Michael van Erp, known as Cycling Mikey, has become London's most polarizing road safety advocate through his relentless pursuit of dangerous drivers. The Zimbabwean-born cyclist, who began filming traffic violations in 2006 after his father's death in a motorcycle accident, has reported over 2,400 drivers to police, resulting in 2,721 penalty points and £168,568 in fines. His YouTube channel with 120,000 subscribers documents encounters with celebrities like Guy Ritchie and Frank Lampard caught using phones while driving.

Erp's tactics have earned him both admiration and condemnation. While ITV presenter Jeremy Vine calls him a road safety hero who deserves a police pension, the Daily Mail named him among their top 12 villains of 2024. His confrontational approach has led to violent encounters, including a driver deliberately smashing into him and another punching and kicking him after being filmed texting while driving. The Metropolitan Police's 2018 policy accepting dashcam footage as evidence transformed Erp from a frustrated cyclist into a prolific enforcer.

Despite daily threats to his safety, Erp shows no signs of stopping his one-man crusade. His work has led to 36 drivers being disqualified from driving, and he takes pride in being "a demon on the shoulder of London drivers." Whether viewed as a vigilante or a public servant, Cycling Mikey has undeniably changed how London's motorists behave, proving that citizen journalism can have real consequences for road safety.