“Psychopath-level road rage incident” reported to the police after driver swerves into cyclist then squirts engine oil in their face + more on the live blog
"Psychopath-level" road rage
Undoubtedly one of the worst road rage accounts we’ve read came across our screen this morning from the r/londoncycling thread on Reddit. Our original poster takes up the story:
“Cycling home from work last night, in a dedicated cycle lane (pavement level), got lights and a huge high viz reflective poncho on. Somehow a driver coming the other way still didn’t see me (or maybe he did and didn’t care) and turned right across the cycle lane into a petrol station, nearly ploughing into me. I managed to avoid contact by braking and swerving but still fell off my bike.
“I tried to take a photo of the license plate so I could report dangerous driving, he gets out and we have a shouting match. This escalates with him threatening to hit me. He then goes and gets a squeezy drink bottle from his car, brandishes it and threatens to squirt it at me, he’s clearly implying it’s not a drink but an unknown/dangerous substance, then goes ahead and squirts it full in my face.
“I’m now covered in what I think was engine oil – it’s in my mouth, nose, eyes, all over my clothes (ruined approx £100 of clothes/cycling gear). I called the police, and after the 10-15 min call I realise that the car has not actually driven away, but has parked across the road, so I’m now panicking he’s watching and waiting to follow me home and attack me again. As extra info, I’m a 5ft woman and obviously in no way a threat to him.
“I’ve reported to the police and they’re coming to my house to take a statement later this week. I know the reg plate (but my photo doesn’t show it clearly). A man who helped me and saw the whole thing has given me his number and is happy to give a witness statement. I think the petrol station will have CCTV. Any idea what the likely outcome might be?”
So much to take from that, my first thought is what sort of person keeps engine oil in a drinks bottle? Presumably someone who makes these sorts of threats on a semi-regular basis.
Worryingly, many of the comments to the cyclist’s post both offer their sympathy and warn that it’s only the threat and spray of oil that will likely amount to police action, and that a near miss collision might not be enough for the police to press charges, despite the required sudden braking causing the cyclist to fall off her bike.
Saying that, the number of witnesses and possible footage obtained from the nearby petrol station might be enough to justify action on this careless driving, but the fact it seems so marginal is surely a cause for concern. Though anyone who has read our sentencing round-up will likely know this already…
Fancy ‘cross dressing
Having just worked out my fancy dress for New Year’s Eve, I’m suddenly wanting to pick up cyclocross again. This is a great piece by Jo, almost as good as the pictures…
> Fancy ‘cross dressing: My Rapha Muddy Hell experience dressed as an AI poster-inspired duck
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Road tax was abolished in 1937 by Winston Churchill because, as he said, "motorists will believe they have moral ownership of the roads"; he got that right.
Apologies, double post!
@Aluminium can Ref. Radavist hipsters and 1980s lugged bikes, well they can’t have mine, I haven’t finished with it yet 🙂. On the question of cashflow, we had a similar case with a Gawler furniture company 15 years-or-so ago. They’d been in business for the best part of 100 years, made (by modern standards) lovely furniture, and expanded to a 2nd showroom and a new factory. Unfortunately a minor downturn then struck, and with the reduction in their order book they went bust. We did add a nice piece of furniture from their closing down sale to the other pieces we’d bought previously, but I’d much rather have seen that local business be able to continue (just as I would with Temple).
@mdavidford They could start by moderating my post on the forum. Still waiting since 30th October!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't remember too many reviews of their bikes from their home country's well known media/channels. Yet they flood timelines with yet another WT race bike for £10K........The British cycling media don't do enough to support home businesses - yet lap up the big companies. Not good enough.......
I quite enjoyed the article, not too weighed down with' technological advances' that are imo ruining the road riding scene, making it all about the cash. The best line is there are no rules....just enjoy it, or stick with what you know. Personally its taken me back to the early 90s xc trails I rode as a teenager, just fantastic.
Carefully setting a low bar for yourselves to clear there, I see. 😉
This seems a little unfair Jo! You clearly ripped off AI and didn't give it any credit ;) You can't have your cake and eat it.
⁴I know this is ROAD cc but a huge shout out for Cam Mason for pure dogged determination. ( and enormous skill of course)Well done!!
Without much bias......this is a great jacket. Much....