Naturally, the video went viral. Comments ranged from “Baxter is a legend” to “Jeremy needs to get a hobby”. Some people said Baxter was just being “authentic” (code for: lazy and entitled). Others said Vine was being “neighborly” (code for: insufferably bossy).
I watched the clip three times. Who was right? Technically? Jeremy. Legally? Jeremy. But emotionally? That’s where it gets messy. Baxter Dury isn’t just any pavement cyclist; he’s a cultural icon of indie disaffection. When he rides on the pavement, it feels less like a crime and more like a performance art piece.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Vine is the guy who’ll also film a pensioner jaywalking and tweet it with a lecture. You can’t hate him—he’s got the moral high ground—but you can find him exhausting. (I say this with love, Jeremy. Your helmet game is on point.)
Jeremy Vine films Baxter Dury using phone while driving amid cycling
The Bigger Lesson: Rules, Rockstars, and Respect
Here’s what I took away from this little drama: public space is negotiation. Every time we step out the door, we’re negotiating our rights against everyone else’s. Baxter Dury probably thought, “I’m just nipping to the shop. It’s fine.” Jeremy thought, “If I don’t say something, the system collapses.”
Both are correct. Both are wrong. The truth is somewhere in the grey area where we all exist as flawed humans on two wheels or two feet. And honestly? If you’re famous enough to get away with pavement cycling, you probably should be called out—just to remind you that gravity and the Highway Code still apply.
So, what’s the verdict? I’m with Vine on the rules, but I feel with Dury on the spirit. And maybe that’s the only honest answer. Next time you see a cyclist on the pavement, ask yourself: “Is this person in a hurry, or are they just being a Baxter Dury?” The answer will tell you everything about how to react.
Until then, keep your eyes on the road—and your judgment on pause. Peace, bikes, and British eccentricity, always.
