BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
On Thursday last week, BBC Look East ran a news story about a Cambridge cyclist being knocked from his bike by an inattentive driver but did not mention any police action being taken. Instead, BBC TV reporter Kim Riley read out viewer comments which complained that cyclists "do not pay road tax".
This factual error was not flagged as such by the BBC and nor was another comment about roads being funded only by motorists flagged as wrong. The offending clip was placed on YouTube by iPayRoadTax.com and it quickly went viral, with 6000+ views in just a few days. BBC Look East was deluged with complaints, leading to a follow-up story on last night’s show.
This follow-up report – also now on YouTube – majored on the abolition of ‘road tax’ in 1937. This is a fact rarely, if ever, reported in the mainstream media. TV reporter Kim Riley also featured the fact roads are funded by general taxation.
"Many motorists assume they, and they alone, pay for roads so, goes the flawed argument, cyclists have less rights to ride on those roads," says the iPayRoadTax website.
Kim Riley said: "My report on Thursday sent the cycling websites buzzing with disapproval. The complaints are still flooding in."
He read out four comments, including two from doctors. Dr Tony Raven said he was "appalled by the standard of reporting," said Riley.
"None of [those who commented] will be nominating me for journalist of the year," joked Riley.
The BBC backtracking follows on from earlier successes by the iPayRoadTax campaign. Last month both Which?Car magazine and the Plain English Campaign agreed to use the more accurate ‘car tax’ when referring to Vehicle Excise Duty.
iPayRoadTax.com is run by BikeBiz executive editor Carlton Reid. Campaign jerseys are produced by Foska of London, available online and from retailers such as Rutland Water Cycling, Dorchester Cycles and 36 branches of Evans Cycles.
On Saturday there was a sales spike for iPayRoadTax jerseys following coverage of the BBC Look East saga by CTC, Bikeradar.com and Road.cc.
