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C3FT close pass measurement deviceCompany blames cyclist after aggressive driver complaint
A company director has responded to a complaint of aggressive driving by one of its employees by blaming the cyclist who made the complaint.
The Nottingham Post reports Michael Perry complained to local firm, GSH Upholstery, after he says one of its drivers regularly passed him while beeping his horn and “making angry signs”.
The company appears to have taken down its website and Facebook page shortly after cyclists began leaving reviews which linked to the Nottingham Post article.
West Midlands Police to use cycling officer to target close-passing motorists
Perry, 35, told the Post he is regularly overtaken by the driver on his way to work on the A6002 in Nuthall. "It must have been about three or four months with the driver beeping angrily and making angry signs as he drives past. I just thought 'this is not right'."
Mr Perry wrote to the company on September 15, stating: "A few times now about 7am on Low Wood road. The driver of your small blue van I think it's a Ford. They have been aggressively beeping their horn as they overtake my bike.
"It's like they are trying to knock me off. It's getting stupid - if I fall and have an accident who knows what will happen. I am getting a go pro camera to put on my bike so if this carries on I will take the video to the police."
Mr Perry received a response from one of the company directors, James Hartley, which reads: "I have spoken to the driver in question and reviewed the video footage from the van. I would like to point out that the council spends MILLIONS of pounds across the country painting white lines creating cycle tracks for YOURS AND OTHERS SAFTEY, WHY NOT USE THEM?
"Secondly if you're cycling at least 1 yard off the curb side on a road with central refuges, passing cars, vans and lorries cannot get past, HENCE THE CYCLE TRACK??. So please do not email me trying to get one of my employees disciplined for YOUR stupidity.
"May I suggest a cycling course on road use for YOUR safety and other drivers, as if you were to be knocked off your bike while you were on the road by a passing vehicle with a cycle track road side, I would feel for the driver as you were not adhering to the RULES of the HIGHWAY CODE."
However, Hartley appears to have misunderstood the rules of the Highway Code, which state a cyclist does not have to use a cycle lane (Rule 61 & 63), and that drivers must give cyclists at least as much room as a car when overtaking (Rule 163). In many cases when overtaking by a central refuge, the latter would not be possible. Cyclists are advised, for their own safety, not to ride less than 50m from a kerb as this encourages drivers to "buzz past with inches to spare", makes them harder to see and they more liable to encounter debris swept aside by motor traffic.
The Post also points out there is no cycle lane on that particular road.
GSH Upholstery did not respond to email request for comment by road.cc, while a phone number on an online directory went to a private residence which hadn’t heard of James Hartley.
Laura Laker is a freelance journalist with more than a decade’s experience covering cycling, walking and wheeling (and other means of transport). Beginning her career with road.cc, Laura has also written for national and specialist titles of all stripes. One part of the popular Streets Ahead podcast, she sometimes appears as a talking head on TV and radio, and in real life at conferences and festivals. She is also the author of Potholes and Pavements: a Bumpy Ride on Britain’s National Cycle Network.
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28 comments
A bit late to the party with this but
GSH Upholstery LTD
The Team
George Hartley - Director (Upholsterer) -
James Hartley - Upholsterer
Dean Antoni Reid (Bru) - Upholsterer
12 Aug 2016 - Dean Antoni Reid, aged 39, of Conway Close in Nottingham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and received 47 weeks in ...
I wonder of they are related?
"not to ride less than 50m from a kerb"??
I think you mean centimeters. Oops!
"not to ride less than 50m from a kerb"??
I think you mean centimeters. Oops!
I suggest that you report them to the police if you get footage. A polite e-mail is the first step, but if ignored, the second step has to be escalating to police action. Repeated offences could be deemed as harassment.
If they are that ignorant of the Highway Code, they shouldn't be driving. I wonder if he and his van drivers know the Highway Code on double yellow lines, mobile phone use, advance stop lines, parking on pavements, speeding. Of course, most people actually know the Highway Code, it's just they ignore it and re-interpret the woolly wording to meet their own biased views.
Apart from the obvious contradictions contained in these statements...
"Secondly if you're cycling at least 1 yard off the curb side on a road with central refuges, passing cars, vans and lorries cannot get past, HENCE THE CYCLE TRACK??. So please do not email me trying to get one of my employees disciplined for YOUR stupidity.
"May I suggest a cycling course on road use for YOUR safety and other drivers, as if you were to be knocked off your bike while you were on the road by a passing vehicle with a cycle track road side, I would feel for the driver as you were not adhering to the RULES of the HIGHWAY CODE."
...which include ignorance of the fact that 'a cycling course on road use' would actually tell you to cycle further out, there is another emerging trend here of placing the irritated driver in the role of victim. Eg, if its not safe to pass safely because the road is too narrow and/or has road furniture, its regarded as the cyclist's fault for being there, and the poor driver can't be held accoutnable for having 'no choice' but to pass dangerously close. The possibility of just not passing at all until it is safe to do so is completely ignored.
It would be a bit like someone claiming that the cost of a new sofa was so expensive that they had 'no choice' but to steal one...
Do you think his phone would stay on long if we all called him every hour on the hour throughout the night ?
Hi all I would like to add to my story. I wasn't trying to get the van driver sacked. I emailed the company for them to ask him to stop with his dangerous driver towards me and any other cyclists he comes across.
I have been cycling to work at the same company for 15+ years and I've had my fair share of abuse from other road users.
Just this one driver was getting so dangerous I had to email his company about him.
Then to receive the email reply from the company.
Micheal Perry
I see that their site has a guestbook...how quaint.
http://web.archive.org/web/20160321085643/http://gshupholstery.co.uk/ind...
Nothing new since last November...looks like business is booming ....
Stupid people seem to think that single white lines and the space to the left of them are cycle lanes. This guy is obviously one of those people.
You won't get anywhere complaining to these small companies. The wanker driving the vehicle is probably the wanker that owns it.
sorry - form submitted 3 times by accident
i thought you had a number of bicycles needing attention
this could be a lucrative business for them
I'm going to chase then for a quote to re-upholster my saddle.
I'm going to chase then for a quote to re-upholster my saddle.
info [at] gshupholstery.co.uk
What a self-righteous prick.
James Hartley should sitck to writing the follow-up to 'Fly Fishing' - from home, so he doesn't have to be a menace on the roads.
More seriously, I find this mix of ignorance, anger, bullying behaviour, and self-righteousness when being completely wrong, very worrying. This person shouldn't be allowed to drive on public roads.
Hmm...you think they run a cycle 2 work scheme?
Only for the directors kids, I bet.
I love a good bit of internet pitch forks....couldnt happen to a nicer pr*ck
[sigh]
First it was jumping red lights, then it was 'road tax' (whatever that is) and now 'must use the cycle lane' is the fashionable distraction tactic to prevent the need to take responsibility whilst driving on the roads...
It would be funny if it was not scary.
err... right. 50 meters it is then!
Do you mean cm?
I notice that they both changed their "service addresses" to the company's registered office when they last filed an annual return.
I also notice that when they incorporated the company James was at Marton Road, Bulwell, Nottingham and George at Carterswood Drive, Nuthall, Nottingham.
Matter of public record: Companies House and all that
Yeah, but the internet never forgets: http://web.archive.org/web/20160321044744/http://gshupholstery.co.uk/ind...
Oh look! the mobile says 24/7...
It seems like companies house is the only website involving James and George Hartley that has not yet been taken down!
It seems like companies house is the only website involving James and George Hartley that has not yet been taken down!
Can I place a bet that the driver of the van in question is called James?
Find myself somewhat disgruntled by this director's behaviour. Will have to review it