Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

"Warped trend" – More reports of cyclists being pushed off their bikes by van passengers in Kent

Kent Online highlights "warped trend" - but some commenters say cyclists deserve it...

A newspaper says that a number of recent incidents in Kent in which cyclists have been pushed off their bikes by van passengers reflects a “warped trend” – although some commenters to the article believe they deserve it.

Earlier this month, we reported how the passenger of a Volkswagen Transporter van had pushed a cyclist from his bike in Frittenden, resulting in him sustaining a cut to his chin.

> Van passenger pushes Kent cyclist off bike

The Kent Online article we cited mentioned that two similar incidents had happened in the weeks beforehand, one i between Stilebridge Lane and Marden, the other in Pattenden Lane, Marden.

Two further incidents have now come to light, one in Boxley Hill., the other on Underlyn Lane, again in Marden.

The victim of the Boxley Hill assault, 46-yedar-old Duncan Hall, told Kent Online that he was riding from Grove Hill to his home in Lordswood when the incident happened at around 6.30pm on the evening of Sunday 6 January.

 “I was heading through Boxley and there was a car behind me and a van behind that,” he said.

“The car behind me wasn’t overtaking because there were other cars coming in the other direction.

“The car went past me later and then the white van turned right into Pilgrims Way.

“I turned left towards Boxley Hill and then the van behind me came close to me.

“The next minute I saw this hand come out and push my hip and I ended up landing in a bush.”

“I wasn’t hurt but there could have been glass on the ground. I was more angry than anything,” he added.

Motorist Ian Roots told Kent Online that he had encountered a cyclist who had been the victim of a similar incident on Underlyn Lane in Marden on Sunday 30 December.

“When I came round the corner there was a guy who had fallen off his bike,” he said.

“As he was going along he said a van slowed down and someone leaned out the window and shoved him.

“I work with vehicles all the time and I could tell it was a Transit Connect but we didn’t see the number plate.

“He wasn’t hurt but he was shocked and angry.

“The man was a similar age to the person who was pushed in Frittenden so “He was maybe aged in his 60s.

“You don’t want to see anyone pushed off their bike,” he added.

While most comments to yesterday’s Kent Online report expressed shock at the incidents, one commenter, going by the name Angry of Chatham, said: “Rough justice, but justice never the less. When cycle lanes are supplied these lycra clad half-wits don't use them.”

Another, using the name DIMWIT, with caps lock key firmly engaged, said: “GET OUT OF THE WAY THEN!!! IDIOTS ON BIKES THINK THEY OWN THE ROAD.”

While according to witnesses there appear to be at least two separate vehicles involved in the three incidents for which details have been reported, it’s worth noting that all three happened on a Sunday.

Kent Police told road.cc that they could not trace having been notified of any of the incidents, and have urged the victims or witnesses to contact them on the non-emergency number 101 so they can investigate.

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.

Add new comment

13 comments

Avatar
Mungecrundle | 5 years ago
2 likes

Fly 6 camera. Don't leave home without it!

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Mungecrundle | 5 years ago
0 likes

Mungecrundle wrote:

Fly 6 camera. Don't leave home without it!

Catch them on camera and then if the police can be persuaded to act, it could be a nice bit of prison time for them.

Or we could get Legs11 some more paving slabs.

Avatar
OldRidgeback | 5 years ago
0 likes

It'd be an idea for the cops to have a few unmarked bicycles on this route in Kent. An ABH charge would sharpen the minds of the offender. And a driving ban for the person at the wheel too.

Avatar
PRSboy | 5 years ago
1 like

I hope the driver in question drives at speed into a wall, along with his pushy passenger.

Avatar
Organon replied to PRSboy | 5 years ago
0 likes

PRSboy wrote:

I hope the driver in question drives at speed into a wall, along with his pushy passenger.

What did the wall do to deserve this? It wasn't that Donald Trump's Wall was it?

Avatar
alansmurphy | 5 years ago
1 like

I got a couple of punishment passes yesterday for daring to use the nicely gritted wet road surface as opposed to the ice rink of a cycle lane...

Avatar
alansmurphy | 5 years ago
3 likes

I got a couple of punishment passes yesterday for daring to use the nicely gritted wet road surface as opposed to the ice rink of a cycle lane...

Avatar
WashoutWheeler | 5 years ago
0 likes

Having seen how selfishly some people on bikes use cycle lanes I prefer to take my chances in traffic.

Avatar
brooksby replied to WashoutWheeler | 5 years ago
0 likes

WashoutWheeler wrote:

Having seen how selfishly some people on bikes use cycle lanes I prefer to take my chances in traffic.

Do you mean the cyclists using cycle lanes or the motorists using them as parking?  Can we have examples of what you consider to be selfish use of cycle lanes, please.

Avatar
Peowpeowpeowlasers | 5 years ago
10 likes

Why are so many people who are anti-cycling seemingly fascinated by what some cyclists wear?  Why all the talk of "lycra clad arses"?

What is it about the male arse they find so interesting?  I mean, if that's what you like then fine, but don't dress your arse-worship in cycle-hatred.

Avatar
ConcordeCX replied to Peowpeowpeowlasers | 5 years ago
7 likes

Peowpeowpeowlasers wrote:

Why are so many people who are anti-cycling seemingly fascinated by what some cyclists wear?  Why all the talk of "lycra clad arses"?

What is it about the male arse they find so interesting?  I mean, if that's what you like then fine, but don't dress your arse-worship in cycle-hatred.

it's because they're stupid, they have no imagination, no empathy, no awareness of their own ignorance, and a bovine yearning to belong to a herd of similar dullards.

 

 

Avatar
ConcordeCX | 5 years ago
8 likes

"it’s worth noting that all three happened on a Sunday."

probably people returning home after church, all riled up by a particularly brimstoney sermon. The bishop should have a quiet word with the local vicars and tell them to tone it down a notch or two.

 

Avatar
burtthebike replied to ConcordeCX | 5 years ago
0 likes

ConcordeCX wrote:

"it’s worth noting that all three happened on a Sunday."

probably people returning home after church, all riled up by a particularly brimstoney sermon. The bishop should have a quiet word with the local vicars and tell them to tone it down a notch or two.

Is there a god of driving?  Patron saint would be St Jude I'd guess.

Latest Comments