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Video: Road rage meltdown driver who threatened to kill cyclist fined for public order offence

Driver of a black Land Rover suffered meltdown because cyclists weren't using an adjacent pavement bike lane...

A driver who suffered a road rage meltdown and threatened to kill a cyclist for not using a bike lane has been fined under a public order offence, according to the man who posted footage of the incident.

The meltdown happened on March 14 on Priory Road, which leads to Richmond Park, a popular destination for cyclists. With numerous people on bikes travelling in both directions, bike-mounted camera footage shows the driver overtake the rider at close proximity, before pulling in and engaging in an expletive-laden swearing match lasting three minutes, including an interlude to yell at other passing cyclists. The incident ends with the driver threatening to kill the cyclist, before he finally drives away.

The rider's helmet camera shows a black Land Rover Discovery overtake at close proximity after a mini roundabout. When the driver pulls between him and the rider in front things escalate quickly, when the driver can be heard yelling furiously through the open window "there's a fucking cycle lane".

The driver swears almost continually through the encounter, as does the cyclist, all the while repeating there is a pavement cycle lane on one side of the road.

He goes to get back into his car after about a minute of yelling before cyclists coming in the other direction inspire him to cross the road, stand on the cycle lane and yell at them about the cycle lane. A second cyclist, not wearing Lycra, tries to calm the situation, with little success. 

The man goes to drive away before getting out again for a second, more heated round, at which point he yells he will eat the rider for breakfast, kill him, and smash his teeth in, adding the only reason he doesn't is because of witnesses.

The rider says he kept the video private "until it was all cleared up", only making it public yesterday. The footage, released less than 24 hours ago, has had more than 900 views so far.

The rider, who posted the video as cycletourer8, said in the video's comments: "Having ridden on the bike lane, I would only use it if really fatigued. It's very bumpy and often has kids walking in it during the week."

Jorgy1967Tiger commented on the video: "The "bike" lane looks really inviting with all the side roads, pedestrians and light and sign posts."

Sippiestraw comments: "'I'll fucking eat you for breakfast.' 'Well, what do you eat for breakfast now?' Now that's an instant classic."

Richmond Park is increasingly popular with cyclists throughout the week. Last year a man was fined for deliberately driving into a cyclist in Richmond Park, and given five points for driving away.

Road.cc has contacted the cyclist for comment.

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88 comments

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djfleming22 | 8 years ago
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Maybe a suggestion should be that the driver should have his license suspended until he has completed a driver awareness course that must be done on bicycle for a number of hours, also an complete an update to theory test on the highway code as he might not be aware cycling on a cycle path is an option not compulsory.

On a second note he should also speak to a therapist regarding those anger issues or take a recreational sport ... maybe cycling or maybe not...

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bobster | 8 years ago
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Edit

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willythepimp | 8 years ago
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that screenshot of the nut job up the top is pure class. Well done road.cc because you don't really need to watch the video after seeing that!

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bobby_brains | 8 years ago
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Without a shadow of a doubt I would have punched that prick right in the mouth. Hard.

"Hello officer, I was in fear of my own life and acted in self defence."

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Big Ron | 8 years ago
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Should have just ironed the little prick out and kicked his wing mirrors off.

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BikeBud | 8 years ago
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What an odious man!

With regards to the cyclists behaviour impacting on driver attitudes to other cyclists, it was a one-to-one situation - a direct response to the driver. I think that particular driver's attitude to cyclists is already well established.

Would have been nice to see dangerous driving on the charge sheet.

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theloststarfighter | 8 years ago
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Both my wife and I were sworn at repeatedly after choosing not to weave off and on, in and out via a cyclepath in York recently. Perhaps because the road narrowed for 20 metres and traffic could not pass us for a brief period we were screamed at out of the passenger side window by driver and his female passenger and then the car behind them. We were approaching a large junction and turning right, the cycle path was part of the pedestrian footpath and not a marked area on the road and had no facility to help cyclists turn right other than to make them act like pedestrians. So we're road users and we're on the road and we can get around York faster than a car (usually) and we'll continue to do so. What I didn't do was respond back with verbal abuse myself simply because an angry man in 4x4 already thinks he can get away with whatever he likes and as I don't have a helmet cam they'd be no evidence. It's these relatively minor incidents that put people off, they happen all the time. The callousness of people wrapped in metal is often astounding.

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ga02clr | 8 years ago
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I have been hit by a car when using the cycle lane on this road, he was turning into a driveway and just did not bother to look and notice I was straight in front of him.

I know other people who have also been hit using the cycle lane. ironically for quite thin lanes the road is safer normally.

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ianrobo | 8 years ago
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I bet this idiot voted UKIP

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therealsmallboy | 8 years ago
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I would have decked him, robbed his keys and posted them anonymously along with the video to the local constabulary.

Probably not the correct, mature response but it could provide an interesting outcome.

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Jon Fray | 8 years ago
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Is the driver enraged because he thinks the cyclist has touched his 4x4 at 0:26 / 0:27? I'm not sure. Would seem to have issues. And the cyclist is aggravated because he believes the 4x4 was too close, in my view the 4x4 was being driven too close which was dangerous.

I used to ride on the 'segregated cycle lane' twice a day for a number of years. There was always an issue with vehicles turning into and out of The Priory hospital which is just a little further along. It has tall brick walls at its entrance. And when when British Tennis were developing their site further along Wandsworth Council allowed them to put hoardings (for a year) on the 'narrow footway' section and told cyclists to dismount. That's how much Wandsworth Council considered cyclists here. The TWO-WAY off-carriageway cycle path, is barely 1.4 metres wide and only has a white line to separate cycles from pedestrians is an anachronism and not appropriate for the use of long-distance commuters and sports cyclists that predominate on this road, or, arguably, more than one cyclist at a time.

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Rockplough | 8 years ago
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It's a shame that someone like Jason Wells, who has built up a seemingly successful business would be so pathetically insecure. God help anyone who complains about the food in his cafes. If anyone wants to comfort him, he can be reached at @brewwells.

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Rooster123 | 8 years ago
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He seems alot calmer in his video http://brew-cafe.com/our-story/

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PaulBox | 8 years ago
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@BrewWells
@brew_cafe

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atgni | 8 years ago
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oh dear.

http://companycheck.co.uk/director/917132083/MR-JASON-WILLIAM-WELLS

Do any of them have an alcohol licence?

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peted76 | 8 years ago
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Oooo he's not gonna like it if it goes viral! Don't put this on FB for gawds sake (or do depending on how you feel)...

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atgni | 8 years ago
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HalfWheeler | 8 years ago
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RicotheCloak | 8 years ago
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The still from the video is utterly superb. What a total 'Brew'ny Toon. Arf arf.

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Kadinkski | 8 years ago
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You could also email him to let him know what you think of his driving/attitude: office [at] wellsgroup.co.uk

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ianrobo | 8 years ago
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A coffee shop owner pisses off cyclists, anything worse ?

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Dr_Lex | 8 years ago
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And lives locally in the (Royal) Borough - glossy mag blurb - note the LR Discovery visible through the half-open door in the picture half-way down on the right.

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JamesJ | 8 years ago
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That car looks familiar.

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sentbuzzin | 8 years ago
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A few people have noted that the driver in the video is Jason Wells, owner of the Brew cafe chain, which has branches in Putney, Clapham, Wimbledon and Wandsworth. Mr Wells, you drove over the top of a mini roundabout and broke the law. You are a classic example of a bully and obviously just wanted a fight.

I hope you hang your head in shame because you drove your vehicle as a weapon. Some people would say that you are the weapon.

I hope Mr Wells releases a statement because he is now famous for being an idiot, a foul mouthed idiot who drove his car at a cyclist and deserves to be punished accordingly.

Regardless of the exchange of words, Mr Wells was the aggressor.

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bikebot | 8 years ago
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For posting the streetview link above, not cool.

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Malaconotus | 8 years ago
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Streetview link not cool. Facebook page fair game?... https://www.facebook.com/#!/BrewCafe

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ianrobo | 8 years ago
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Story has made the Daily Heil now, better not gone on if stupid comments from idiots makes high blood pressure !!

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portec | 8 years ago
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His facebook page is filling fast. Check out the new reviews for his business - made me laugh.  21

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Kadinkski | 8 years ago
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There are some truly mental people on that site...

"Cycle in my way & I'll run you over, no questions asked! Wont seem so clever then will you"

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Must ride must ride | 8 years ago
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The driver hit the cyclists with his wing mirror and then accused the cyclist of 'thumping his car'.
Clearly a loony tune, should not be driving.

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