Oxford boss says: “Motorists and cyclists are feuding factions”

Jake Swinhoe, co-founder and director of Velocity Cycle Couriers, an ultra-low emissions courier company, said there were “differences” between drivers and cyclists on city streets.

He said there had been times when cyclists and motorists were “warring factions, shaking angry fists and hurling expletives at each other”.

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Mr Swinhoe added: “There will come a day when motorists and cyclists will stroll along together, happily sharing the roads with a friendly smile and a wave, recognizing each other as fellow travelers with equal rights.”

“Unfortunately, the streets of Oxford are characterized by a far more divided picture, with warring factions shaking their fists angrily and hurling abuse at each other.

“For every car that turns into a bike lane, there is a bike that goes through a red light. For every truck that drives off without thinking once, thinking twice and then thinking with the bike, there is a cyclist who has no lights and no helmet at night.” .

“Cargo bikes are becoming increasingly common on our roads and the debate continues about unlicensed, uninsured, unaccountable drivers who don’t pay road tax and think they own the roads. But is it like that from the perspective of a professional bike courier company?”

(Image: Jake Swinhoe) Founded in 2022, Velocity Cycle Couriers now works with more than 80 local businesses to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions in our city.

Other projects include working with Oxford City Council to support businesses in the city center and east of Oxford, and a partnership with Good Food Oxford to sell fresh produce from local farmers and producers to Oxford’s colleges, schools and hopefully hospitals.

Mr Swinhoe added: “Our drivers will be out and about in all types of weather – rain, snow, frost and strong winds – but are trained to follow traffic rules and always be considerate of other road users.”

“When an absent-minded tourist steps onto the street with his face into a cell phone, we try to avoid it, ring the bell boldly and say ‘Hello’ cheerfully, even though it can be tiring.”

“Velocity has been on the streets of Oxford for more than two and a half years and has learned a lot about how to get around our city and how best to get along with other road users.”

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“There have been two cargo bike accidents during this time – one where a van backed into our bike and they mutually agreed to buy us a new fender, the other where a car overtook a stationary cargo bike and caused damage Then he sped away before our driver knew what had happened.

“Fortunately, this means we don’t have to deal with extremely expensive insurance policies for our bikes and riders, nor do we have to cause damage to other road users, pedestrians or walls.”

(Image: Jake Swinhoe) “Personally, I’m a cyclist and a driver – I’m aware that a car or van does a lot more damage to a cyclist than a bike does to a car. Therefore, try to give cyclists a safe distance and a stress-free journey when they are out and about.” I am on four wheels, but even on a bike I strive to be visible, not to run red lights and to drivers to be polite.”

Mr Swinhoe believes there are “good road users and bad road users”.

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About the author

Andy is the Oxford Mail’s trade and tourism reporter and you can sign up to his newsletter for free here.

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His newsletter “Trade and Tourism” appears every Saturday morning.

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