Forum Topic

The ugly truth - David Giles

God knows how many people have declared the world is ending in the past few years due to the provision of a bit of space to ride your bike safely.David Giles has been one of those leading the charge to allow people to be maimed without too much effort and is  a typical  "not against cyclists but (add in thinly veiled hatred here) anti cyclist campaigner.I do think you cross the line though when you start shouting at kids who are out cycling with their families.It's pretty hard to not type a pretty long list of crass words to explain someone like this. Ill just say it's pitiful and leave it at that.https://twitter.com/theJeremyVine/status/1473013713116532740?t=siWS7qdexNyNWQpKTY3BQQ&s=19

Tony Smart ● 1738d77 Comments

Jeremy Vine is a sanctimonious prat.

Richard Greenhough ● 1738d

Is it your turn for the forum today?

Paul Fisher ● 1738d

He is indeed, Richard. Dreadful man.  He asks such stupid questions on his Twitter feed which presumably he then asks on his show. How he gets airtime I really don't know.

Claire Moran ● 1738d

It's pretty hard to not type a pretty long list of crass words to explain someone like this.Tony, you don't need a long list of words one four letter word will do and it begins with a C

Brian Green ● 1738d

Jeremy Vine is a c*** ?

Richard Greenhough ● 1738d

Crud ? 😉

Janice Evans ● 1738d

Sounds about right, Janice.

Richard Greenhough ● 1738d

I have never looked at Jeremy's twits before but I see he says on one dare devil video that he thinks he should have gone into the air horn business!Great minds etc.As Henry Cole says "a noisy bike is a safe bike"

Adrian Irving ● 1738d

Richard and Claire,You’ve made it clear you don’t have a favourable view of Jeremy Vine - but what do you make of the shouty man in the car (who may possibly be David Giles)?

Andrew Jones ● 1738d

Just for balance, David Giles says his shouted comments weren't aimed at the group in general but Jeremy Vine in particular as he felt that riding a pennyfarthing in a group that contained children was potential dangerous. However, I think most people would agree that both of these attention seeking narcissists are best ignored.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1738d

"However, I think most people would agree that both of these attention seeking narcissists are best ignored"Jeremy, well said and I'd add that the OP should receive the same treatment, no need to start this nasty thread...

Loraine Pemberton ● 1738d

Yes indeed, Richard - a sanctimonious prat and a mischief-maker. Farmer Giles may be obsessive and unhinged over CS9, but Vine's singling him out on video is just as objectionable as Giles's shouting.

Robert Fish ● 1738d

Funny how Vine doesn't highlight what he was riding on at the time he was busy recording with his helmet cam so he could criticise others.

Richard Greenhough ● 1738d

David Giles shouting at children on a bike ride from Jeremy Vine on Vimeo.

Will Watson ● 1738d

If that gut-lord got out of his car and got some exercise he'd save the NHS plenty of taxpayers dosh, enough for some more cycle lanes. Time to take some personal responsibility. 

John Hall ● 1738d

Fat shaming from John Hall. Class.#lovethyneighbour

Gordon McDonald ● 1738d

If the 'kids' are breaking the law, aided and abetted by adults as were the two who harassed me when I was in "their way" on the pavement last week (next to the empty road), then jolly good that an adult points out that the law applies to everyone.

Charlotte Kasner ● 1737d

So were they breaking the law by riding bikes in the bike lane?

Anne England ● 1737d

It is pretty hard to like Vine. Surprised he still has a job. He should be eternally grateful to the morons who indulge him.

Steve Taylor ● 1737d

“ no need to start this nasty thread...”But we all know that the OP is a spectacularly nasty person!

Steve Taylor ● 1737d

One has to assume that if someone is driven to shout at someone else’s kids, it was because he was alarmed that their would be a serious accident or if the kids were riding dangerously, or possibly even illegally, and their parents or guardians hadn’t  noticed or cared not a jot!

Steve Taylor ● 1737d

Or that someone is venting their rage at someone who has been excessively vocal in his support of the cycle lane and readily identifiable when he is cycling on his penny farthing.I think the driver’s clear irritation was directed at Jeremy Vine rather than the other cyclists.

Andrew Jones ● 1737d

"One has to assume that if someone is driven to shout at someone else’s kids, it was because he was alarmed that their would be a serious accident or if the kids were riding dangerously, or possibly even illegally, and their parents or guardians hadn’t  noticed or cared not a jot!"That's a load of bollocks Steve.He knew the ride was on then, he drove in his car to meet it, he shouted abuse out of his window at Jeremy Vine and the other cyclists.  He wanted to harass his neighbours.  And you bend over backwards not just to excuse his behaviour but to blame the parents for David Giles' harassment of their kids.

Ed Saper ● 1737d

“….venting their rage at someone who has been excessively vocal in support of the cycle lane.”Nobody has been more excessively vocal than David Giles, yet curiously nobody who supports the cycle lane has felt it necessary to shout angrily at him in his readily identifiable car, with its personalised numberplate!

Tom Pike ● 1737d

Nobody has been more excessively vocal than David Giles, yet curiously nobody who supports the cycle lane has felt it necessary to shout angrily at him in his readily identifiable car, with its personalised number plate!Tom, I take it his number plate is WA17KER?

Brian Green ● 1737d

Arguably a business owner in a prominent corner unit on the cycle lane has been at least as vocal as David Giles in his opposition to the cycle lane. People who support the cycle lane didn't shout at him as he worked in his business when they passed it on their celebratory family ride on Saturday. On the contrary they cheered and waved at him and got spontaneous waves back in response.Because love conquers hate.

Paul Campbell ● 1737d

It’s K13 DMGK13 is the name of an exhausted gas field, so that can’t be right…

Tom Pike ● 1737d

“ And you bend over backwards not just to excuse his behaviour but to blame the parents for David Giles' harassment of their kids.”What an aggressive and unfounded assertion. I wasn’t bending over backwards to excuse Mr Giles. I don’t know the man and I know nothing about him. I was simply responding to a good question raised by Anne England. I haven’t seen the video and I have no interest in watching it. I wouldn’t know David Giles if I passed him on the street and but I am bemused that some on here have stalked him and seem to know exactly what car he drives. I was intrigued about Anne’s question because I can’t figure out why any sane person would randomly shout at some kids for no reason?

Steve Taylor ● 1737d

Ah - you were speaking hypothetically about people in cars shouting at kids to get off their bikes out of concern for their safety after being put at risk by their parents.Yes, Maggie Dodge has made this very point a number of times.  She often chastises irresponsible parents for making performative political statements by forcing their terrified kids onto the roads and cycle lanes.I am happy to accept that you in no way intended to refer to the incident on Saturday, the subject of this thread, where David Giles harassed some kids or suggest that his interjection was a selfless, heroic act to save children from serious harm from being hit by distracted motorists venturing into the cycleway or being struck by toppling penny farthings.In which case I am happy to withdraw my "aggressive and unfounded assertion" and will even join you on some common ground - yes, the man may not be a "sane person" if he had no good reason to act the way he did.As to the identification of Mr Giles' car - I believe the big giveaway was the presence of Mr Giles in the car.  But if any further verification is needed, you just need to bear in mind that we are all neighbours - the parents of the kids he shouted at may live in the same road. 

Ed Saper ● 1737d

One has to assume that if someone is driven to shout at someone else’s kids, it was because he was alarmed that their would be a serious accident or if the kids were riding dangerously, or possibly even illegally, and their parents or guardians hadn’t  noticed or cared not a jot!And there was me assuming that you’d actually watched the video!Silly me. Still, it proves that assumptions aren’t always correct.

Andrew Jones ● 1737d

I believe somewhere on this thread boasted that Mr Giles’s car is ‘distinctive’ or well known in the area?  Why is that? Is he somehow already a target?  I am also quite curious to understand if there is evidence to suggest that he was in fact shouting at children and not at adults?

Steve Taylor ● 1737d

I wonder who that was, Paul. Care to name him/her?

David Lesniak ● 1737d

Please consider what you post about this person.  They may be struggling with their mental health.  That does seem to be quite odd behaviour.

Nora Watkins ● 1737d

Nobody seems to have any evidence that he was shouting at kids rather than adults!!  Is this just fake news again? Someone trying to catastrophise?

Steve Taylor ● 1737d

Have you watched the video?  I don't want to stir this as there may be other issues,  but there were clearly families around at the time.  Does anyone know this person?  Are they OK?

Nora Watkins ● 1737d

This Forum is often toxic with many contributors jumping on the bandwagon. I've never met, spoken to or know his affiliations, however some of the comments seem OTT and unkind in the extreme imho.

Loraine Pemberton ● 1736d

Well Loraine, you would know with you and your toxic chum Clare banging on for two years that I was never in the army. Toxic

Carl Wynne ● 1736d

And nobody can provide evidence that children were shouted at rather than  adults?  Is this whole thread just fake news to target someone they don’t like?

Steve Taylor ● 1736d

Have you watched the video Steve Taylor?  You can see a whole group of adults and children looking at the car after the person has shouted.  Very odd behaviour from the person in the car.

Nora Watkins ● 1736d

Both Vine and Giles are vile obnoxious prats.But thanks for sharing the video.Can you explain why the bikes and motorcycles were blocking the road traffic at what looked the Turnham Green turning? (1:52 in video)Was this taken on some bike protest day?If so, it might be more understandable that people were shouting their opposite views (however stupid).I wish both sides of this argument wouldn't continually shoot themselves in the foot by feeling the need to overstate or misrepresent

Richard Potts ● 1736d

What you can't see from the video is what Vine was riding. If it is true that he was on an unstable penny farthing bicycle then he was creating a danger to the children and deserved to be shouted at.

Richard Greenhough ● 1736d

You think the biggest danger to children cycling on a road is another bicycle?

Ed Saper ● 1736d

I think someone riding a penny farthing in the midst of a group of children on child bikes is a bigger danger to the children than a passing motorist shouting at the rider of the penny farthing.

Richard Greenhough ● 1736d

How would the person in the vehicle have been able to assess that from the car Richard?  Shouldn't that have been a decision for the parents?

Nora Watkins ● 1736d

Indeed it should. If I had young children there is no way I would let them go cycling with Jeremy Vine filming them.

Richard Greenhough ● 1736d

Man shouts abuse at cyclists, including children, and is filmed doing it. Man is praised for his public spirited concern for the safety of the cyclists - it was dangerous because of other cyclists. Person who filmed the abuse is abused as are the parents of the children who allowed their children to be filmed. And in the real world, children are killed every day by motorists and because it doesn’t involve a cyclist, no one gives a crap. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/eltham-crash-kidbrooke-park-boy-killed-b973352.html

Ed Saper ● 1736d

Vine & Giles are equally odious charactersBut in the same video the cyclists are seen blocking traffic and riding a red light whilst stopping cars going through a green light.It was clearly some mind of protest cycle by these cyclists - Vine looking for publicity in his wobbly penny farthing.Why does every story have to be distorted into a misrepresentation of the facts? - it does the cycling campaign no benefit.

Richard Potts ● 1736d

Not liking Jeremy Vine is not a good enough reason to condone bad behaviour by another individual.  As far as I can see,  the ride is being marshalled and the riders are being waved through the lights.  I'm not a fan of the new bike lane,  but I am saddened to see the division on this local forum and people defending someone who's shouting out of a car towards families with small children.

Nora Watkins ● 1736d

Nora I see it from a different angle. A more sinister one.Ladies, Gentlemen and fellow Peasants.Has it come to this? This, when a fellow shouts out the window of his car people feel free  to hound him with out mercy? To publish a film, to even to go as low as to disclose the registration number of his car?Was it not long ago that the filmmaker was, quite rightly, complaining about someone harrising him on his doorstep and highlighting the detrimental effect on his family? What about the driver and his family? It seems to me there is little difference between the two.Let me assure you I am not taking sides on the actual incident, but come on folks, just show a little sense of proption. It could be you next.

Adrian Irving ● 1736d

It's certainly interesting to consider it from the other side, so here is another.  The person filming was doing it to record an event,  the person in the vehicle chose to shout at the person with the camera. They chose to do that unprovoked and in the presence of children and families.  What did they expect the outcome to be?  I gather Jeremy Vine is a regular poster online, why wouldn't he post something that he saw as abuse?If someone turns up on your doorstep and harasses you then that's a completely different thing,  and I imagine terrifying as someone has invaded your private space. We all need to be responsible for our actions and treat our neighbours with respect.   

Nora Watkins ● 1736d

Is there evidence that Mr Giles was shouting at the children or is it just fake news or lies by the OP?

Steve Taylor ● 1736d

It was David Giles’ decision to buy a vanity plate with his initials. If he preferred to travel anonymously, that was a poor choice!It was also David’s decision as he drove down Kings Street to shout across the road towards cyclists of all ages “get off your bike”. He clearly wanted to be heard, and was well aware that Jeremy Vine has a camera, as do many other cyclists and drivers. The idea the David Giles was trying to avoid publicity is absurd, but I do think it possible he simply lost his temper rather than planned to go out and shout, though that in itself represents a danger to other road users.Meanwhile, has any crowd gathered outside David Giles house, or shouted back at him? The immediate comments were of bemusement that anybody would behave like that. And you are clearly taking sides as your ignoring of the significant differences in the two cases demonstrates.

Tom Pike ● 1736d

“ Man shouts abuse at cyclists, including children, and is filmed doing it. “Aah. So now the story changes!!!  The man was actually shouting at adults but there just happened to be some children there. Big difference to the original post. Is there any evidence to suggest that the adults being shouted at weren’t doing anything dangerous or illegal or perhaps not taking due care and responsibly for their children?  What was a clown doing on the high speed cycle Highway anyway?

Steve Taylor ● 1736d

Steve I suggest you read Adrian’s post and stop this vicious thread, the forum is not about bullying people, disgraceful behaviour

Jayne Thorburn ● 1736d

I have read Adrian’s post and agree that people should stop bullying Mr Giles when it is clear now that the OP was fake news designed to be divisive. There is no evidence that Mr Giles was shouting at children and it is clear that the OP was simply mischief making which is quite appalling but he is well known for it. I find it quite abhorrent.

Steve Taylor ● 1736d

Have you watched the video Steve Taylor?  It's quite clear who was in the lane and the timeline,  the families all turn to look in the direction of the shout.  I find it astonishing that people seem to be justifying this behaviour.  I don't agree with online bullying,  but Mr Giles behaved badly in the first place,  and people seem to defending him.

Nora Watkins ● 1735d

To reiterate. There is NO evidence that he was shouting at children to the OP is a lie.  I believe someone else has now conceded that he was shouting at an adult or adults but he was not targeting any children, as has been suggested.

Steve Taylor ● 1735d

TomNot that you're biased in favour of JV ? 🤣

Loraine Pemberton ● 1735d

It's impossible to say who this person was shouting at, but I  find it sad that people seem to be defending this behaviour generally.  There were small children in the bike lane,  how would they know that it wasn't aimed at them.  Is it acceptable to do that?

Nora Watkins ● 1735d

It's that blooming us and them again.But it always has a beginning that has no endIt is deliberate to cause confrontation

Julian Pavey ● 1735d

It is indeed impossible to see who he was shouting at so I trust you will finally concede that the OP was lying when he asserted that the man was shouting at kids. He was just trying to stir it up and he succeeded it seems, but all reasonable people will easily see through the lie and treat the original post and poster with the contempt it deserves. Unfortunately the OP does the cycling fraternity no favours at all.

Steve Taylor ● 1735d

To be clear I am not here to defend or condemn the driver. That's irrelevant to my point.To be blunt I find it difficult to distinguish between the  nasty people outside the filmmaker's  house and the charmers on this thread other than some were on the street and others online.Both are  way over the top harassment. Sadly this seems to be the level society is sliding towards.Come on folks, you are better than this. Aren't you?

Adrian Irving ● 1735d

I find this whole thread frustrating Steve.  This person shouted out in the general director of children and families (it's impossible to work out who the shout was aimed at).  I'm not going to accuse anyone of lying because he did indeed shout at children.  Whether it was intentionally or not is immaterial as it will have had the same effect.  This is not behaviour I expect to see in Chiswick. 

Nora Watkins ● 1735d

Nora, the people who have behaved really badly - that is mild, they have ruthlessly ignored the wishes of their constituents - are Ealing and Hounslow Council in doing their best to destroy personal and business travel and air quality in Chiswick.  This vilifying of one person is an attempt to distract from that.

Claire Moran ● 1735d

The bullies are Hounslow and Ealing Council of the people they are supposed to represent but don't.

Claire Moran ● 1735d

You lot just vent your vile spleen on social media. Your vicious posts against Onechiswick on Twitter show the cycling brigade, including the appalling Vine, for the spiteful, 'entitled' disgusting people you are.  You will get your comeuppance, it might take a while, but it will come.  Those  in the wrong who hurt others always do, eventually.

Claire Moran ● 1735d

Thank you Malvolio

Carl Wynne ● 1735d

“ it's impossible to work out who the shout was aimed at”Precisely!  So the original post was nothing more than Trumpism fake news designed to divide. Very sad that people go to such depths.

Steve Taylor ● 1735d

Steve,  we're obviously not in agreement and I feel you're missing my point.  The accusation of Trumpism and fake news compels me to respond, even though this seems like a pointless exercise.  I don't feel we're ever going to agree that this persons action was rude and indefensible.  The driver of the vehicle was shouting "at" the families and children in the bike lane.  It was impossible for anyone in that direction to know whether the shout was directed at a specific individual as he didn't use a name.  I looked up the definition of at it can mean:"in the direction of"So he did shout AT the children and families.  As I said,  I find that behaviour shocking and I'm saddened to see people on this forum trying to defend that. 

Nora Watkins ● 1735d

Yep like trying to defend Trump saying he never told anyone to storm the capital. 

John Hall ● 1735d

You just don’t get it do you, Nora? I don’t condone Mr Giles shouting at anyone!  My point is purely to condemn the OP from sensationalism and catastrophising the event by using children as the alleged victims.  He has latched on to a vindictive tweet by someone who also alleges that children were the only victims. It’s dishonest and fake because there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that the alleged ‘abuse’ was directed at children. It may well have been but there is no evidence!!! Hence the story is blatant Trumpism which is contemptible in my book. If the OP and the tweeter had simply posted that a possible nutter was screaming at cyclists, it would hardly have attracted any attention because it happens all the time. Trump was the master at drawing attention to nonsense with his fake news simply to get attention like a spoilt child. The same applies here.  The tweet was a childish attempt to get attention.

Steve Taylor ● 1735d

I do get your point,  I just don't agree with it.  The person in the vehicle shouted at children (and their families as mentioned in the original post).  I have no idea why anyone who has viewed the video would feel that is anything other than the truth.  Whether it's sensationalising is a different thing.  There is absolutely no proof that the person intended the shout for anyone in particular.  You are also missing my point,  although you do seem to be backing up my view that shouting at other people from a vehicle isn't a problem for you.  That's why I feel we're not going to agree on this point.  I'm self isolating and have plenty of time to continue this discussion,  but I really don't think we're ever going to find any common ground so it's pointless. 

Nora Watkins ● 1735d

Nora, with respect, not sure how you started off here then:"Please consider what you post about this person.  They may be struggling with their mental health"

David Lesniak ● 1735d

Nora, sorry to hear you are self isolating. Hope you recover soon.

Steve Taylor ● 1735d

That was a few days ago David.  I have watched this thread with interest and it became clear that there was more to the story than I realised.  I'm afraid my opinion has changed.  I'm not a fan of the bike lane,  but I'm also shocked to find people seem to be defending this behaviour.

Nora Watkins ● 1735d

Thanks Steve.  That's much appreciated.

Nora Watkins ● 1735d

"I'm not a fan of the bike lane,  but I'm also shocked to find people seem to be defending this." It does indeed appear that a few people's judgement on this thread is clouded by their opposition to the bike lane.I don't know the details of what led to David Giles being expelled from his party a few weeks ago, but he was certainly suspended for his online behaviour. This is by no means a one-off incident, and his behaviour has been found indefensible by his own party independent of any agreement with his underlying views.

Tom Pike ● 1735d