Have you seen driver wanted for assaults on cyclists? (From Bournemouth Echo)

Partial blame must go to all the rabid anti-cycling commenters on this site. All your hateful comments have probably inspired this psycho to do this – unless he's actually one of you, of course. Wouldn't surprise me.

What kind of nutter drives around between 6am and 7am on a Sunday morning attacking people?

More importantly, who on earth would drive a gold coloured car?

With all the cctv cameras in and around Poole are we to believe that this car has not been picked up somewhere.
I cant believe how stupid some people are, fancy driving around between 06.00am and 07.00am on a Sunday morning.

a "mystery" driver.

how exciting.

It's a new craze, called tipping. Utter morons.

Once again late reporting does not help identification.

Probably kids that had been partying all night, off their heads and being weird.
I've seen what they are like.

When you see the antics of the commuter cyclists along Barrack Road, Christchurch around 7.15 to 7.30 am it's understandable that motorists wish to take the law into their own hands. This morning I was driving along and the pedestrian crossing lights changed to red. Three Lycra clad cyclists rode at full speed through the red light, one actually clipped a pedestrian who was crossing. Since they have no registration plates it's impossible to report them so they get away with attempted murder. The idiot who knocked the pedestrian over was riding at about 30 mph, and had no lights. When I caught up with him after the lights changed to green he just stuck a finger up at me in a rude gesture!

Turtlebay wrote:
When you see the antics of the commuter cyclists along Barrack Road, Christchurch around 7.15 to 7.30 am it's understandable that motorists wish to take the law into their own hands. This morning I was driving along and the pedestrian crossing lights changed to red. Three Lycra clad cyclists rode at full speed through the red light, one actually clipped a pedestrian who was crossing. Since they have no registration plates it's impossible to report them so they get away with attempted murder. The idiot who knocked the pedestrian over was riding at about 30 mph, and had no lights. When I caught up with him after the lights changed to green he just stuck a finger up at me in a rude gesture!

No its not understandable for these assaults to take place. Yes the cyclists you saw were in the wrong, but that does not excuse someone else 2 towns away pushing completely different cyclists off their bikes.

Turtlebay wrote:
When you see the antics of the commuter cyclists along Barrack Road, Christchurch around 7.15 to 7.30 am it's understandable that motorists wish to take the law into their own hands. This morning I was driving along and the pedestrian crossing lights changed to red. Three Lycra clad cyclists rode at full speed through the red light, one actually clipped a pedestrian who was crossing. Since they have no registration plates it's impossible to report them so they get away with attempted murder. The idiot who knocked the pedestrian over was riding at about 30 mph, and had no lights. When I caught up with him after the lights changed to green he just stuck a finger up at me in a rude gesture!

first of all get your facts straight. This isnt 'taking the law into their own hands' this is unprovoked assault.

Wish I could push cars over. The old people in their german registered classic sports car would have been on their roof for pulling out on me on the roundabout last night. Only reason they didn't hit me is because I couldn't make eye contact with the driver (left hand drive) so I ready for something stupid.

Don't push just any cyclist......make sure you get the right ones!!!!!!!!!
IE. red light jumpers, crossing ignore-rs, no signalers,they are the ones that need pushing off xx to all carefull cyclists xx

....

penhale wrote:
With all the cctv cameras in and around Poole are we to believe that this car has not been picked up somewhere.
I cant believe how stupid some people are, fancy driving around between 06.00am and 07.00am on a Sunday morning.

Also many cyclists run one or more tiny HD video cameras. Google your registration number to see if your car is on YouTube, or browse cycling videos.

This serious, elsewhere in the country recently:

"Doncaster cyclist seriously injured

A CYCLIST suffered serious injuries after he appeared to have been pushed from his bike by a passenger in a passing car.

The 59-year-old man suffered a broken collar bone, broken ribs and a punctured lung in the collision in Bilham Lane in Doncaster.

Police would like to speak to the owner of a ..."

This is the other side of the coin.A couple of weeks ago I witnesed a cyclist weaving in and out of two lanes of cars he suddenly without any hand signals pulled straight out infront of me from the left if I had not braked quickly I would have hit him so I had the "audacity" to sound my horn,this resulted in him pushing his bike across the front of my car and coming out with a tirade of foul language and anti car rhetoric in front of my young grandson and my wife.I found it amusing when he asked me how long would I like to stay there with him blocking my way when I said " As long as you like mate I am retired" it threw him a bit.I had to explain to my young granson that this was a moron and sadly he will meet a few more during his life.My wife and I are both cyclists and going to the Brecons for a cycling holiday in our camper van next week and we are not aggresive cyclists like these anti car idiots,so I hope someone pushes this clown off his bike soon.

Turtlebay wrote:
When you see the antics of the commuter cyclists along Barrack Road, Christchurch around 7.15 to 7.30 am it's understandable that motorists wish to take the law into their own hands. This morning I was driving along and the pedestrian crossing lights changed to red. Three Lycra clad cyclists rode at full speed through the red light, one actually clipped a pedestrian who was crossing. Since they have no registration plates it's impossible to report them so they get away with attempted murder. The idiot who knocked the pedestrian over was riding at about 30 mph, and had no lights. When I caught up with him after the lights changed to green he just stuck a finger up at me in a rude gesture!

SOME cyclists think they own the road and can break the law as and when they feel like it because they can't be identified and brought to book. Maybe they are wearing lycra that might be a tad too tight...........and it is restricting the blood flow........

Let's hope many of the commuter cyclists out there will catch this driver. I run cameras front and rear here in London, and caught this incredibly shocking video last week. How close was this? The car twitched my sleeve after the driver swerved in on me, I believe intentionally.

http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=eW07KrOMR
0Q

Turtlebay wrote:
When you see the antics of the commuter cyclists along Barrack Road, Christchurch around 7.15 to 7.30 am it's understandable that motorists wish to take the law into their own hands. This morning I was driving along and the pedestrian crossing lights changed to red. Three Lycra clad cyclists rode at full speed through the red light, one actually clipped a pedestrian who was crossing. Since they have no registration plates it's impossible to report them so they get away with attempted murder. The idiot who knocked the pedestrian over was riding at about 30 mph, and had no lights. When I caught up with him after the lights changed to green he just stuck a finger up at me in a rude gesture!

The driver of this car has committed crimes, and has not been caught. I presume that he has taken the registration plates off his car.

(There are so many completely obvious practical reasons why reg plates for bikes are a stupid idea that it is pointless writing them down here.)

Oh look, more 'anecdotes' (probably made up or exaggerated) from the anti-cycling lobby. What a surprise. You'd think people would be more worried about a psycho on the loose, but there you go.

The Liberal wrote:
Oh look, more 'anecdotes' (probably made up or exaggerated) from the anti-cycling lobby. What a surprise. You'd think people would be more worried about a psycho on the loose, but there you go.

There are a lot of psychos cycling around!

jeebuscripes wrote:
What kind of nutter drives around between 6am and 7am on a Sunday morning attacking people?

More importantly, who on earth would drive a gold coloured car?

The same kind of nutter who drove around at about 6pm attacking me with a car and gotme convicted with the assitance of a lying copper mainly becuase he got his complaint onto their books before I did - and before anyone even thinks about defending the police against accusations of lying in court, check out today's news about the Yorkshire contingent.

NB: mind, that was Hampshire constabulary and this is Dorset - not long after, they prosecuted two guys for just driving past (not at) people and yelling abuse at them. Not so life-threatening, but the two nearly went to jail.

You put your life in the hands of others every time you venture out on your bike.

I was knocked off my bike by a fellow cyclist, who, having made eye contact with me, still cycled aggressively across my path.

The more visible you make yourself as a cyclist ( hi viz clothing , daylight visible LED lights) , the more chances you attract the attention of 'silly people' - those who fire things at you , shout at you for no reason other than to get a kick. Then there are the sinister motorists who overtake, then brake abruptly in an attempt to make you fall off - or who will drive at you on head-on on narrow roads or through a traffic calming chicane.

However, my favorite was from the earlier in the year when a moped rider overtook me, then slowed and drifted into my path on the cycle lane, whilst texting on his phone - when told to 'watch out' , he replied with obscenities and that he would 'smash my face in with his helmet'.

I regularly ride along Barrack road, being that i live there. The number of times i've weaved in and out of traffic, because none of the cars passing give you any room. They expect you to jump onto the pavement out of their way, thereby forcing you to break the law. Or have your bike mangled around you. The buses for the most part go around you, but it's really ignorant when they force their way past you onto to stop right in front of you, instead of waiting 5 more seconds. Big trucks fly by causing you to swerve in the wake. Boy racers lean out fo their wondows and shout behind you to try and make you fall off. All drivers should be made to spend a couple of months cycling before they get a car, it would give them a great deal of insight. The don't knock it til you've tried it approach should be employed i feel. The other annoying thing is how much councils are spending on CCTV that never seems to catch anyone doing anything. What is the point? They're always pointing in the wrong direction as events occur. Except for the one in christchurch which used to look staright into our flat window. Pathetic.

Typical yawn-inducing, rancorous us vs. them utterances whenever the issue of cyclists is aired.
Come on people, we're all road users, instead of jabbing fingers, let's just try and get on.

We tend not to get on, as people will a ton and a half of steel around them, in their little cage, feel invincible and car little for the people on bikes/motorbikes who have very little protection. This is why i suggested a mandatory cycling period before being granted your car license. I think people in cars would be more courteous, and bike riders would feel safer knowing car drivers understood their plight. The reverse could be done where to get a cycle license, you had to spend a couple of months riding around in a car all day, with a safety instructor, so you could see how cars have to deal with errant cyclists. Unless you've been in a specific position, you have no hope of understanding it. So if both sides were made to 'walk a mile in each others shoes' it would promote more harmony on the roads. But at the end of the day, some people, motorists or cyclists will always be morons, and should be banned for repeated infringements. Maybe if cycle frame numbers were also mounted a plaque on the rear of bikes beneath the seats, it would help people identify them to police? If it was done at manufacturing it make little difference to the cost, and even if people change it, as long as they commit an offence, someone takes the number, and police catch them swiftly, the numbers will still match. They can't ride along the road filing off numbers! Which could also be an offence, blank or missing digits could get your bike impounded! It would level the field somewhat from a legal responsibilities point of view.

PigWhistle0709 wrote:

jeebuscripes wrote: What kind of nutter drives around between 6am and 7am on a Sunday morning attacking people? More importantly, who on earth would drive a gold coloured car?

The same kind of nutter who drove around at about 6pm attacking me with a car and gotme convicted with the assitance of a lying copper mainly becuase he got his complaint onto their books before I did - and before anyone even thinks about defending the police against accusations of lying in court, check out today's news about the Yorkshire contingent.

Of course you were a completely innocent cyclist - bless!

Peacekeeper7 wrote:
We tend not to get on, as people will a ton and a half of steel around them, in their little cage, feel invincible and car little for the people on bikes/motorbikes who have very little protection. This is why i suggested a mandatory cycling period before being granted your car license. I think people in cars would be more courteous, and bike riders would feel safer knowing car drivers understood their plight. The reverse could be done where to get a cycle license, you had to spend a couple of months riding around in a car all day, with a safety instructor, so you could see how cars have to deal with errant cyclists. Unless you've been in a specific position, you have no hope of understanding it. So if both sides were made to 'walk a mile in each others shoes' it would promote more harmony on the roads. But at the end of the day, some people, motorists or cyclists will always be morons, and should be banned for repeated infringements. Maybe if cycle frame numbers were also mounted a plaque on the rear of bikes beneath the seats, it would help people identify them to police? If it was done at manufacturing it make little difference to the cost, and even if people change it, as long as they commit an offence, someone takes the number, and police catch them swiftly, the numbers will still match. They can't ride along the road filing off numbers! Which could also be an offence, blank or missing digits could get your bike impounded! It would level the field somewhat from a legal responsibilities point of view.

Lots of boarders and bladers use the road too. I used to be one of them. We cant always use the pavements for obvious reasons. Should mandatory training also extended to boarding and blading? Im guessing motorists wouldnt be keen on this!

Back to topic I hope they catch this idiot soon before they really injure or even kill someone

Comments attributed to the odious Clarkson together with the militant anti cyclist stance taken by the likes of the Bournemouth Echo are contributing to a climate where these sort of incidents are becoming more and more prevalent.

Turtlebay wrote:
When you see the antics of the commuter cyclists along Barrack Road, Christchurch around 7.15 to 7.30 am it's understandable that motorists wish to take the law into their own hands. This morning I was driving along and the pedestrian crossing lights changed to red. Three Lycra clad cyclists rode at full speed through the red light, one actually clipped a pedestrian who was crossing. Since they have no registration plates it's impossible to report them so they get away with attempted murder. The idiot who knocked the pedestrian over was riding at about 30 mph, and had no lights. When I caught up with him after the lights changed to green he just stuck a finger up at me in a rude gesture!

Yep - the Christchurch Peloton, idiots with no desire to obey any traffic regulations, rude, foul tempered and riding in anonymous groups. Don't forget however that their attitude is echoed by a small percentage of motor vehicle drivers and pedestrians.

ekimnoslen wrote:

Turtlebay wrote: When you see the antics of the commuter cyclists along Barrack Road, Christchurch around 7.15 to 7.30 am it's understandable that motorists wish to take the law into their own hands. This morning I was driving along and the pedestrian crossing lights changed to red. Three Lycra clad cyclists rode at full speed through the red light, one actually clipped a pedestrian who was crossing. Since they have no registration plates it's impossible to report them so they get away with attempted murder. The idiot who knocked the pedestrian over was riding at about 30 mph, and had no lights. When I caught up with him after the lights changed to green he just stuck a finger up at me in a rude gesture!

Yep - the Christchurch Peloton, idiots with no desire to obey any traffic regulations, rude, foul tempered and riding in anonymous groups. Don't forget however that their attitude is echoed by a small percentage of motor vehicle drivers and pedestrians.

If any members of the Christchurch Peloton break the law whether it is jumping red lights, cycling on the pavement and being abusive they should be dealt with by the Police!

Just to head off some of the more ignorant commenters I just like to say:-
(sic)
"Road tax doesn't exist. It's car tax (aka) VED, a tax on cars and other vehicles, not a tax on roads or a fee to use them. Motorists do not pay directly for the roads. Roads are paid for via general and local taxation. In 1926, Winston Churchill started the process to abolish road tax. It was finally culled in 1937.
Car tax is based on amount of CO2 emitted so, if a fee had to be paid, cyclists - who are sometimes branded as 'tax dodgers' - would pay the same as 'tax-dodgers' such as disabled drivers, police cars, the Royal family, and band A motorists, ie £0. Most cyclists are also car-owners, too, so pay VED."

Did you know it costs 15p to call the 101 number?

We see these same problems here in the States - and the same kind of rancor from both sides of the issue.

I ride. I love to ride. I ride because it's healthy and an eco-friendly thing to do. But when I ride, I try to ride trails and bike paths instead of the "public way". At 67 years of age, I'm too old to allow myself to get upset by the idiots who drive and think that cyclists don't belong on "their" road. Besides, it's WAY more scenic off on the bike paths. Of course, I don't "commute" by bike. I DO run errands and to the store and such, and that takes me to the highway, but I minimize travel on "the road" as much as I can.

It's just that it's pathetic that I have to.

Turtlebay wrote:

Peacekeeper7 wrote:
I regularly ride along Barrack road, being that i live there. The number of times i've weaved in and out of traffic, because none of the cars passing give you any room. They expect you to jump onto the pavement out of their way, thereby forcing you to break the law. Or have your bike mangled around you. The buses for the most part go around you, but it's really ignorant when they force their way past you onto to stop right in front of you, instead of waiting 5 more seconds. Big trucks fly by causing you to swerve in the wake. Boy racers lean out fo their wondows and shout behind you to try and make you fall off. All drivers should be made to spend a couple of months cycling before they get a car, it would give them a great deal of insight. The don't knock it til you've tried it approach should be employed i feel. The other annoying thing is how much councils are spending on CCTV that never seems to catch anyone doing anything. What is the point? They're always pointing in the wrong direction as events occur. Except for the one in christchurch which used to look staright into our flat window. Pathetic.

So why the f*** are you riding on the road instead of the cycle path? Moron! It was built especially for cyclists. USE IT!

It always seems strange to me that cyclists are given such venomous criticism for cycling on the pavement, yet when the council "builds" a cycle path that is little more than some blue signs and white line on a perfectly ordinary un-widened pavement (such as Barrack road) cyclists are then criticised for NOT using it.

The cycle lane was not "built for cyclists", it is simply the council paying lip-service to the idea of creating a sustainable way of getting around.

Due to the number of side-roads and junctions it crosses, it is more dangerous than riding on the road.

As for the idea that the actions of some completely unrelated cyclists in another town justifying these yobbos attempting to push a 64 year old off his bicycle, i'm stunned...

Of course theres idiots cycling, just the same as theres idiots, driving or walking, it doesn't mean they are all the same person.

If i saw a boy-racer screeching down the road I wouldn't flag down the next driver I saw and start questioning his actions.

Of course the biggest problem is driving, especially during rush hour, heightens blood pressure and stress levels whilst cycling raises heart rate and releases adrenalin. Put that together and you have two people very much at the peak of their emotions. Funny thing, chemistry.

macjames wrote:
Of course the biggest problem is driving, especially during rush hour, heightens blood pressure and stress levels whilst cycling raises heart rate and releases adrenalin. Put that together and you have two people very much at the peak of their emotions. Funny thing, chemistry.

Neither of these incidents occurred in rush hour.

Finbarr Finkelstein wrote:
Did you know it costs 15p to call the 101 number?

15P,Just to get talked down to by someone who has no respect,and could not care less the operators on 101 need to go for training.

I have had similar happening to me. As a person with a push bike, rather than a "cyclist", I try not to cycle in the Bournemouth area as it's so dangerous. I have been cycling along Winton and nearly hit three times by cars just pulling out, and I'm often intimidated by the way cars treat me. I am frequently yelled at by drivers overtaking me (nothing against my cycling, I am also a driver so I obey the highway code) and abused by cyclists too (I was recently overtaken by a group of boys who spat towards the ground at me and yelled abuse), I'm a young female so this may shock you more.
Blame doesn't go to drivers or cyclists, what this story should pin point is people need to learn tolerance, responsibility and accept we're all just trying to get by.

hammer wrote:

PigWhistle0709 wrote:

jeebuscripes wrote: What kind of nutter drives around between 6am and 7am on a Sunday morning attacking people? More importantly, who on earth would drive a gold coloured car?

The same kind of nutter who drove around at about 6pm attacking me with a car and gotme convicted with the assitance of a lying copper mainly becuase he got his complaint onto their books before I did - and before anyone even thinks about defending the police against accusations of lying in court, check out today's news about the Yorkshire contingent.

Of course you were a completely innocent cyclist - bless!

Showuz yer evidence then, since your so sure... or are you a Yorkshire flatfoot who doesn't need any as well?

cyclists are an arrogant bunch of people who think they own the road never having taken a test to do so

nobull wrote:
Don't push just any cyclist......make sure you get the right ones!!!!!!!!!
IE. red light jumpers, crossing ignore-rs, no signalers,they are the ones that need pushing off xx to all carefull cyclists xx

Plenty of car drivers doing the same thing.So, what do we do with them? Hammer to their windows? Brick maybe?

What about the drivers who just look straight ahead when they dont stop at crossings? These people are normally OAPs or women it seems. Yes.Lets just take the law into our own hands.

Driving along in a 'rigid steel safety cage' doesnt mean you can just ignore cyclists.
The majority of cyclists are fine just like most vehicle drivers.There are a few morons though you obviously being one of them..

stevobath shame you can't read................
..

miniminime wrote:
cyclists are an arrogant bunch of people who think they own the road never having taken a test to do so

Check out the Cycling Proficiency Test and if that don't do it for you, the Highway Code, as studied pre-test by all car driving candidates. It should be enough to make you realise what's in the mind of all car drivers the day they go out on their bikes...

kingstonpaul wrote:
Typical yawn-inducing, rancorous us vs. them utterances whenever the issue of cyclists is aired.
Come on people, we're all road users, instead of jabbing fingers, let's just try and get on.

The voice of reason unforunately it tends to fall on deaf ears,but we will keep trying wont we?

The common factor in all incidents you are involved in on the road from rude gestures to accidents is always

you.

miniminime wrote:
cyclists are an arrogant bunch of people who think they own the road never having taken a test to do so

A road-owning test? Have you passed one of those? What are the questions like?

I've passed a driving test, as have the vast majority of cyclists on the road. It does little to protect you when hit by a car, though.

miniminime wrote:
cyclists are an arrogant bunch of people who think they own the road never having taken a test to do so

I feel anyone posting a comment such as this certainly should not be using the roads with any mode of transport for all our safety