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Man pushes Cambridge pavement cyclist, aged 12, into road

Police appeal for witnesses to incident that happened in Trumpington last week

Police in Cambridge have appealed for witnesses after a man pushed a 12-year-old girl who was riding on the pavement off her bike, causing her to fall into the road. The girl was unharmed, but police say the incident could have been more serious as a car was approaching at the time.

The incident happened between noon and 1pm last Thursday 17 August on High Street, Trumpington, near a Shell petrol station.

According to Cambridgeshire Constabulary, the man shouted at the girl about cycling on the pavement and as she rode past him, he put out his arm, knocking her off her bike.

The suspect is described as having short blond or grey hair and was wearing jeans, Ugg trainers and a black jacket, possibly from the Superdry brand.

Detective Sergeant James Bowen said: “This incident could have been more serious as a black Ford Fiesta was passing by at the time and the victim fell close to it.

“Fortunately she did not suffer serious injuries.

“I would appeal for anyone who saw it happen to come forward.”

Anyone who has information is asked to call police on 101, quoting incident 535 of August 17. Alternatively, information can be given to police online, or by contacting the charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111 or via its website.

While it is an offence to cycle on the pavement, Home Office guidance first issued in 1999, reiterated three years ago by former transport minister Robert Goodwill and endorsed by the Association of Chief Police Officers is that police should use their discretion in fining people.

The guidance says:

“The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so. Chief police officers, who are responsible for enforcement, acknowledge that many cyclists, particularly children and young people, are afraid to cycle on the road, sensitivity and careful use of police discretion is required.”

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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14 comments

Avatar
SNS1938 | 6 years ago
0 likes

Crazy narrow cycle lane or super wide footpath? I'd be on the footpath there too. I lived 5 years in Cambridge, but didnt' cycle that road much.

Avatar
PaulBox replied to SNS1938 | 6 years ago
2 likes

SNS1938 wrote:

Crazy narrow cycle lane or super wide footpath? I'd be on the footpath there too. I lived 5 years in Cambridge, but didnt' cycle that road much.

The footpath is no wider than normal.

Avatar
ChrisB200SX replied to PaulBox | 6 years ago
0 likes

PaulBox wrote:

SNS1938 wrote:

Crazy narrow cycle lane or super wide footpath? I'd be on the footpath there too. I lived 5 years in Cambridge, but didnt' cycle that road much.

The footpath is no wider than normal.

Maybe not in Cambridge, but rarely do I see pavements that wide around Reading. That "cycle lane" though  2

Avatar
alansmurphy | 6 years ago
1 like

You could put the world's best cycle lane in and this (un* would still be a (un*

Avatar
jhsmith87 | 6 years ago
1 like

Ironically my LBS is literally just opposite the Shell garage. The cycle path is fairly narrow & at certain times of the day the road is heavily congested with the traffic going between the M11 & the centre. 

https://www.google.com/maps/@52.1728615,0.1126409,0a,75y,3.95h,90.52t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s2-eSeRketqH_fHV8g64qhw!2e0

I personally wouldn't want my children to be using the cycle lanes here, not a great example of the solid white line/segregated ones dotted around Cambridge. Also on the opposite side of the road the path is a shared use starting near the pedestrian crossing. One further point...when a certain French bike race in town not long ago it went along this very section of road...

Avatar
WillRod replied to jhsmith87 | 6 years ago
3 likes

Poor quality cycling infrastructure entices people into cycling on pavements, also a mixture of pavements and shared use pavements causes confusion.

Then, some numbskull decides that he can push someone off a bike, and not only that, a young girl just in front of a passing car.

 

All this, in one of Britains best cities for cycling (or so they would like you to believe).

Avatar
esnifador replied to jhsmith87 | 6 years ago
0 likes
jhsmith87 wrote:

Ironically my LBS is literally just opposite the Shell garage. The cycle path is fairly narrow & at certain times of the day the road is heavily congested with the traffic going between the M11 & the centre. 

https://www.google.com/maps/@52.1728615,0.1126409,0a,75y,3.95h,90.52t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s2-eSeRketqH_fHV8g64qhw!2e0

I personally wouldn't want my children to be using the cycle lanes here, not a great example of the solid white line/segregated ones dotted around Cambridge. Also on the opposite side of the road the path is a shared use starting near the pedestrian crossing. One further point...when a certain French bike race in town not long ago it went along this very section of road...

I have the same LBS. I don't blame anyone, least of all a child, for not wanting to cycle along Trumpington High Street. It's an absolutely horrible road that strips out much of any sense of community Trumpington may have had. The cycle lanes are quite narrow and don't have solid lines, because obviously wider and solid bike lanes might be fit for purpose.

Avatar
ChrisB200SX replied to esnifador | 6 years ago
1 like

esnifador wrote:
jhsmith87 wrote:

https://www.google.com/maps/@52.1728615,0.1126409,0a,75y,3.95h,90.52t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s2-eSeRketqH_fHV8g64qhw!2e0

I have the same LBS. I don't blame anyone, least of all a child, for not wanting to cycle along Trumpington High Street. It's an absolutely horrible road that strips out much of any sense of community Trumpington may have had. The cycle lanes are quite narrow and don't have solid lines, because obviously wider and solid bike lanes might be fit for purpose.

Only if people didn't drive in them anyway.

Wow, look how much wider the pavement is than the "cycle lane", clear to see where the local authorities place their priorities!

Avatar
1961BikiE | 6 years ago
3 likes

What a big man. Though he could be one of the many poor folk who are "treated" for mental illness by care in the community. I suspect not though unless Mail/Sun reading has finally been accepted as mental illness.

Avatar
Jitensha Oni replied to 1961BikiE | 6 years ago
2 likes

1961BikiE wrote:

What a big man. Though he could be one of the many poor folk who are "treated" for mental illness by care in the community. I suspect not though unless Mail/Sun reading has finally been accepted as mental illness.

 close -  I suspect it's the MSM who incite poor souls like this to act like cunts - whereas, just to be clear, its the MSM who are the biggest ones. Man, this sucks  >:(

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
3 likes

attempted murder going by recent events ...

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Russell Orgazoid | 6 years ago
2 likes

Knocks a young girl off her bike and into the road? I think I'd like a word with that coward.

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hawkinspeter | 6 years ago
6 likes

So, I wonder if this chap will be treated like the jogger that hit all the (news?) paper headlines?

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Hug replied to hawkinspeter | 6 years ago
8 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

So, I wonder if this chap will be treated like the jogger that hit all the (news?) paper headlines?

Almost - apart from he'll be given a medal and a home in Mansfield (safe from all those pesky cyclists).

 

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