{{Short description|Dutch YouTuber (born 1972)}} {{pp-vandalism|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{infobox youtuber | name = CyclingMikey | birth_date = 1972 | birth_place = | birth_name = Michael van Erp | occupation = {{Hlist|Roller skating instructor|Carer}} | youtube_id = UCm6g2GP912ku4lPd-155-Vw | youtube_display_name = CyclingMikey | youtube_years_active = | youtube_genre = Cycling | youtube_subscribers = 121 thousand<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | youtube_views = 77.8 million<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | stats_update = 4 December 2025 }} '''Michael van Erp''' (born 1972), better known as '''CyclingMikey''',<ref name="Walker">{{Cite web|last=Walker|first=Peter|date=5 January 2022|title='I felt powerless – so I started filming': CyclingMikey on his one-man battle with dangerous drivers|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jan/05/filming-cyclingmikey-dangerous-drivers-mike-van-erp-motorists-britain-roads-safer|url-status=live|access-date=5 January 2022|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105101209/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jan/05/filming-cyclingmikey-dangerous-drivers-mike-van-erp-motorists-britain-roads-safer |archive-date=5 January 2022 }}</ref> is a Dutch YouTuber who films London drivers using their mobile phones, as well as committing other traffic offences, which he reports to the police and later uploads to YouTube.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Grafton-Green|first=Patrick|date=31 March 2014|title=Debate rages over CyclingMikey Bromley Common YouTube video|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11114617.debate-rages-over-cyclingmikey-bromley-common-youtube-video/|url-status=live|access-date=4 December 2021|website=News Shopper|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420072723/https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11114617.debate-rages-over-cyclingmikey-bromley-common-youtube-video/ |archive-date=20 April 2021 }}.</ref>
Since 2019, he has caught and exposed several high-profile celebrities allegedly committing such offences, including Guy Ritchie, Chris Eubank, and Frank Lampard. His activism was prompted by his father's death in a road traffic collision with a drunk driver.
==Video content== In November 2019, Van Erp filmed Guy Ritchie using a mobile phone while driving. Ritchie was subsequently prosecuted and banned from driving for six months.<ref>{{Cite web|last=White|first=Adam|date=23 July 2020|title=Guy Ritchie gets driving ban after being caught texting by YouTuber|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/guy-ritchie-driving-ban-texting-youtube-cyclingmikey-a9635116.html|url-status=live|access-date=4 December 2021|website=The Independent|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726205728/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/guy-ritchie-driving-ban-texting-youtube-cyclingmikey-a9635116.html |archive-date=26 July 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Johnston|first=Neil|title=Cycling vigilante snatches Guy Ritchie on phone while in Range Rover|newspaper=The Times |language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/cycling-vigilante-snatches-guy-ritchie-on-phone-while-in-range-rover-wgmzrng75|access-date=4 December 2021|issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Dunne|first=Tristan Kirk, John|date=23 July 2020|title=Lock, stock and a driving ban: Guy Ritchie filmed texting at wheel|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/guy-ritchie-texting-driving-video-a4506366.html|access-date=4 December 2021|website=www.standard.co.uk|language=en}}</ref> In 2021, he filmed Chris Eubank driving through a red light, an offence for which Eubank was subsequently prosecuted.<ref>{{Cite web|last=MacMichael|first=Simon|date=4 June 2021|title=Cycling Mikey scores points victory over Chris Eubank after filming boxing champ going through red light|url=https://road.cc/content/news/cycling-mikey-points-victory-over-chris-eubank-283853|url-status=live|access-date=4 December 2021|website=road.cc|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604131529/https://road.cc/content/news/cycling-mikey-points-victory-over-chris-eubank-283853 |archive-date=4 June 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Kirk|first1=Tristan|last2=Dunne|first2=John|date=4 June 2021|title=Exclusive: Activist nails boxer Chris Eubank for jumping red light|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/cyclist-activist-mike-van-erp-nails-boxer-chris-eubank-jumping-red-light-b938747.html|url-status=live|access-date=4 December 2021|website=Evening Standard|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604094459/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/cyclist-activist-mike-van-erp-nails-boxer-chris-eubank-jumping-red-light-b938747.html |archive-date=4 June 2021 }}</ref> In April 2021, he filmed Frank Lampard using a mobile phone and holding a hot drink while driving,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kirk|first=Tristan|date=3 December 2021|title=Frank Lampard drove with coffee and phone, claims 'cyclist activist'|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/frank-lampard-cyclist-trial-chris-eubank-guy-ritchie-b969869.html|url-status=live|access-date=4 December 2021|website=Evening Standard|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203124935/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/frank-lampard-cyclist-trial-chris-eubank-guy-ritchie-b969869.html |archive-date=3 December 2021 }}</ref> but the prosecution was later dropped, due to insufficient evidence, after Lampard hired lawyer Nick Freeman to deal with the case.<ref>{{Cite web|last=MacMichael|first=Simon|date=12 January 2022|title=Prosecution of football star Frank Lampard filmed by CyclingMikey using mobile phone while driving dropped, CPS confirms|url=https://road.cc/content/news/frank-lampard-mobile-phone-charge-dropped-cps-289521|access-date=18 September 2022|website=road.cc|language=en }}</ref>
A regular location for Van Erp's videos and reports is a crossroads beside Regent's Park, which he dubbed "Gandalf Corner", where he waits and has stopped many drivers from driving on the wrong side of the road past a pedestrian crossing island to avoid queueing to turn right.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Volpe |first=Sam |date=5 July 2019 |title=Regent's Park cyclists and pedestrians campaign over dangerous traffic at Outer Circle corner |url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/regent-s-park-cyclists-and-pedestrians-criticise-dangerous-traffic-cutting-3632036 |access-date=4 December 2021 |website=Hampstead Highgate Express |language=en-UK}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 March 2022 |title=CyclingMikey ends up on car bonnet during confrontation with angry motorist |url=https://road.cc/content/news/cyclingmikey-ends-car-bonnet-290731 |access-date=24 June 2022 |website=road.cc |language=en}}</ref><mapframe text="Location of "Gandalf Corner" near Regent's Park" latitude="51.525927" longitude="-0.146835" zoom="16" align="right" width="200" height="200">{ "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [ { "type": "Feature", "properties": {}, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -0.145805, 51.525257 ] } } ] }</mapframe> In September 2021, while at "Gandalf Corner", Van Erp ended up on the bonnet of celebrity talent agent Paul Lyon-Maris's Range Rover while trying to stop him from making an illegal right turn. Since Lyon-Maris continued to drive with Van Erp on the bonnet, he was charged with assault and dangerous driving, besides the lesser charge of contravening a keep-left sign. Lyon-Maris pleaded guilty to the lesser charge, but he pleaded not guilty to the two greater charges, alleging that Van Erp jumped onto the bonnet while Van Erp claimed Lyon-Maris drove into him and he fell onto the bonnet.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kirk |first1=Tristan |title=Celebrity agent 'drove with cyclist on bonnet after road row' |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/celebrity-agent-regents-park-cyclist-mike-van-erp-assault-b1031582.html |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=Evening Standard |date=10 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref> A jury cleared Lyon-Maris of both remaining charges.<ref>{{cite news |title=Film agent cleared of dangerous driving after activist jumped on car |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-63244299 |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=BBC News |date=13 October 2022}}</ref>
In November 2022, Van Erp appeared on the BBC television programme ''Panorama'' in an episode titled "Road Rage: Cars v Bikes".<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacMichael |first=Simon |date=2022-11-02 |title=Review: Panorama – Road Rage: Cars v Bikes |url=https://road.cc/content/news/review-panorama-road-rage-cars-v-bikes-297037 |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=road.cc |language=en}}</ref> In April 2024, Van Erp released a video of himself running a red light in Belgravia, London. He stated, "It's my mistake, I hold my hands up, I'm at fault there. ... I missed that the other two traffic lights were still red", and added, "If the police prosecute me, so what? I'll pay the fine, you're not going to see me complaining."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Somerville|first=Ewan|date=10 April 2024|title=Vigilante Cycling Mikey caught running a red light|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/10/cycling-mikey-caught-running-red-light-london-video/|access-date=10 April 2024}}</ref>
==Personal life== Van Erp was born in January 1972 in the Netherlands and grew up in Zimbabwe.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Langendorff |first=Geert |date=12 January 2022 |title='Doe wat je niet laten kan': Nederlander lapt appende automobilisten erbij in Londen |url=https://www.parool.nl/gs-b76bf10b5 |access-date=19 October 2022 |website=Het Parool |language=nl-NL}}</ref> When he was 19, his father, while riding a motorbike, was killed by a drunk driver.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Bennett|first=Ella|date=20 May 2021|title=Cyclist who has caught and reported over 1000 drivers - including film star|url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/cyclist-reported-drivers-film-star-20633419|access-date=4 December 2021|website=MyLondon|language=en}}</ref> Van Erp moved to the UK in 1998 to pursue a career in IT. He is now a professional carer.<ref name="Walker"/> He has also worked as a roller skating instructor.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnston |first=Neil |title=Cycling vigilante snatches Guy Ritchie on phone while in Range Rover |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/cycling-vigilante-snatches-guy-ritchie-on-phone-while-in-range-rover-wgmzrng75 |access-date=19 April 2022 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> He has two sons,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/article/whats-driving-cycling-mikey-britains-most-hated-cyclist-tn966jm9j|title=What's driving Cycling Mikey, Britain's most hated cyclist?|first=Nick Rufford | Video by Pauline Den Hartog|last=Jager|date=18 January 2024|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}</ref> and lives in west London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/01/18/frank-lampard-pictured-for-first-time-after-driving-while-using-phone-charge-dropped-15937461/|title=Frank Lampard pictured for first time after driving while using phone charge dropped|first=James|last=Hockaday|date=18 January 2022 }}</ref>
== References == <references />
Category:Dutch YouTubers Category:Living people Category:Dutch emigrants to England Category:1972 births