Khan’s road safety TV campaign pulled after ‘victim blaming’ backlash from cyclists

THE MAYOR of London has bowed to the cycling lobby and pulled a television advert promoting road safety following complaints of “victim blaming” by bike users.

Sadiq Khan has halted Transport for London’s (TFL) “See their side” campaign, which included a video showing a driver and a cyclist arguing after a near miss.

The minute-long ad ends with the pair reconciling. However, it was deemed “victim blaming” by cycling campaigners, who argued that the motorist almost caused the accident yet the film implies both parties were equally culpable.

Following the backlash, Will Norman, the mayor of London’s walking and cycling commissioner, announced that the campaign was going to be “paused to consider the feedback that has been received”. Jo Rigby, a Labour councillor in Wandsworth, wrote an open letter to TFL which said the advert is asking cyclists to “empathise with dangerous drivers”.

She added: “As a pedestrian and cyclist who has experienced many close passes from drivers, this ad has triggered distress in recalling those moments when I didn’t think my children would ever see me again.”

Dr Robert Davis, chairman of the Road Danger Reduction Forum said TFL should be careful not to repeat its “non-evidence based victim blaming”.

“This is an issue which goes right to the heart of what safety on the road is all about – do you want to cut danger at source or keep the status quo with traditional ‘road safety’ non-evidence based victim blaming?” he wrote on social media.

An instructor from the cycle school Cyclical Monkeys said the campaign is “a patronising, victim blaming, green light to driver apologists and dismisses the bad/aggressive driving that cyclists experience daily”.

“You should remove this advert and remind drivers of their duty of care to all vulnerable road users,” he added.

A TFL spokesman said: “We’re committed to Vision Zero and the elimination of all deaths and serious injuries from London’s roads.

“The aim of this campaign is to challenge the sometimes divergent nature of London’s road culture and to encourage all road users to be more empathetic when travelling.

“We know that people walking and cycling are much more vulnerable on the roads than other groups of road users, and this campaign is not designed to suggest otherwise.”

“We have decided to pause the ‘See their side’ ad campaign while we consider the feedback.”