"Virgin Media van driver muscles in front" video

Yes, it's all pretty straightforward, you're asked to describe what happened by the prosecutor and taken through your video and asked to explain what it shows, then the defendant or their lawyer has a chance to ask you any questions. Bit nerve-wracking first time but once you know what's going on just routine.

Rendel Harris wrote:

Yes, it's all pretty straightforward, you're asked to describe what happened by the prosecutor and taken through your video and asked to explain what it shows, then the defendant or their lawyer has a chance to ask you any questions. Bit nerve-wracking first time but once you know what's going on just routine.

Bravo on the court attendance. I'm always asked to tick the "Are you prepared to attend court, if necessary" by A&S when reporting and so far haven't had to. I have appeared as a witness for the prosecution in a criminal case, so do understand that it's a bit nerve-wracking, even when you know you're in the right.

Magistrate's court really not too hard on the nerves, usually just you, the defendant, two magistrates, prosecutor and (sometimes) defence lawyer and a couple of officials. I did appear as a prosecution witness many years ago in Cambridge Crown Court to testify against six thugs who'd been giving a woman a kicking - each had their own barrister, there were two prosecution barristers, full jury, judge, custody officers, press, public gallery, full panoply of wigs and gowns, now that did make me feel nervous!

Allen Key wrote:

Sorry, maybe I should have phrased my question a bit better. The road.cc blog is actually where I saw the video, but as it's only five days not sure if people had seen it yet. I was just using the bullying van to illustrate my point. Should you always submit when someone pushes in - for safety's sake - or does that "enable" people to do it all the more?

I tend to hold my road position (or even make it more obviously primary) if I'm travelling at the same speed as traffic and am feeling confident, but if they sound aggressive (e.g. excessive acceleration up to that point) then I'd concede that battle. It seems to mainly happen on the approach to traffic lights where they're probably assuming that a cyclist will filter on the inside of vehicles to get to the front (which I usually do), but it's annoying when they misjudge your speed so they end up by the side of you.

I had a similar scenario this morning. I was keeping pace with a line of moving traffic and a small van was slowly overtaking me except there wasn't enough space for him to fit between me and the car in front, so I maintained my speed and position and shot him a derisory look and a not-so-under-my-breathe "fack off" as I do not want to be cycling with a vehicle 1-2 feet by my side. I got back in front and then made sure that I was in primary enough so that he didn't have room to try that again. I often go along that road and I have no problem with vehicles overtaking me along it, but I'm not having them box me in.

hawkinspeter wrote:

It seems to mainly happen on the approach to traffic lights where they're probably assuming that a cyclist will filter on the inside of vehicles to get to the front 

I generally only filter if I think the queue is too long for a single phase of the lights, easier to start up at the back of the queue and draft the cars, than be at the front with them all wanting to overtake.

Except when this happens

hawkinspeter wrote:

I had a similar scenario this morning. I was keeping pace with a line of moving traffic and a small van was slowly overtaking me except there wasn't enough space for him to fit between me and the car in front, 

When one driver acts as if I am not part of the traffic pulls alongside when they can't pass and then herds me to the kerb. They probably think they are geting i front, but the result is (now that I am clearly not recognised as part of the traffic) that I will filter all the way to the front, and the herding driver will now be delayed far more than if they had waited behind me, as will all the drivers in front of them.

I think it varies for each situation, some drivers wont give you the choice, so you submit or get hit in those cases.

I dont think I'd have tackled that Virgin van any differently to ldnparks, I'd have held my line till it became too dangerous not to concede just as they did though I just wouldnt have bothered talking to the driver. Often in situations like that Id just filter past them if I caught them up and deliberately sit right in front of them again, even if I could filter further ahead. I like to think that gets the message through to them.

I dont think riding like that enables more people to overtake in those situations, I've seen some cyclists who will literally ride into every bus stop lay by on a road,or pull over so far their pedals strike the kerb stones, that enables motorists to expect cyclists to get out the way, not dropping back when you are about to get squished.

But it depends if I'm at the end of a long ride,or been triggered by more than incident,my mood etc, changes how I might react.

Sorry, thought you were posting it "new". 

As for the question, do as Ren mentions, stay safe for yourself, get a camera and then report them as required. Yes there is a "hope" that you have a better Police Force then wtjs but it is better to be alive and report more then dead and not able to report one.