Cyclists, pedestrians, and horse riders in Kent have united to tell motorists the road “must be safe for everyone”, just days after two cyclists were killed in the area by a hit-and-run driver.
Saturday’s ‘Pass Wide and Slow’ event, an annual mass road safety awareness ride held in Cobham, took on additional emotional resonance this year following the deaths of cyclists Steven Anscomb and Natasha Lewis in the village the previous Sunday.
Anscomb, 60, Lewis, 51, and another cyclist were riding on Sole Street in Cobham at around 7.45am on Sunday 6 September when they were struck by the driver of a white Ford Focus. Both Anscomb and Lewis were pronounced dead at the scene, while the other cyclist was treated in hospital for what police described as minor injuries.
> Motorist charged after two cyclists killed in suspected hit-and-run Kent collision
On Wednesday, Kent Police announced that Aaron Turner, a 22-year-old from Higham, has been arrested and charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision, and possession of a class C drug.
A 21-year-old man and 19-year-old woman, who was detained on suspicion of assisting an offender, have been released on bail while enquiries continue.
On Saturday, a group of horse riders, cyclists, pedestrians, and dog walkers took to the roads of Cobham as part of the village’s ‘Pass Wide and Slow’ ride, organised by locals Victoria Lorence and Jemma Mardell.
The ride, which calls for safe passing distances and greater respect for vulnerable road users, was accompanied by a police escort, while a two-minute silence was observed for the two cyclists at the spot where they were killed.
The wider Pass Wide and Slow campaign was founded in 2015 by Debbie Smith to protect horse riders, cyclists, and pedestrians from “unsafe overtaking”, while encouraging motorists to “slow down significantly” and “leave ample space” when passing.
According to local Cobham organiser Lorence, Saturday’s ride enabled vulnerable road users in Kent to “show respect for the two people who lost their lives to yet another driver who can’t be bothered to drive with safety on our lanes”.
Speaking to the BBC, Lorence said the turnout was larger than normal for the ride, admitting on social media that she became emotional when she saw the numbers who had turned out to pay their respects and call for safer roads.
“This is massive,” she told the BBC. “Unfortunately, it may have been because of that tragic accident but this is why we do it. We don’t want accidents like that to happen.
“Everyone deserves to get home safely, and be it on a horse, a bike, walking, you know, even in a car, it’s still the same thing.”
Lorence argued that dangerous driving was becoming a growing concern in Kent due to two main reasons: ignorance of the Highway Code and because “everyone’s so busy to get everywhere”.
Her co-organiser Jemma Mardell agreed that the roads had become “really dangerous”, while local cyclist Ian Duxbury said the problem has become particularly prevalent around schools and on rural roads.
Duxbury, who took part in Saturday’s event and helped establish the Safer Streets Gravesham campaign group, noted that while more driver education is important, it needs to be complemented by safer infrastructure for vulnerable road users, including lowered speed limits, road design changes, and more dedicated, protected space for cyclists, horse riders, and pedestrians.
In a post shared on social media, local business Wish Upon a Pony described Saturday’s ride as a “special and emotional day, filled with an incredible sense of community spirit”.
“It was so lovely to come together with fellow horse riders, cyclists, and supporters, united by one important message – PLEASE take care around us on the roads. We all have a right to feel safe, a little more care and patience from road users can make such a huge difference,” the business said.
“Today’s ride/walk was also held in memory of Steve and Natasha, two cyclists who tragically lost their lives because of a careless driver.
“We stood together for an emotional two minutes of silence to remember them and to show our love and respect for their families and friends who were there. My heart truly breaks for everyone who knew and loved them. No family should ever have to experience such heartbreaking loss.”
They continued: “We had such a lovely time meeting so many wonderful people and sharing the road together with a common purpose.
“Days like today remind you just how powerful a community can be when we come together with kindness, compassion, and a message that truly matters.
“Ride safe, look out for one another and please give horses and cyclists the space and patience they deserve.”
Last week, the families of the two cyclists killed in Cobham, Steven Anscomb and Natasha Lewis, paid tribute to their loved ones.
On Thursday, Medway Magistrates’ Court heard that the pair were training ahead of a “very long cycle ride” they had planned in the Netherlands.
Anscomb’s family said the ride was his last before “his big bike ride to Amsterdam, but sadly he never came home”.
In a statement, the 60-year-old’s wife Fiona and daughters Liberty and Imogen said: “He will be so very deeply missed by so many and has been robbed of the special times of life.”
Lewis’s daughter Hermione also said: “No words can describe what an amazing, thoughtful, and strong woman she was. I am truly so grateful to have her as my mum. My heart goes out to everyone that has ever felt this pain. Mum, I love you so much.”
2 thoughts on ““We all have a right to feel safe”: Cyclists, pedestrians, and horse riders unite to call for “more care and patience” from drivers days after two cyclists killed by hit-and-run motorist”
There needs to be a change in the language used when reporting on things like this. If there is ever an incident involving a cyclist it is very much dehumanised. Cyclist = Inanimate object. Not a human being, with family and loved ones. its all so easy to make them look more like a statistic.
The more people who understand that cyclists are real people just trying to live their lives and and not just an obstacle or inconvenience then we might have people treating them the way you would wish to be treated.
I’m honestly amazed that horse riders dare take to our country roads. I have no idea what the actual statistics on collisions are but they are very slow moving, often 2 abreast and generally on the little twisty turny country lanes.
With the way far too many people drive on these tiny roads, I wouldn’t dare be on a horse on them.
On my weekend ride this week a pickup driver (shocker eh) nearly crashed into a poor lady head on because he simply couldn’t wait until it was safe to overtake. Poor womans ABS kicked in and she had to go into the side of the road to avoid him as he barrelled on through and she still only missed him by inches I reckon.
All because too many people don’t care. If he hits her he will have a crash on his insurance but he almost certainly wouldn’t be banned despite it being a fucking braindead overtake that he clearly does as a matter of course. He is a danger on our roads but we will never treat him as one until he kills or seriously hurts someone and we can prove he was completely at fault. Even then it will have been a “one off” according to his lawyer. A lapse.
About 2 minutes after this near miss a BMW flies past me giving me plenty of space and gently drifts back over to our side of the road. He was going about 45 and was on the wrong side of the road going around a blind corner while he drifted back in. If someone else doing the same speed was coming around that bend he would have binned it into the hedge or hit them. The mind just boggles. Absolutely zero reason he didn’t pull back in faster. Just didn’t occur to him I assume.
This is why it scares me on our country roads. Far too many drivers who are just fundamentally dangerous, bad drivers.