February 10, 2026
You shall not pass (on your phone)
London's Most Controversial Cyclist
Hero on two wheels or chaos on the curb? London can't agree
TLDR: Cycling Mikey films drivers on their phones and has helped trigger thousands of penalty points and fines in London. The community is split: parents applaud him, critics call him a fight-seeking vigilante, and many abroad are shocked UK police act on citizen video, making this a hot debate over safety vs. provocation.
Jeremy Vine cheers, Range Rover drivers jeer — and the comments are pure fireworks. Michael van Erp, aka Cycling Mikey, rides with a head-mounted camera and a mission: catch phone-using drivers, send the clips to police, and watch the points and fines stack up. Since 2019, he’s reported 2,400+ drivers, racking up 2,721 penalty points, £168,568 in fines, and “36 drivers DISQUALIFIED.” He even has a Hyde Park junction nicknamed “Gandalf’s corner,” because, well, you shall not pass.
The community is split like a rush-hour roundabout. Parents are cheering “borrow him for the school run,” while others call him a clout-chasing vigilante. One critic blasts him as an “adrenaline junky,” and the thread replays his viral clashes — a Fiat 500 smack, a plumber’s punch-up — as evidence of escalating drama. Meanwhile, folks abroad are stunned the Met actually follows up on citizen footage; a Bay Area commenter says tips there “go nowhere.”
Humor is everywhere: fantasies of biking with a bullhorn (“hey you in the Tesla, put your phone down!”), and giggles over the UK’s “top villains” list — with Mikey rubbing shoulders with Oasis and school dinners. The article lands via The Londoner, which is itself gearing up for a March court date, but the comments have already put Mikey on trial — with no unanimous verdict
Key Points
- •Michael van Erp (“Cycling Mikey”) records motorists using phones while driving and reports them to the Metropolitan Police.
- •Since 2019, his reports have led to at least 2,721 penalty points, £168,568 in fines, and 36 driver disqualifications across over 2,400 drivers.
- •He has documented incidents involving public figures, including Guy Ritchie and Frank Lampard, and a Hyde Park junction dubbed “Gandalf’s corner.”
- •Recent videos show escalating confrontations, including an August collision by a Fiat 500 driver and a December assault near Hyde Park.
- •The Londoner, publisher of this article, is being sued for £250,000 by Claudio Di Giovanni, with a court date set for 9 March.