A Bristol man is keen to identify the driver who threatened to run over both him and his nine month old daughter on Prospect Place, Whitehall on Friday morning.
Jon Usher, an area manager for Sustrans, told road.cc how he was looking to park the cargo bike bearing his daughter – a Bakfiets from Holland, which is specifically designed to carry children – when the incident took place.
“The road was narrow with parked cars on either side. I was looking for a space to pull in to park up to pick up a parcel. I'd slowed down and signalled to manoeuvre into a space – the bike's about the same length as a Smart car – and that's when I heard the car behind shouting at me to speed up and get out of his way.”
It was then that the driver drove into Usher’s back wheel.
“I shouted at him to back off as I had my daughter in the front and gestured towards her. He said he didn't care and if I didn't move he'd run me and my daughter over. He then started to get out of his car, so I moved into the space and he drove off.”
Usher, who is currently on paternity leave, says that he is angry that he and his daughter Annabel were endangered in this way. Having taken a picture of the car as it drove off, he hopes that the person involved – a thin black male with a short beard – can be tracked down. “I'd like this driver to be identified so that someone can speak to him about the potential consequences of driving in such an aggressive manner, for his and everyone's benefit.”
Usher went to Trinity Road Police Station to report the incident and Avon and Somerset Constabulary spokesperson told the Bristol Post: "The incident has been reported. We are investigating it and trying to find the driver of the silver Ford Fiesta."
“I've long worked and campaigned for an environment where we can all live in freedom from the fear of motor traffic,” says Usher. “I won't be put off riding my bike for everyday journeys. My bike means my freedom to destinations beyond where my feet will take me.”
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.