Comments | gareth_rees: Three times is a pattern

gareth_rees

Three times is a pattern

Mar 31, 2008 21:43

Tom Crispin:

In October [2007] I was assaulted by a driver after he had dangerously overtaken 12 eight-year-old children, a colleague and me as we cycled over a hump back drawbridge at the entrance to West India Docks, East London.

I reported the assault to the police.

British Waterways, who operate the drawbridge and locks, have CCTV pictures ( Read more... )

Comments 5

pw201 March 31 2008, 23:08:45 UTC

My former boss, fed up of "people trying to kill" him on his bike, bought a rather nice Jaguar. Have you considered this option?

I don't remember so much aggression towards cyclists when I was a student (which was the last time I cycled regularly, 1994-1998). Has it got worse recently?

gareth_rees March 31 2008, 23:18:39 UTC

a rather nice Jaguar

The Jaguar is pretty, but it's not my kind of bike: a low rider isn't really practical for touring.

Has it got worse recently?

Yes, I think so. Though I may be subject to the recency illusion.

gareth_rees March 31 2008, 23:37:28 UTC

I should say that one factor that is common to the Chisholm and Jackson incidents is that the cyclist was riding outside the cycle lane. This in particular seems to drive some motorists quite insane. Maybe a belief has arisen that it is illegal, or at least morally wrong, for cyclists to leave the cycle lane, and so the aggressive behaviour is justified in the motorist's mind by the need to punish someone who is breaking the rules. Here's another incident (in which thankfully no-one was hurt), reported by a female Cambridge Cycle Campaign member:Saturday morning c. 10:20, I left the Elizabeth Way / Newmarket Road roundabout, heading on to East Road. Riding outside the dreaded bus stop parking bay cycle lane, I was tooted and sworn at just as I was about to re-join the cycle lane. The driver then swerved in front of me, slowed down (I then hung back so as not to catch him up) and then pulled over and parked in the cycle lane and put his hazards on. He got out of his van and shouted something along the lines of "Come on then..." as if ( ... )

gjm11 April 1 2008, 00:09:34 UTC

I've even had drivers curse at me (and heard them curse at others) for cycling on the road rather than on the (admittedly dual-use) pavement.

writinghawk April 1 2008, 18:50:13 UTC

I would very strongly recommend bringing them to the attention of David Howarth MP. This is the kind of case where an MP can really justify their licence fee, if he's sympathetic, which the constabulary as you note clearly isn't. A letter from Howarth to the Chief Constable, drawing attention to the cases, asking for a report on progress, and for a statement of the constabulary's position on assault and intimidation of cyclists -- copied to the Minister of State -- would achieve a great deal more than fifteen complaints and appeals are likely to.