A UK cyclist has been continuing his hunt for bad drivers, particularly around the London area. Michael van Erp, better known as CyclingMikey, is a YouTuber who raises awareness of some of the poor driving that cyclists, in particular, have to worry about.
Footage is filmed from his helmet-mounted GoPro camera, and he tries to capture some of the worst driving offenses you can imagine. Much of what he films is people who are driving while using their mobile phones, which is, of course, against the law.
However, his videos have extended far beyond just members of the public. The cyclist has captured footage of celebrities who have been caught using their mobile phones, or even driving through a red light. Guy Ritchie was banned from driving for six months after being caught using his phone by the YouTuber. Chris Eubank was filmed driving through a red light.
His videos have at times become controversial. Some believe he is going a bit too far with what he does. However, he has managed to reveal just how bad some British drivers are, raise awareness of their bad practices, and raise awareness for cyclists who have to deal with bad motorists.
Why Does Cyclingmickey Do What He Does?
Mike van Erp explained in a 2022 interview with the British newspaper The Guardian why he does what he does. Van Erp is a Dutch national who grew up in Zimbabwe before moving to the UK in 1998 to work in IT. While still living in Zimbabwe, his father was killed by a drunk driver while he was riding his motorbike. Van Erp, who was 19 at the time, was told of the incident, and when he arrived, he saw the wreck of the bike and his father’s body hidden by a blanket.
That serves as the primary motivation for him to do what he does. But he also wants to help in whatever way he can to improve road safety in the UK, particularly for cyclists. In Britain, cyclists are 25 times more likely to be injured or killed in an accident than those travelling in a car. Cyclists are some of the most vulnerable road users in the country, so anything to assist them is only a good thing.
The Dutchman does focus most of his attention on the dangers that cyclists have to face. A crossroads beside Regent’s Park, dubbed ‘Gandalf Corner,’ is a particular focal point where drivers will drive on the wrong side of the road, past a pedestrian crossing island, so they don’t have to queue to turn right. Videos of the YouTuber showing this off on his channel have some of the highest views of all of his content.
His Videos Highlight How Distracted Drivers Can Be
Van Erp’s videos also reveal how distracted drivers can be. Many of those he films show drivers using their phone when driving, usually when stationary in traffic, fail to notice him cycling alongside their cars and begin filming them. It can take several minutes before they realize what is going on, and sometimes the YouTuber may even have to tap on the window to actually get their attention.
Film director Guy Ritchie was caught doing just that, and he was banned from driving for six months thanks to what CyclingMickey was able to film. Some call him a ‘vigilante’ and think he is more of a nuisance than anything else. But with how dangerous it can be for cyclists, and with the memory of his father’s death always in mind, Van Erp will likely never stop doing what he does.