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Police release pictures of 'aggressive cyclist' in Bath who threatened and abused motorists

Victims said cyclist 'ranted and raved' at driver who had strayed into ASL...

Police have released pictures of an ‘aggressive cyclist’ they say may have verbally abused and spat on motorists in Bath.

The man, who they would like to speak to in connection with two incidents in recent months, was said to have spat on a car that went into an advanced stopping lane near Sainsbury’s.

A couple and their 11-year-old grandson said the cyclist responded by shouting abuse, spitting on the car, making explicit gesticulations and even reached in through the driver’s window to pull his glasses off his face and throw them inside the car.

“Once he started his ranting, there was no stopping him,” she told the Bath Chronicle.

“And this continued from the junction with the Lower Bristol Road, into the local car lane leading out of Bath right up to the traffic lights at the junction with Brougham Hayes, when we turned into Brougham Hayes and the cyclist continued on the Lower Bristol Road out of the city.”

“There is no doubt that many other motorists would have witnessed what went on and were equally terrified by the bullying tactics of this offensive cyclist.

“On each occasion the drivers tried to speak to the cyclist, but he was not prepared to hear what was to be said and just continued with his vociferous ranting and intimidation.”

Around eight weeks ago another driver said he received verbal abuse from a similar looking man of around 40 years old, who followed him “ranting and raving” from the traffic lights at the Pinesway end of Midland Bridge.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman confirmed they were investigating.

He said: "Bath police are appealing for information about an alleged road rage incident involving a cyclist and a car on Tuesday, December 3.

"It happened at around 5.20pm at the traffic lights at Pines Way, on the Lower Bristol Road.

"There was a dispute between a cyclist and the driver of a car in which it is claimed the driver was assaulted and sworn at and had his car kicked."

Anyone who witnessed either of the incidents, who recognises the man in the picture, or the man himself, is asked to contact Bath police on 101, quoting reference number 121059/13.

The images of the cyclist can be viewed here.
 

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43 comments

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lookmanohands | 10 years ago
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Somebody please think of the children!

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Stumps replied to mrmo | 10 years ago
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mrmo wrote:
stumps wrote:

If its true then the bloke is a prick and deserves everything thats coming.

But because he's a "cyclist" he's obviously been misunderstood and not really a wanker because after all its ALWAYS the drivers fault isn't it.............  39

We only have half a story though, are the motorists going to admit to almost killing the cyclist?

Unprovoked then he is a menace, but provoked, heat of the moment? someone just tried to kill you?

As for your comment about always the drivers fault, in my experience 7-8 times out of ten it is!

Is that a cough to bad cycling mrmo  3

Yeah i know there is always 2 sides to a story but you have to admit there people on here who automatically assume the driver has done something wrong in the first place and that the cyclist is never wrong.

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banzicyclist2 | 10 years ago
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spitting YUK . . . not a good way to win your argument !  31

But it does seem to be another case of the police siding with the motorist as a matter of course ! Maybe put the cops back on bikes then they would see things first hand from a cyclists point of view .. that is if they have the guts to get out into the traffic on 2 wheels instead of swanning around in Panda cars, eating doughnuts and make "documentaries" about Booze Britain etc  14

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mrmo replied to Stumps | 10 years ago
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stumps wrote:

Is that a cough to bad cycling mrmo  3

No, just an acceptance that there are some f***ing idiots using all forms of transport, including feet.

Quote:

Yeah i know there is always 2 sides to a story but you have to admit there people on here who automatically assume the driver has done something wrong in the first place and that the cyclist is never wrong.

won't disagree, there are some that automatically side with the cyclist, Then again, because I am bored, read the other article about the bloke who was killed by a truck whilst wearing a helmet? maybe if he hadn't the wing-mirror wouldn't have hit him....

There are some very entrenched views, cyclist=good, driver=bad.

Reality, there are idiots and there are people who make mistakes. NO ONE is perfect.

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RedfishUK | 10 years ago
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Probably two sides to the story and as we all know in the heat of the moment we (well many of us) say, do things we wouldn't be proud of later. But..........

...can't help thinking that plod don't go to so much effort with the hours of aggressive driver footage filmed by cyclists, not saying they are biased or anything...oh all right they are and this is disgraceful double standards.

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OldRidgeback | 10 years ago
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Sounds like a nutter. There are nutters in cars and nutters on bikes. There are also nutter pedestrians too.

Shouting, swearing and spitting is not an effective way to make a point when a motorists does something wrong like drive into an ASL. The response exceeds the initial offence.

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hampstead_bandit | 10 years ago
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not defending the actions of this chap, as we don't know the full circumstances

but can understand the constant ignorance of the ASL by motorists that may have led to his ranting and raving

I'm currently commuting to work and back - 250km a week

the amount of ASL infringement I see every morning and evening is staggering, even from emergency services vehicles of all flavours (Police, Fire, Ambulance) and especially public transport vehicles like buses and taxis

regularly see Police vehicles sitting behind private motor vehicles sat well into the ASL with cyclists up front

but the Police do nothing about the ASL infringement even though its now £100 and 3 points on the driving license, which must be an "easy win" for Police looking to meet their 'targets'  3

Avatar
Stumps replied to mrmo | 10 years ago
0 likes
mrmo wrote:
stumps wrote:

Is that a cough to bad cycling mrmo  3

No, just an acceptance that there are some f***ing idiots using all forms of transport, including feet.

Quote:

Yeah i know there is always 2 sides to a story but you have to admit there people on here who automatically assume the driver has done something wrong in the first place and that the cyclist is never wrong.

won't disagree, there are some that automatically side with the cyclist, Then again, because I am bored, read the other article about the bloke who was killed by a truck whilst wearing a helmet? maybe if he hadn't the wing-mirror wouldn't have hit him....

There are some very entrenched views, cyclist=good, driver=bad.

Reality, there are idiots and there are people who make mistakes. NO ONE is perfect.

Completely agree with you there  41

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Username | 10 years ago
0 likes

More asymmetric reporting and policing.

Man shouts at car - and there is a nationwide hunt complete with 'wanted' picture.

Meanwhile we all know the physical danger motorists put cyclists in every day and even when we report the extreme examples with helmet-cam evidence the police just shrug their shoulders.

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Big Softy replied to jonnywipeout | 9 years ago
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Wrong Jonny. It's not a privilege for cyclists to use the roads, it's our right.

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indyjukebox | 9 years ago
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Spitting
Kicking a car door
Getting physical
Verbal abuse when there is a child in the car.

Completely unacceptable behaviour from a human being no matter what the circumstances.

I cannot believe the comments that are supporting these actions.

Just because you are a cyclist does not mean you can do what you want to. Its disgusting behaviour, no matter the number of wheels you use to get around with.

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mrmo replied to indyjukebox | 9 years ago
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indyjukebox wrote:

Completely unacceptable behaviour from a human being no matter what the circumstances.

This is why we police and a legal system to defend cyclists when they are assaulted...

Oh i forgot the legal system doesn't give a **** about cyclists, is it really surprising that this sort of thing happens?

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Paul J | 9 years ago
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I once spat on a car at lights. Mind you, a few minutes before he had used his over-powerful wind-screen washers several times in a row while moving (so the wind takes the fluid) and while I was cycling a bit behind him. I thought that was a bit inconsiderate, as I got showered and he let off another squirt even after I gesticulated from the first. So I was returning the favour in a way..

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