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A cyclist is advising other riders to get helmet cameras as he believes they make drivers behave better - but he insists cycling in Reading is safe.

getreading was contacted by Martin Millmore, a man who has been cycling around the town for 18 years.

Like most riders, he’s had some terrifying near misses on the roads of Reading, including the one in the above video where a driver appears to pull out in front of him without looking.

Mr Millmore, from Caversham, felt compelled to respond to a video getreading featured last week of an on-the-move bust-up between a cyclist and a van driver on Tilehurst Road in Reading in the summer.

He says he feels both the rider and the driver involved in that incident were in the wrong, particularly as neither took the opportunity to end the dispute simply by leaving.

However, he advocates the use of helmet cameras, as he feels drivers spot them and do as they’re supposed to because they realise they’re being filmed.

He said: “In general most drivers are perfectly competent and generally courteous, but there are one or two who are completely oblivious to other road users, and some who are downright aggressive to any cyclist who dares to use the same road as them - which is why I decided to get a camera.

“They look a bit silly, but I’ve found drivers do notice them and it seems to make them more wary.

“When they realise you’ve potentially got them on film they seem to follow the rules about cyclists properly.

“I feel it makes cycling a lot safer.

“You have to remember what would be a little dink between two cars is a serious injury and months off work and recovering if a car collides with a cycilst.”

But he added he feels drivers in Reading are generally courteous to cyclists.

He added: “I used to ride around London, and in those days you’d regularly get yelled at.

“Reading’s never been as bad as that. I’ve seen a few things and had a few encounters, but generally I’d say it’s relatively safe.”

Mr Millmore, who is 44, thinks improvements to cycling infrastructure would help a lot.

He added: “There are some good areas for cycling, but some of the cycle lanes in Reading are a bit strange.

“For example, there’s a cycle lane along the pavement in London Road near the hospital, where you have to stop each time you reach a side road.

“I actually use the road because it’s quicker.”