Video: [Updated] Police appeal for attacked rider to come forward after London confrontation turns violent

Is there any right or wrong here, the Audi driver shouldn't have done what he did, but the way the cyclist acted was disgraceful also, the aggressive way he rode to the next set of lights with the full intention of a confrontation with the Audi driver, and that's exactly what he got, clearly he got more of a confrontation than he bargained for, but he was looking for a reaction wasn't he, however the physical violence form the rear passenger really took it a step too far again, so this just escalated to were it sadly ended up.

The driver, passenger and rider should all be reprimanded because non of them came out of this looking good.

Car - shouldn't have gone in the ASL

Cyclist - Over reacted, shouldn't have shouted so aggressively

Passenger - Inexplicable violence

This is pure & simply just escalation of a minor issue because it's London in rush hour. If my foot was ran over by an Audi I don't think I'd have been that fast on my bike straight afterwards...

The only thing you can take away from this is to just take a breath after some bad driving or a near miss, and let it slide - because it just isn't worth getting yourself into a red mist. Better for your blood pressure and potentially stops you from getting in this kind of situation.

If you go looking for trouble in London, you will find it in spades.
I have made the same mistake as the cyclist and you have to as yourself, what are you seeking to achieve ? You will never get the "sorry mate, my mistake" which is arguably your best outcome and thereafter the outlook steadily declines. Best advice I can give is get off your bike and count to ten. Then think about how you want to respond as there is far, far too much adrenaline pumping in the heat of the moment.

Some "epic" victim blaming going on here, i'd LOVE to see how some of you would you react in the EXACT same situation, lot of armchair critics talking rubbish here...

Not sure it is all victim blaming as believe it or not I have been in that same position several times. His reaction is not unnatural but did it end well for him ? I don't think so. Even if the oik is successfully prosecuted (improbable I'm afraid) is that a good outcome ? Maybe but our cyclist in this incident could easily have been seriously injured or even stabbed by aoom of the loons out there. Not good

It's an assault. The cyclist could've been more measured in his words but that doesn't take away from the fact that he was the victim here. When a car driver behaves like an arse, it's easy to get annoyed and easy as well to be vocal about that. I hope the police do take action as the passenger in the car deserves a charge of common assault.

Not sure it is all victim blaming as believe it or not I have been in that same position several times. His reaction is not unnatural but did it end well for him ? I don't think so. Even if the oik is successfully prosecuted (improbable I'm afraid) is that a good outcome ? Maybe but our cyclist in this incident could easily have been seriously injured or even stabbed by some of the loons out there. Not good

it is an assault but the assailant is going to argue self defense. "Here we are driving along the road, minding our own business and this nutter comes chasing after us on a bike and bangs on the car. I get out to investigate, he shouts in my face and makes an aggressive move towards me and I defend myself that is all". I would be very surprised if the CPS take the case I'm afraid to say, as the assailant will probably buy in some heavy duty barrister and get off, even if the CPS take it to court.

Charge the driver with infringing the ASL.
The cyclist with behaviour liable to cause a breach of the peace.
Then the passenger with assault and send them all on anger management courses.

I think this would be the fairest result all around.

I reckon a bit of maths would prove the Audi driver was speeding as well.

To my certain knowledge, there are at least 3 ex SAS guys commuting on bikes in London currently. It is to be hoped that next time your man decided to attack a cyclist, he draws one of those short straws.

I've looked in my road, but haven't seen an Audi reg KW13CWA.
Has anyone else looked ?
The info could be useful.
Keep on looking.

Most of those "forces types" are trained to avoid those sorts of situations. Sure if backed into a corner they can deal with it but that's the last resort

Drivers think they own the roads and are constantly spewing out the "we pay road tax", "get out of my way and into the gutter" shit all the time.

So, stand your ground and swear/punch their cars/faces. They don't care about you or improving the drivet-cyclist relationship and sharing a shared resource. Fuck 'em all to hell.

Can't say I have a lot of sympathy for the rider.

A driver who makes a sudden and violent move into an ASL. What you have is an idiot who has very little regard for other road users. Cyclist then subjects car and occupants to an aggressive rant moving his bike dangerously close to the paintwork.

Whether the Audi went over his foot or not [the driver could not have known and it could be argued that the cyclist placed his foot in front of the wheel] the cyclist clearly pedals furiously to catch the Audi at the next set of lights and proceeds to continue the confrontation. Tempers are high and cyclist gets clumped. All rather predictable.

Riding in London I have developed the following survival guide.
1, Remonstrate from a distance as the other cyclist did.
Non-verbal communication is best - stare at them, give them a pitying look or a dismissive shake of the head and a sigh. If you must say something say it under your breath.
2, Let them go you don't want them anywhere near you.
3, Take a deep breath and pedal on. Put a bit more effort in and feel the tension melt away.
4, Don't bottle it up - you will make a mistake and then you will be the "bad cyclist".
5, When you get home put the footage on YouTube if you filmed it. Insurance companies pump in the reg. numbers of new customers and randomly input current customers.

Driver - twonk. Cyclist - twonk. End of story.

He (cyclist) was really spoiling for a fight. I was expecting some sort of Queensberry Rules fisticuffs to ensue and then they call it quits. If you're going to bellow at a motorist make sure you have an escape route.

We as cyclists need to push for traffic lights that give cyclists 10 seconds of green in advance of general traffic (and by that I mean anything with an engine - yes, you moped rider you know I mean you) like they do in Holland.

I had exactly the same scenario heading south from Tower Bridge last week in the evening. Racy guy in his Porsche Boxster annoyed by the cyclists that pulled into the ASL. He did the same thing, but didn't touch any of the cyclists. He then raced off as the lights changed.

I trundled along a bit later and waved at him as he sat in the traffic up front heading from the A2 towards the Elephant & Castle roundabout (those that cycle the route will know it is gridlocked).

It made me smile, and that was enough for me, as well as wonder why on earth anyone would want to drive in this congested city ... I spend 45 minutes each way on my commute and generally pass stationary traffic the whole time.

Cycling is a great stress-reliever for me, even in London. But (a big but) we all need to chill and let those stupid enough to sit in gridlocked traffic every day continue to do so.

When you aggressively pursue someone and shout obscenity's at them, you might get punched in your mouth. Illogical reaction with a logical conclusion.

Seems to me that this is a classic case of entitled motorist becoming resentful of cyclists 'in his way'. I say this because at the start the ASL box is clear and only when cyclists start to fill it does the driver decide to re-position himself clearly in an attempt to get off the line as quickly as possible.

Quite reasonably the cyclist calmly pointed out to the driver that he had now illegally entered a protected area and I imagine he would have been told to $$$$ off or similar before the driver stuck his foot down.

He didn't have his foot run over but it's obvious the Audi driver had complete contempt for the impromptu educational lesson and in racing off so aggressively and close it was hardly safe.

When he caught up he was understandably upset, we all know how often motorists behave dangerously around vulnerable road users and this constant exposure does heighten our personal sense of danger.

The issue is society at large has adopted an incredible and somewhat unique level of ignorance towards acceptable and unacceptable danger. When Michael Jackson dangled his son out of the window a few years back there was international backlash due to the danger he exposed the baby to. How many babies per year actually die from being dropped out of high storey windows anyway so statistically it's pretty safe.

Contrast Audi man in 2 tonnes of metal box accelerating to lethal speed in just a few seconds in partnership with the 'road tax' mentality and as the annual KSI figures show, year after sickening year, this is catastrophic but does not attract international protest.

The assault was just common thuggery. I would say there is no reason why the police should not seek prosecution for infringing an ASL especially given the fact it was already occupied and his efforts were clearly selfish and aimed at circumnavigating the protection cyclists so desperately need.

The assault is another issue and generally the police are reluctant to force a driver to reveal the identity of any passenger making the car an even more effective method of getting away with things that wouldn't wash in any other scenario.

I'd forward this to Boris and demand the driver is traced and prosecuted as a bare minimum as a test of commitment to protecting the vulnerable from those with no respect for an ASL.

Reality is the Audi driver has done it before, will do it again as he can get away with it and when he does go on to 'accidentally' kill someone it'll be yet another case of very avoidable tragedy.

The insurance companies should set up a portal to allow the public to submit footage of drivers. The current system of driving like a maniac all year with only blind luck stopping any number of deaths and injuries and then presenting to an insurance company as being a responsible individual is incredibly naive.

The Audi driver is clearly aggressive and unable to comprehend the immense risk to others that presents so it's only right his insurers are aware of how he actually drives on a daily basis.

two dicks. only difference is the number of wheels.

Probably the most telling thing is the number of thumbs down, on Youtube for this video. This sort of thing has always gone on, but portraying aggression is just making everything all the more polarised.

There are some seriously dangerous drivers about, plenty of dickhead cyclists too, and a growing number of videographers itching to publicise the growing conflict.

All I know is that despite actively choosing routes less likely to cause conflict, abstaining from cycle events that so obviously inconvenience other parties, obeying all traffic signals, slowing down in town (a concept apparently alien to many riders) and getting off and walking at junctions where the presence of cyclists (whilst perfectly lawful) clearly causes "issues", the animosity shown towards me and my family is increasing, and we believe this is happening because of this behavioural "arms race", fuelled in no small measure by the recording of incidents like these on social media.

I don't know what the solution is, but the escalation of this situation, portrayed on the screens of millions of peeps, some of whom will no doubt have a seriously bad attitude to cyclists already, is simply not the answer.

Hi to you all following this item. The passenger showed a very clear and wilful aggression towards the cyclist albeit the cyclist used a few expletives,nothing uncommon these days.
Well the driver certainly needs educating and possibly a fine and points for breaching a cycle-only box at the lights.
The registration number is no problem KW13 CMA was very clearly visible.
This is one case that like a murder that does not produce a body but still gets a conviction should be taken all of the way.

AFAIK, the Police do not need a complainant in a case of assault in a public place and prehaps we should all look back at this earlier article & the Police's response : http://road.cc/content/news/108852-police-appeal-leads-arrest-aggressive...

One rule for one?