Stranger punches London cyclist in ribs in unprovoked attack

A woman has claimed that she was punched in the ribs by a dog walker while standing with her bike on the pavement next to Regent’s Park. She believes the unprovoked attack may have been because she was a cyclist.

The London Evening Standard reports that the woman – who asked not to be named over fears for her safety – was standing on Regent’s Park’s Outer Circle at around 6.45am on Friday when the incident took place.

She claims that a white man in his sixties, dressed all in black and wearing a black beanie hat, hit her in the side.

“I'd done absolutely nothing to provoke him and was not in his way nor was I blocking the pavement. This man decided to assault me and then abuse and shout at me despite no provocation from me whatsoever.”

She added: “Eventually I said ‘stop or I'll call the police’ and he shouted and pointed in my face calling me an idiot.

When a friend of the woman’s stepped in, the man fled with his dog.

“I don't understand what it was about. All I know is that this man hit me then abused me, ranting that I was an idiot and that I was standing on the pavement. I'm not an idiot.

“I'm a caring person; I'm an engineer, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and an athlete who just wants to be able to ride her bicycle safely and respectfully.

“I care about people and don't ride aggressively, dangerously or illegally but in any event I wasn't even riding at the time.”

She said that she was regularly threatened and intimidated and was, “tired of being abused simply for travelling around London using a particular mode of transport.”

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: “Police are investigating an allegation of assault which was reported to have taken place in St Andrews Place at approximately 6.45am on Friday.

“The victim is a woman in her 40s – she was not seriously injured. She alleged she was punched in the ribs by a man as she stood with her bicycle on the pavement. No arrests. Enquiries continue.