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A crusading cyclist has launched a one-man campaign against drivers who put people on two-wheels in danger.

The 24-year-old - who wants remain anonymous due to online abuse from motorists - uses a camera on his cycle helmet to film instances of bad driving.

He then posts the videos online.

The researcher, who lives in Rusholme cycles 500 miles a month and has posted around 50 videos to YouTube under his tag MCR Cyclist.

(Image: Vincent Cole)

He has vowed to continue his crusade until the behaviour of motorists towards cyclists improves.

He said: “The police have seen my videos and they have spoken to some drivers and considered taking action so I get quite a lot of abuse.

“I don’t want to be vulnerable if people recognise me on my way to work for my own safety.”

But he also gets positive feedback.

He added: “Drivers who were abusive on the roadside when incidents have happened then view the footage and get in touch to say they are now seeing it from a whole new perspective and are genuinely apologetic. On those occasions, I take down the video because it’s done its job and the drivers seem genuinely aware that what they did was wrong.”

“If I get just one driver to change their ways - and potentially save a cyclist or pedestrian from harm - then what I’m doing is worth it,”

He began filming around five years ago after being hit by a driver. Because there were no independent witnesses, no action could be taken.

He added: “It was a case of recording for my own safety and protection. But I starting putting them online as an educational tool.

“I get a lot of drivers on mobile phones but police struggle to take action if it isn’t their footage - they usually just talk to drivers to warn them.”

And he has strict criteria for the videos that make the Youtube cut.

He added: “If I’m in danger or if I had to take some form of action to prevent myself or others being harmed I upload it.”

He thinks Manchester’s main challenges are driver awareness - and infrastructure maintenance.

He added: “I think the main thing is cycle infrastructure being maintained. Quite often cycle pathways are installed but not maintained, they aren’t cleaned well enough - there is glass and obstacles which makes it unsafe.

“Copenhagen has segregated cycle lanes and that’s definitely the way forward to encourage more people to cycle.”

Top five things that annoy cyclists, by the headcam crusader

1. Impatience: “This is the worst, the biggest and most dangerous problem. So many drivers just don’t seem to want to wait five seconds for a cyclist. They always have somewhere to be, we all do. But patience is key.”

2. Not knowing the Highway Code: “They press too close - there should be a car’s width when passing a cyclist - if I can reach out and touch you, then you are too close.”

3. Oblivious drivers: “You get drivers just not paying attention or not using their mirrors before indicating left or right. It’s the simple mirror, signal, manoeuvre to check if we are there. But so many fail to do it.”

4. Over-stepping advanced safety zones: “They are at nearly every traffic light junction in Manchester, yet drivers are not educated on their responsibilities and they just drive into them. It’s dangerous.”

5. Tailgating: “That is a bad one, drivers get too close behind you and if you have to stop suddenly it’s dangerous.”

Solicitors dealing with more cyclist injury cases

One firm of lawyers in Manchester have revealed it is currently handling more cases involving injuries to cyclists.

JMW Solicitors’ case load is against a backdrop of serious injuries suffered by cyclists in Greater Manchester rising by 23 per cent over the last decade.

The rise is despite a 30pc fall in collisions involving bikes, according to statistics released by Greater Manchester Police under the Freedom of Information Act.

There were 90 serious injuries last year, compared with 74 in 2004, while the number of collisions involving bikes fell from 804 in 2004 to 562 in 2013.

A serious injury is defined as anything more serious than sprains, bruising or cuts not judged to be severe.

The law firm has also commissioned a national survey, with 654 respondents.

Of those, 57pc of motorists said cycle lanes are not big enough.

And 72pc of cyclists said their their city’s infrastructure was adequate.

JMW is dealing with more 40 claims for cyclists - with six complainants from Greater Manchester.

Jane Bedford McLaren, senior associate and head of JMW’s cycling claims team, Twisted Spokes, said: “The findings of this survey underline what many cyclists have long argued, that cycling infrastructure as it stands, is simply not fit for purpose.

“British cycle lanes are inadequate because they are often too narrow and do not connect with other cycle lanes to create a complete network. Ideally, cycle lanes should be separate from the road and if this is not possible, at least wider than they currently are; a third of the road.

“More also needs to be done to link up existing cycle lanes, and create new ones, particularly securing the safety of commuting cyclists into and out of the city centre.”

She added: “It is really positive that a majority of motorists surveyed agree that cycle lanes are not large enough, as it demonstrates that there are drivers out there who have some understanding of cyclists’ needs. However, that understanding needs to be broadened and deepened.”

Greater Manchester has the third highest number of cyclist commuters in the country with 25,161.

It follows Cambridgeshire, with 29,689 and Greater London with 155,000.

Dave Newton, Transport for Greater Manchester’s Transport Strategy Director. “This survey reports very similar findings to others that TfGM, and organisations as varied as British Cycling and the AA have conducted.

“At TfGM we understand and share the opinions reflected here – for cyclists to feel safer and more confident on the road they would like a network of high quality, continuous cycle routes which are largely segregated from general traffic.

“Our recent Greater Manchester Cycle Strategy takes this approach and a programme of improvements is now under way, with over £45m funding to improve cycling provision in coming years.

“Over the coming year we’ll be making major improvements to cycle routes across Greater Manchester, with around 120km of new and improved cycle routes.

“Seven key cycle routes into the city centre, which include segregated sections where possible, will be improved by next summer. These have been developed in consultation with the cycling community and cycle user groups.”

An innovative range of designs are being used including wider cycle lanes and providing segregation for cyclists from other traffic. These include improving off-highway routes, such as canals, introducing fully segregated routes and parallel cycle tracks.

‘Armadillos’ - road-fixed rubber barriers similar to those used in Barcelona - have already been introduced on a key route in Salford and similar further sections of segregation will be introduced on other routes as part of the programme.

TfGM is also opening a network of cycle hubs to provide around 1,000 secure cycle parking spaces and lockers at key locations across Greater Manchester.

It also runs training courses and a competition this month aimed at getting more people cycling.