CyclingMikey

Last updated

CyclingMikey
Personal information
Born
Michael van Erp

1972 (age 52) The Netherlands
NationalityDutch
Occupation(s) Roller skating instructor, Carer
YouTube information
Channel
LocationLondon
Years active2009–present
Genre Cycling
Subscribers105 thousand [1]
Total views64.72 million [1]
Last updated: 12 April 2024

Michael van Erp, better known as CyclingMikey, [2] is a London-based YouTuber who films drivers using their mobile phones as well as committing other traffic offences, footage of which he reports to the police, and later uploads to his YouTube channel. [3]

Contents

Van Erp has attracted media attention by stating that cyclists are not a measurable threat to road safety in London. [4] He later admitted that he inadvertently filmed himself running a red light in Belgravia, London in April 2024, stating "So what? I'll pay the fine!" [5]

Video content

In November 2019, Van Erp filmed Guy Ritchie using a mobile phone while driving. Ritchie was subsequently prosecuted and banned from driving for six months. [6] [7] [8] In 2021, he filmed Chris Eubank driving through a red light, an offence for which Eubank was subsequently prosecuted. [9] [10] In April 2021, he filmed Frank Lampard using a mobile phone and holding a hot drink while driving, [11] but the prosecution was later dropped, due to insufficient evidence, after Lampard hired lawyer Nick Freeman to deal with the case. [12]

A regular location for Van Erp's videos and reports is a crossroads beside Regent's Park, which he dubbed "Gandalf Corner", where he waits and has stopped many drivers from driving on the wrong side of the road past a pedestrian crossing island to avoid queueing to turn right. [13] [14]

CyclingMikey
Location of "Gandalf Corner" near Regent's Park

In September 2021, while at "Gandalf Corner", Van Erp ended up on the bonnet of celebrity talent agent Paul Lyon-Maris's Range Rover while trying to stop him from making an illegal right turn. Since Lyon-Maris continued to drive with Van Erp on the bonnet, he was charged with assault and dangerous driving, besides the lesser charge of contravening a keep-left sign. Lyon-Maris pleaded guilty to the lesser charge, but he pleaded not guilty to the two greater charges, alleging that Van Erp jumped onto the bonnet while Van Erp claimed Lyon-Maris drove into him and he fell onto the bonnet. [15] A jury cleared Lyon-Maris of both remaining charges. [16]

In November 2022, Van Erp appeared on the BBC television programme Panorama , in an episode titled "Road Rage: Cars v Bikes". [17]

Personal life

Van Erp was born on January 1972 in The Netherlands and grew up in Zimbabwe. [18] [19] When he was 19, his father, while riding a motorbike, was killed by a drunk driver. [18] Van Erp moved to the UK in 1998 to pursue a career in IT. He is now a professional carer. [2] He has also worked as a roller skating instructor. [20]

He has two sons [21] and lives in west London. [22]

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References

  1. 1 2 "About CyclingMikey". YouTube.
  2. 1 2 Walker, Peter (5 January 2022). "'I felt powerless – so I started filming': CyclingMikey on his one-man battle with dangerous drivers". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  3. ↑ Grafton-Green, Patrick (31 March 2014). "Debate rages over CyclingMikey Bromley Common YouTube video". News Shopper. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021..
  4. ↑ Van Erp, Mike (23 March 2024). "Yes we cyclists can be annoying, but it's you drivers who are the real threat in London" . Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  5. ↑ Somerville, Ewan (10 April 2024). "Vigilante Cycling Mikey caught running a red light" . Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  6. ↑ White, Adam (23 July 2020). "Guy Ritchie gets driving ban after being caught texting by YouTuber". The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  7. ↑ Johnston, Neil. "Cycling vigilante snatches Guy Ritchie on phone while in Range Rover". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  8. ↑ Dunne, Tristan Kirk, John (23 July 2020). "Lock, stock and a driving ban: Guy Ritchie filmed texting at wheel". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ MacMichael, Simon (4 June 2021). "Cycling Mikey scores points victory over Chris Eubank after filming boxing champ going through red light". road.cc. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  10. ↑ Kirk, Tristan; Dunne, John (4 June 2021). "Exclusive: Activist nails boxer Chris Eubank for jumping red light". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  11. ↑ Kirk, Tristan (3 December 2021). "Frank Lampard drove with coffee and phone, claims 'cyclist activist'". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  12. ↑ MacMichael, Simon (12 January 2022). "Prosecution of football star Frank Lampard filmed by CyclingMikey using mobile phone while driving dropped, CPS confirms". road.cc. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  13. ↑ Volpe, Sam (5 July 2019). "Regent's Park cyclists and pedestrians campaign over dangerous traffic at Outer Circle corner". Hampstead Highgate Express. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  14. ↑ "CyclingMikey ends up on car bonnet during confrontation with angry motorist". road.cc. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  15. ↑ Kirk, Tristan (10 October 2022). "Celebrity agent 'drove with cyclist on bonnet after road row'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  16. ↑ "Film agent cleared of dangerous driving after activist jumped on car". BBC News. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  17. ↑ MacMichael, Simon (2 November 2022). "Review: Panorama – Road Rage: Cars v Bikes". road.cc. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  18. 1 2 Bennett, Ella (20 May 2021). "Cyclist who has caught and reported over 1000 drivers - including film star". MyLondon. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  19. ↑ Langendorff, Geert (12 January 2022). "'Doe wat je niet laten kan': Nederlander lapt appende automobilisten erbij in Londen". Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  20. ↑ Johnston, Neil. "Cycling vigilante snatches Guy Ritchie on phone while in Range Rover". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  21. ↑ Jager, Nick Rufford | Video by Pauline Den Hartog (18 January 2024). "What's driving Cycling Mikey, Britain's most hated cyclist?" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ↑ Hockaday, James (18 January 2022). "Frank Lampard pictured for first time after driving while using phone charge dropped".
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