driver stops in middle of road to give me a lecture …

keirik wrote:

Dont trust the police to do anything. I have a mate who’s a sergeant and Ive never met anyone more rabidly anti-cyclist, and who admits to trying to block cyclists from going past him. He doesnt seem unusual.

Bit of stereotyping going on there.  Perhaps you need to persuade your mate to grow up. 

riotgibbon wrote:

riotgibbon wrote:

Yeah, I’ve sent it in, there was no way it was ever going to court, but I’m hoping for a Dixon of Dock Green style ‘now then lad, you were being a bit hasty there, and has thaa actually read t’Highway Code?’ semi-frienfly /menacing chat. Though that last bit might be Juliet Bravo.

Years ago, I forced into crashing up a kerb by a tosspot in one of those little Suzuki Carry vans.  I had a pop at him half a mile before for a close pass, got round him while he queued at lights, and then when they went green he came alongside and just kept inching in towards me until I had to crash up the kerb.  Chased him to the bakers where he worked afterwards, and all his mates came out, so I left it.  I did report it to the police who assured me they would go and have a word with him.   It’s all you can hope for really, but I still won’t let a close pass go without a shout and gesticulation.

The “wanker” from the kid is

The “wanker” from the kid is priceless.

guyrwood wrote:

It may be a bit late to get the police involved. They are perfectly happy to accept video evidence from cyclists and investigate it but they do say not to share the video publicly first, it can affect the evidentiary value of the footage if and when it goes to court.

I’ve seen this said a lot. It doesn’t affect the evidentiary value at all. It might affect, in a case widely distributed, the right to a fair trial but that’s extremely unlikely as well. 

guyrwood wrote:

It may be a bit late to get the police involved. They are perfectly happy to accept video evidence from cyclists and investigate it but they do say not to share the video publicly first, it can affect the evidentiary value of the footage if and when it goes to court.

Will it go to court? Not all times the police are involved have to be prosecutions. 

Send it in, ask for restorative justice. You can ask the police to deliver messages on your behalf, meet with the driver and explain why it’s dangerous, or even request he performs some sort of punitive action as a consequence. It could be as simple as he has to do some basic cycle training so that he understands the risk and dangers and learns about the Highway Code. 

Its too too easy to focus on the court route, but there are other options you could look at. And to be honest, it’s easier for the cops to do as there is much less form filling, and no need for the same burdens of proof etc. Plus it can be much more impactive on the perpatrator than court action.