Police in Cornwall have called for anyone with information to come forward after a cyclist reportedly assaulted a female dog walker on a nature reserve’s shared path earlier this week.
The alleged attack took place on Monday morning after one of the woman’s dogs moved across into the cyclist’s path on Goss Moor’s multi-use trail, a seven-mile, mostly off-road route located in central Cornwall’s 480-hectare national nature reserve and suitable for cyclists, walkers, horse riders, and wheelchair users.
The woman was walking with her two dogs, a German Shepherd and Fox Red Labrador, at around 11.15am when the cyclist – who she said was riding a road bike and wearing a white helmet with white glasses – reportedly grabbed her by the hair and punched her in the arm and ribcage during the “hideous” assault.
In a lengthy Facebook post shared by the alleged victim, she described the cyclist as a “coward” and “far from a man”, and called on other female solo walkers to stay safe while using the trail.
“I was walking my dogs back to my car when a cyclist came through the gates, one dog of mine crossed his path, with no need to slam his brakes on,” she wrote.
“He rode around my dog shaking his head. This pathetic human being then slowly cycled towards me, grabbed my hair, punched my arm, and then again in my side by my ribcage.
“May I remind you it is a shared path with dog walkers, horses, and cyclists. Had this been an issue, I would expect any decent human being to say so or ask me – as he was within distance of doing so – to get my dogs on a lead.”
She claimed that the cyclist, whose description she reported to the police, was riding a road bike and wearing a white helmet, white sunglasses, and a “white long-sleeved Lycra top underneath another top”.
“I urge anybody that saw me on the Goss Moor trail to help me and the police find this piece of s**t,” she continued.
“There were no witnesses to this hideous act, hence why I think he did it. I would hate it to happen to another female walking by herself. Stay safe out there, ladies.”
> Cyclist died after out-of-control dog ran out in front of him, court hears
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that the incident was reported to them on Monday, but that there are currently “no viable lines of enquiry”.
“Police were notified following a report of an assault on Goss Moor on the morning of Monday 10 March. It was reported a female dog walker was assaulted by an unknown male cyclist after one of her dogs went in front of his bike,” the spokesperson said.
“At this time, there are no viable lines of enquiry however if further evidence comes to light the incident can be re-visited. Anybody with information is asked to contact police on 101 or via our website quoting 50250060293.”
50 thoughts on ““Coward” cyclist allegedly grabbed and punched female walker after dog crossed his path at nature reserve”
“There were no witnesses to
“There were no witnesses to this hideous act….”
So, we have to accept as truth what the Ped says then…. I am sure the truth will out but I bet its not completely what the Ped says.
No idea whether the truth,
No idea whether the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth is being conveyed in this particular instance but I do recall standing straddling my bike a considerable distance from a dog walker on the South Downs Way whose dogs had nearly made me fall when she suddenly started shouting, “Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me! Police, someone call the police!” As my hands had been on the handlebars throughout our encounter and I had never been within three metres of the lady I took out my phone and offered to call them myself, pointing out that when they arrived they might be interested in viewing the footage on my bikecam…oddly enough she turned on her heel and walked off, but I do wonder what she might have alleged if I hadn’t had the camera.
It does sound a bit odd.
It does sound a bit odd. Grabbing someone’s hair and then punching them in the arm / ribcage? So he was off his bike at this point?
Also, anyone attacking someone accompanied by large dogs is taking a hell of a risk. I’ve never owned a dog but don’t they freak out and attack anyone threatening their owner?
Dogs are pretty much out of control in the UK now. The bloody things are everywhere and far too many are owned by people who have no idea how to train them. I’ve almost been brought down several times by a dog off its lead.
They should bring back dog
They should bring back dog tax, sorry dog licences. That would fix everything, [sic].
Road tax, too!
Road tax, too!
It’s a sad fact that there
It’s a sad fact that there are crazies in every strata of society, even cyclists. Probably fewer in the cycling group, but there are still some.
I hope the woman recovers quickly and that the perpetrator is caught equally quickly.
I hope the woman keeps her
I hope the woman keeps her f88king dogs under control in future
This cyclist sounds like a
This cyclist sounds like a total nutter… like incredibly derranged… like unbelievably unreasonable.
The lady doesn’t come across as a complete shrinking violet though, so hopefully she will get over the experience and won’t be put off walking her dogs.
Man I’d love to know what really happened… I’d happily wager there are some interesting bits that the lady has conveniently left out of her description of events.
Jimmy Ray Will wrote:
Quote:
“He rode around my dog shaking his head. This pathetic human being then slowly cycled towards me, grabbed my hair, punched my arm, and then again in my side by my ribcage.
“May I remind you it is a shared path with dog walkers, horses, and cyclists. Had this been an issue, I would expect any decent human being to say so or ask me – as he was within distance of doing so – to get my dogs on a lead.”
Right, let’s just put the matter of the unwarranted assault to bed: there is no justification in this account for the cyclist to do what he did. I’m perfectly happy with her opinion of him and his behaviour.
But the rest of her story is actually where the problem starts…
“one dog of mine crossed his path, with no need to slam the brakes on”
I’ll* be the judge of when I* need to “slam” my brakes on-, or steer around-, or slow down-, for your dog.
All I* know is:
It is a shared path; the greater duty is on me* to avoid you. But your dogs are your responsibility, not mine*, and you should exercise control over them in public at all times. I* would expect any decent human being to do so, without being asked (except you have been already – in law).
I* should not have to ask you to put your dogs on a lead… or even just to hold them while I* pass. You should just do it.
* It wasn’t me, and I wasn’t there when I didn’t do it.
In pactice I would probably not even get as far as shaking my head, unless the dog owner was recklessly endangering others with her dog. I meet a lot of people who think shared paths, recreational routes, etc are their own special dog exercise area and that others need to move around them. I tend to slow down, say hello to all concerned, put on a smile and be on my way. But if a dog sufficiently threatens my safety, I’ll get all Ballantine with it if necessary; and I won’t be afraid to give the owner some advice if appropriate.
And to close with a reprise: the cyclist was completely and criminally out of order in this case. Unless we’re missing a big piece of the jigsaw.
I’d be rather cautious about
I’d be rather cautious about a german shepherd and the labrador would probably end up causing you to fall with unwanted attention.
The guy opposite was bitten on the bum when out running, much to the embrassment of the owners, so I do pay careful attention to dogs off leads.
I can only assume the cyclist is a bit of a pyscho.
I can only assume the cyclist
I can only assume the cyclist is a bit of a pyscho
Whereas I, as equally without evidence as the next man, think the incident as described didn’t happen at all
If it actually happened.
If it actually happened.
Definitely a psycho, as who
Definitely a psycho, as who sane would assault someone accompanied by two large dogs and not be afraid of either of them getting protective of the owner and getting attacked.
Hirsute wrote:
“Assume” is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. Based on one side of the story, and quite an offensive side.
There is no scenario where a
deleted
This sounds a little
This sounds a little unbelievable. We only have one side of the story.
I regularly get dogs off the lead running about unchecked, whilst the owner either doesn’t notice because their head is stuck in their phone, or they call their dogs feebly whilst the dogs completely ignore them.
Every dog should be on a short lead when on a shared path.
It doesn’t sound like either
It doesn’t sound like either of her dogs got protective of her and didn’t attack the geezer seeing their “mummy” was getting assaulted. I have always thought German shepherds and labs are in the tops of dog breeds ranked for high intelligence. On the other hand, the guy must have been rather brave to decide to assault somebody accompanied by 2 large dogs.
I’d wager that any woman who
I’d wager that any woman who describes someone as ‘..piece of s**t,” ‘ has left out the bit between her unfuly dogs getting in the way and her being ‘attacked’ with the bit where she mouthed off at him.
Even if your speculation were
Even if your speculation were correct, so what? ‘Mouthing off’ at someone might be unpleasant, but it’s no sort of justification for them physically assaulting you.
If indeed he did assult her.
If indeed he did assult her. From her language I just dont believe her account of events.
Depends what her dog(s) did
Depends what her dog(s) did
It really doesn’t.
It really doesn’t.
Herein lies difference
Herein lies difference between cyclist and just people that happen to ride bikes. If it did happen, the person riding the bike wasn’t a cyclist, but anti-social maniac on a bike. There are plenty of non-cyclists and non-bike riders that wear lycra. Dogs should’ve been on leads by all accounts, and one-sided story doesn’t help, but any violence uncalled for, if it happened. Poor reporting all around.
Feels like the same kind of ridiculous reasons that new owners of house in Cwmparc used to put a gate up, and block access to a widely used forestry path up the mountain, used for many decades by locals for walking, with dogs or without, going for gravel rides (there’s change.org petition to have this removed and prescriptive right of way application on-going, and much anger from local community around the Rhondda Fawr about this).
mitchibob wrote:
You should bring that one up at the cyclists’ AGM – we should be sueing these types for false advertising or trademark violation or “personating a cyclist” or something, surely?
Of course – the issue is that the opprobrium is applied to others on bikes. Which is less the case with dog walkers maybe – ” wasn’t really a dog walker but simply someone with a dog” 🤔?
But its a fair point, I know
But its a fair point, I know alot of people who always moan about “lycra clad cyclists” riding on pavements near them, which conjures up images of serious hobbyist/club cyclists behaving like idiots around people, when the reality is the nearest thing to lycra these people on bikes theyre encountering is wearing is in their briefs and theyre just your common garden regular aholes who happen to be riding bikes.
So people who ride bikes; for
So people who ride bikes; for work, to work, to shop or simply for pleasure, are not proper cyclists? Only “serious hobbyist/club” pedlars <sic> qualify?
Well anyone who rides like a
Well anyone who rides like a tool around pedestrians, is just that a tool, whatever clothing style they wear.
But would you label people who ride for work, to shop or simply for pleasure, lycra clad, just because they ride a bike ?
No you probably wouldn’t, because its the pejorative term some people dump all people who ride bikes in, and you’re smart enough to realise, there are tools who ride bikes, just as there are tools in all walks of life.
As you say, there are tools
As you say, there are tools in all walks of life. I guess I take the journaistic rhetoric with a bigger touch of salt than some; but even I have noted a few references to wankpanzers, dog walkers and the like on these pages.
I think the attitude drives the words, rather than the other way round. Although you might argue that the words reinforce the attitude, it still the attitude that is at fault.
This is the whole “if we
This is the whole “if we change the image do we change the reality” conundrum, or “to what extent are stereotypes true and to what extent are they reinforced by confirmatory evidence and how easily can they be changed by evidence to the contrary”.
It is true that cyclists in the UK aren’t a reflection of the general population. There are some systematic differences *, and there are some specific groups of cyclists (very likely the minority) whose behaviour does legitimately cause concern.
Naturally most cyclists don’t want to be grouped with the baddies so we see exactly the same othering by cyclists themselves – “we’re (good) cyclists” but they are not “cyclists” but “yobs on bikes”, or “pushy, entitled city bankers on bikes etc.”. But this does sometimes get a bit “no true Scotsman…”.
But … cyclists are already an “out group”. Out groups tend to attract exaggerated stereotypes, and stories. “A cyclist nearly killed my pal!” is a) opinion and b) may spread far beyond the actual incident. And because humans we then “tar them all with the same brush”. We are “motivated reasoners” and we actively seek confirmatory evidence for beliefs, while downplaying contradictory evidence. And there’s less of that anyway, because few cyclists.
So the ideas of distancing ourselves from “those bad cyclists” has limited mileage (also the other one “let’s all be better cyclists and get respect“). Or at least those with the power to change opinion are the majority (or if you like “whoever is driving mainstream culture”) – not people cycling.
Ultimately things won’t change until a sufficiently large fraction of people cycle themselves. Then you’ll see “normal people” calling out “yobs on bikes”…
* Because few people cycle (if they can drive), because road conditions / other reasons – including cyclists are an out-group due to prevailing stereotypes … and round we go …
If only A large fraction of
If only 🙂 A large fraction of the people drive and all I see is general deterioriation of standards, no calling out.
I’m not sure if the media, social and other, is driving and/or facìlitating the change or merely a reflection, of an underlying change in values. A lack of social responsibility, if you will. More people, more pushing? More rights fewer responsibilities.
Follow the money, I reckon…
Follow the money, I reckon…
People will always do the easy thing. e.g. in transport driving when perhaps they don’t really have to, or not driving as consciously / carefully as they should, or “bending” the rules.
Plus there will always be some people dealing out abuse to other people. Most others will either go along with it because we’re pro-social (possibly holding our noses) – or just keep our heads down to avoid abuse ourselves. And those who wish to gain some power will always see opportunity…
Just seems like a general
Just seems like a general lack of consideration; less regard for (what were) social norms – everything from rubbish to rubbish driving.
Would agree that there’s definately a lot of heads down; to phones, to music or just to avoid what’s going on. Much less social interaction.
Cannot condone the alleged
Cannot condone the alleged incident, however,
Highway Code Rule 56: keep dog on short lead… when on shared path with cyclists.
It may be me but that is ignored completely by far too many dog walkers.
dubwise wrote:
You should have stopped there.
There is no ‘however’ that excuses that kind of violent behaviour.
Who is excusing the alleged
Who is excusing the alleged violent behaviour?
I pointed out the highway code rule that far too many dog walkers ignore and demand that others rake responsibility for their dogs.
It’s not only you. The
It’s not only you. The problem with the sort of rural shared paths as pictured is that dog owners bring their dogs there precisely to be able to let them off the lead and run freely. From my own experience of riding on the TP trail and other rural shared paths roughly 50% of dog walkers keep their dogs on a lead.
I am with you Dubwise,
I am with you Dubwise, certainly cannot condone the alleged behavior.
There is a few quotes from the victim here which could be reworded as “I was letting my dogs run around uncontrollably, One ran in fornt of him and the rider was forced to brake to a sudden stop in order to avoid a collision. I am only willing to control my dogs (as I am required to do at ALL times) if and when I am asked politly to do so.”
On this basis I think we have very much only heard half of the story.
If this is true then that
If this is true then that cyclist deserves all he gets. We can’t complain about violence and abuse from drivers and pedestrians and behave like that ourselves.
Her account is obviously
Her account is obviously lacking in the provocation on her side. No one attacks a stranger because their dog walked across a path, it just doesn’t happen. From the language she uses in her account of the incident – abusive and obscene – you can be fairly sure she displayed the same abusive behaviour to the man on a bike in question. I’d also suggest she has vastly exaggerated the physical contact between the two and may be missing out more details there. There are two sides to every story, this man, should he even exist, should come forward.
Do you have a shred of
Do you have a shred of evidence to support these wild assumptions?
If he punched her, there will
If he punched her, there will surely be evidence in the form of bruises on her body parts.
How many video posts do we
How many video posts do we see online where someone cycling has been bullied by a driver, and the comments are “but what did the cyclist do before?”
Yours is the same nonsense.
I ride along this trail
I ride along this trail fairly frequently. It is a bit rough but cuts out a hill and some busy roads. It is much used by people with dogs. My view is that pedestrians, even those with dogs (!), have priority. I always slow, let people know I am coming and anticipate a dog jor small child jumping in front of me. It is only a mile where we share the path and I am happy to go a bit slower. No idea who this cyclist is but he is clearly an unpleasant character. No one should react like that if a dog (or small child, equally unpredictable) causes you to brake sharply because you shouldn’t have been passing that quickly in the first place. I would be critical of a car driver who drove inconsideratetly and would expect them to slow when passing a busy area with lots cyclists. Same applies. The walkers along this path are very pleasant people as are the cyclists who use it. We co-exist happily. Its Cornwall not Regents Park.
In my experience your
In my experience your assumptions about relative tolerance in Cornwall and Regents part may have to be reversed. 😉
Cyclists and pedestrians
Cyclists and pedestrians coexist pretty happily in Regent’s Park as well generally, it’s only the Royal Parks and certain “journalists” like Nepo Coren and his ilk who create an image that does not accord with reality of a permanent war between the two.
The path is “Shared”. That
The path is “Shared”. That means both parties have to show consideration of each other. Cyclists should be respectful of pedestrians, and vice-versa. That doesn’t mean we should basically cow-tow to their errant animals that should be under control.
SecretSam wrote:
Don’t tow cows (or dogs) while riding your bike. And keep your cow on a short leash when walking it on a shared path.
No wonder so many people are
No wonder so many people are “mooving on” to their eternal pastures every year because of bovines. It’s unbridled mad(cow)ness!
Next thing we’ll be seeing people posting vids of themselves travelling with their pet in cow-go bikes! Although that demands calves of steel – or maybe cowbon fibre (hay) for weight reduction?
Was the dog on one of those
Was the dog on one of those extended long leads? The ones that can stretch across a road? Asking for a near miss