haven’t done any research what-so-ever but I’m going to take an educated guess that wearing a helmet certainly wont increase your chances of injury or death? Then again I might be wrong?
@ian8354 true, i do own a helmet but i’ve only worn it twice, once when i was legally required too and the other mtbing (on large trails with lots of stones etc) with friends who i didn’t want to have to deal with me injuring myself in the middle of a forest) but I still didn’t ride thinking it’d save my life.
@Testedecazzo Here. Here. ! A friend of mine attended a local Cycle Club meeting to discuss helmets and the gaffer of the Club told members that they have to wear a helmet when out on the bike, In the club it was 50/50 of ‘wearers’ and ‘none wearers’ within five minutes there was mass arguing and then a fight broke out because they were being forced into wearing a helmet. Other vehicle users should respect Bikers/Cyclists and this will save lives not kill lives.
@Testedecazzo How many bikers on todays roads are spotted who wear their helmets on the BACK of their head ? Hundreds ! You may aswell wear it on your ass. I made it aware of the pro’s and con’s of wearing a helmet recently on a facebook page and within hours i was threatened by so called friends who said i know nothing about the statistics of helmets. Some bikers refused to hear that helmets DON’T save your necking from breaking at speeds above 15MPH.
Whose your favourite, Adam or Russell? I can’t decide!
1:29 the reason more people DON’T cycle to work
As for the uphill, Colston st to Park Row. when the BRI work is finished go through Terrel St, along to Dighton St, Dove Street and finally nine tree. It may be the second most brutal climb in Kingsdown, but its closed to cars and quiet. You are free to get off and walk. That and use wider tyres for better stopping power.
Given Adam appears to live on St Matthews Road, Kingsdown, why is he commuting up and down Park St? Horfield Road – park row, drop to colston st, and you are the centre. Still hazardous, but easier:
nice video, shows the sort of things cyclists need to anticipate when on the road. the more you ride the more you can predict what will happen next. what annoys me the most are drivers who don’t dip their headlights in the dark for a cyclist meaning I can’t see any potholes in the road so I am forced to slow right down.
{grin} – given it’s Confuseddotcom, they MIGHT just have mentioned insurance for a bike can cost as little as £25-30 …………. yup, for a year!
“It really annoys me to see cyclists who don’t wear helmets” WTF?! Why on earth would that annoy you?! Bizarre comment.
