Jeremy Vine branded a British personal trainer “totally clueless” after he criticised the Channel 5 presenter.
On Tuesday, Vine posted a video of himself using a cycling lane in King Street, Hammersmith. As he continued his journey, a black Volkswagen turned left across the cycle lane.
Although the driver signalled to turn, Vine was forced to stop abruptly in order to avoid colliding with the car. Despite the motorist apologising, Vine said in his video that “this gent needs a refresher driving course”.
The video sparked a fierce debate on social media with many questioning whether the journalist could have slowed sooner or if the motorist was indeed, in the wrong.
In response, fitness coach James Smith, who has a million followers across TikTok and Instagram, claimed “the driving was perfectly fine” and that the video is why “people think all cyclists are w*****s”.
Hitting back, Vine said Mr Smith’s “bias and ignorance” makes him a “danger to the roads”.
Joining the debate, detective chief superintendent, head of crime and intelligence in Lincolnshire said: “If Jeremy Vine was a bus in a bus lane would the car have turned and who would be in the right?
“Do we expect the bus to give way? Well, it’s exactly the same principle for a bike in a cycle lane. ‘The turning vehicle gives way’, there really should be no need to debate this.”
Me: "This is a bike lane. You can't park a truck in it."@Tesco: "We just did." pic.twitter.com/vfdbLf6MYX
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) February 13, 2023
On Monday, Vine posted another video of his commute where a Tesco lorry had parked in the cycle lane. Just twenty seconds later, however, the TV presenter said another parked lorry forces him to get off and walk after parking in a cycle lane.
Accompanying the tweet, he said: “Me: ‘This is a bike lane. You can’t park a truck in it.’ Tesco: ‘We just did’.”
Last August, Vine also videoed cyclists riding four abreast as he drove down a road behind them. The video sparked an angry backlash on Twitter with some accusing the cyclists of “self-entitlement” and “blocking the road”.
In the video, Vine said: “Sunday morning in the country. Absolutely no problem with this at all. This is exactly how cyclists should ride. They’re calming the traffic behind them.”
But commenting on the video former England rugby union captain Will Carling wrote: “I am a cyclist. Simple rule – we are smaller than cars – so be polite, ride single file when holding up cars.”
People who cycle in the country should be encouraged to ride 2, 3 and 4 abreast like this. For the following reasons:
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) August 8, 2021
1. It calms the traffic behind them
2. It makes it less easy for bad drivers to attempt dangerous passes
3. It is more pleasant and sociable for them. pic.twitter.com/vqi4dsuUSs
