Video: Car passenger smacks cyclist's bottom

Had the exact same thing happen to me about 10 years ago in leafy, middle class Hitchin in Herts. And I'm a bloke! It seems there are twats all around the world, who have no regard for the safety off other road users. Nearly knocked me off. Unfortunately it was late at night and they passed so fast I couldn't see the number plate. Reported it to the police all the same in case they did it again to a less experienced rider who might be knocked off. It was a very shocking experience that left me bruised and I hope the rider in this case gets some assistance from the local fuzz, rather than the waffle so far encountered.

I'm a born and bred Western Australian and can guarantee you that this is assault. From the way I read Elliot Johnston's  description of the event, when he speaks of the police officers remarks, he is refering to an unrelated earlier instance, which sounds a little dubious in terms of its legitimacy. Perth (the capital of WA), within which Mindarie is located, is a very car centric city due to it's relatively poor public transport system, extensive roadways and how spread out it is. Cycling is not traditionally big, but has grown rapidly over the last 5 to 6 years and this is causing some angst for a few motorists and a few politicians, but there are also plenty of cylists who are yet to learn good etiquette as well. Of the thousands of motorists who drive past me while cycling, 99.95% are courteous and considerate. Unfortunately every so often you encounter a young male driver, who probably has no job, no girlfriend, no brains and very small hands amongst other things, who feels that he needs to harass a cyclist and drive of at speed to help them relieve their sexual frustration, they are generally ugly and obviously morons. Having travelled widely, I have come to the conclusion that no matter where you go, 99.95% of people are awesome, polite, considerate and helpful, unfortunately it is always the minority who ruin your day and attract not only your attention but also that of the media. Can I also comment that we don't have minimum passing distances as yet but I think it will happen in the not so distant future. We do have compulsory helmet laws, and when you see what happens to people who turn their brains to scrambled , I don't think it's a bad thing, I'd just like to see the police enforce it more, particularly kids who don't want to mess up their hair and fail to understand the potential consequences.

As for 'jerkwater 'stralia', I would recommend that Super Python 59, get of his computer, get a life and take a holiday to get an education before he starts trying to join the 0.05% of the world.

Does the woman walking her dog as the incident happens not have a good enough view to act as a witness of the incident?

Stupid people.

Australia seems like a rotten place to be a cyclist, there's so many bad videos and stories online.

I think WA cops accept hijinks.

My friend didn't get arrested for driving his camper van blind drunk around town crashing in to every corner, aiming at numerous people on foot attempting to stop him. "Everyone has girl troubles, son."

Is it schoolies week? They're probably overrun.

What if it occurs after the ride whilst on the podium?

Definitely NOT COOL!!!... not to mention DANGEROUS!!!

Can't believe it's so hard to get the cops to act against these dickheads. The law may have the means to do so, but for all intensive purposes it's completely impractical... so much so, it may as well not even exist.

Only explanation for a police officer making that statement is if he was the driver..

Don't they have min distances there? Clearly the passengers arm isn't that long must have been unsafe.

"Jenica Brooke reported that the police officer she spoke to said that despite photographic evidence "intent" to hit couldn't be proved, that the driver was under no obligation to identify their passenger, and also stated that the footage Brooke provided "looked like a safe pass" according to the officer."

This officer needs a good kick in the plums...

Matching pace like that does not make for a safe pass.  Our highway code says you should complete an overtake as quickly as it is safe to do so, I am sure the Australian equivalent says much the same.  Ridiculous.

Guessing the guys in the car were cops judging by their response.

Give it up Australia. You can slap as many bottoms as you like, and your cops can be as lazy as they can be, it won't make any difference. The United States have elected, as their leader and head of state, a man who brags about grabbing women by the genitals. Nothing you can do will top that. The Most Reactionary English-Speaking Country Competition is over, done, finished: you've lost. Suck it up buttercup. Although, I suppose, there is always the matter of defending second place from a resurgent post-Brexit Britain.

I'm sure that if the cyclist had slapped the passenger as they passed the police would launch a nationwide manhunt to find the cyclist and charge them with assault.  

It seems obvious that this is a joint enterprise of driver and passenger. The police officer's excuses are pathetic: find out who it was, it won't be that difficult, you just have to be motivated.

"the driver was under no obligation to identify their passenger". Take them to court for common assault in company. The police will get a subpoena for the supply of the information to identify the passenger. If the driver refuses, the judge will hold them in contempt and fine them very harshly.

See how much they're willing to keep their mate out of trouble then.

It is clearly a joint assault and a close pass. Three are 3 criminals here; the driver, the passenger and the police officer.

He manages to slap the cyclist's arse and it's deemed a safe pass? 

Seems absurd that they can't 'track down' someone committing a sexual assault, when they are on camera and they presumably know who was renting the vehicle at that time.

If the person renting the car won't identify them then the driver should at least be banned from driving for an extended period. If you are so out-of-it when you drive that you don't even know who you have in your passenger seat, you can't be trusted with a car, surely?

Pretty sure that would be considered a sexual assault in the UK

Pretty sure that would be considered a sexual assault in the UK

Christ! I'd put the little pricks in a wooden box!