For the past two years, Adrian Chapmanlaw has served as a Liberal Democrat councillor in the seaside town of Bournemouth, Dorset, working to enhance the quality of life for local residents. However, his parallel identity as a self-styled cycling vigilante, described by critics as 'snide, aggressive and vindictive', has ignited a fierce controversy, with growing demands for his removal from office.
The Rise of a Controversial Campaigner
Mr Chapmanlaw has earned the nickname 'the new Cycling Mikey', drawing comparisons to the notorious helmet-cam activist whose efforts have led to thousands of penalty points and fines for motorists. The councillor's own YouTube channel, 'Dorset Safer Roads', features dozens of videos where he records drivers committing offences such as close passes, phone use while stationary, and illegal parking on yellow lines or zig-zag markings outside schools.
He submits this footage to Dorset Police's Operation Snap, a initiative that encourages the public to provide evidence of potential traffic violations. Mr Chapmanlaw boasts that his submissions resulted in 80 prosecutions in 2025, highlighting a range of Highway Code breaches from red-light running to parking infringements.
Confrontational Tactics Under Fire
Despite his road safety aims, Mr Chapmanlaw's methods have drawn sharp criticism. His videos frequently show him launching into expletive-laden tirades at drivers, banging on car windows, and aggressively challenging motorists, including a lone female driver at night. In one incident, he was forced to apologise after filming children outside a school while targeting parents parking illegally, raising safeguarding concerns with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.
Local campaign group BCP & Dorset Motorists, which advocates for all road users to respect the Highway Code, has accused him of unfairly targeting drivers and using 'aggressive language' and 'confrontational behaviour'. A spokesperson stated: 'There is an important distinction between supporting road safety and endorsing the behaviour of an individual who actively seeks confrontation in public spaces.'
Legal Expert Warns of Self-Incrimination
Nick Freeman, a prominent motoring lawyer known as 'Mr Loophole', has suggested that Mr Chapmanlaw may have inadvertently posted evidence of himself committing public order offences. Mr Freeman explained: 'It's threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour whereby a breach of the peace is likely to be occasioned. In my view he is breaking the law.'
He added that cycling vigilantes like Mr Chapmanlaw are 'a menace' who lack proper training and antagonise motorists, potentially committing offences themselves by cycling dangerously to capture footage. Mr Freeman called for government legislation to prohibit such activities, arguing they threaten public order.
Community Backlash and Political Fallout
Complaints have been lodged with the local authority's standards committee, alleging that Mr Chapmanlaw's 'aggressive and vindictive' attitude is 'unbefitting' of a councillor. While the council took no action over the school incident, stating he was not acting in his official capacity, there are mounting calls for sanctions based on his conduct.
Simon Wilson, a local resident, commented online: 'Many people are increasingly uncomfortable with recent behaviour shown online, including footage where a lone female driver is sworn at late at night. Whatever the context, that comes across as intimidating and unprofessional.'
Inspiration from Cycling Mikey
Mr Chapmanlaw's approach mirrors that of Michael van Erp, better known as Cycling Mikey, a London-based vigilante with over 120,000 YouTube subscribers. Cycling Mikey claims to have reported 2,419 drivers since 2019, resulting in 2,721 penalty points and 36 driving bans. However, he too has faced controversy, notably when footage showed him pushing his e-bike into the path of a car in Hammersmith, with critics accusing him of using his bike as a weapon.
In response to the backlash, Mr Chapmanlaw has emphasised that his submissions represent only a fraction of Operation Snap's total, with around 100 out of nearly 3,000 in 2024. He stated: 'This isn't about one person. It's about widespread behaviour, limited enforcement capacity, and ordinary road users trying to make roads safer where they live.'
Yet, as the debate intensifies, the central question remains whether his vigilante actions undermine his role as an elected representative, with many arguing that road safety is best achieved through education and proportionate enforcement rather than divisive tactics.
