Assaulted on Finchley Rd...

[eml1909]

I spoke to the company. Not a hugely constructive conversation. I was assured that it was being dealt with "stringently" but there were lots of comments and questions which tried to put blame on me (why had I posted on internet? why was I not in bus lane? etc etc).

He accepted that the behaviour was "unusual" and said it was "out of character". He didn't like the fact that I wouldn't disclose my personal details at this stage. I said I wanted to report to the police first. He asked why I was so "terrified to reveal myself". I explained that if this person is capable of getting out of his car and assaulting me, I dread to think what he (or his friends) would do to me or my family if they knew where I lived....

He said that obviously what the employee does in his spare time "is a matter for him", but yes he was concerned about the fact that it had happened whilst driving a company car.

There was very little (i.e. NOTHING) in terms of condemning this threatening and aggressive behaviour. It was only when I suggested that I was surprised that he was not a bit more apologetic and that he had not actually agreed with me that the conduct was unacceptable, that he said "oh yes, of course what he did was wrong etc etc", but that took a LOT of prompting from me.

I told him that if he wants any further info, he can contact me via YouTube. In the meantime, I will report it to the police and leave it to them.

 

[sabian92]

Probably hoping if they act like they don't care, you'll give up out of not being bothered to deal with a bunch of idiots.

Report it to the police with the video footage and see where it goes.

It might cost him his job, it might cost him a conviction for assault as well - worth a go?

The best place for an impatient motorist is not behind you but in front and moving away. Move over and let him pass - it is not rocket surgery, is it? Of course, you won''t do that - there will be no youtube footage

Are you suggesting the OP deliberately held up a line of traffic and ended up being hit in the head for youtube footage?

Offensive comment edited out by Mod.

 

[Hip Priest]

The guy was a cockwomble, but it must be such a massive ball-ache to go through all this reporting and whatnot. I've twice confronted drivers, and although neither incident ended up as bad as this, I still ended up wishing I'd just muttered 'moron' under my breath and let them on their way.

 

[eml1909]

The guy was a cockwomble, but it must be such a massive ball-ache to go through all this reporting and whatnot. I've twice confronted drivers, and although neither incident ended up as bad as this, I still ended up wishing I'd just muttered 'moron' under my breath and let them on their way.

I tend to agree with you. It happened a couple of weeks ago and I still haven't got round to reporting it because it is such a massive inconvenience and so time consuming.

But given how disgracefully he behaved, I do intend to report it. I don't see why he should be allowed to get away with such threatening and intimidating behaviour.

 

[Hip Priest]

I tend to agree with you. It happened a couple of weeks ago and I still haven't got round to reporting it because it is such a massive inconvenience and so time consuming.

But given how disgracefully he behaved, I do intend to report it. I don't see why he should be allowed to get away with such threatening and intimidating behaviour.

I agree.

He was completely out of order, but the whole thing has caused you a lot of hassle.

When similar things happen to me, I try to bite my tongue and let them past / ignore them. It means the incident is forgotten about in minutes, whereas if I lose my temper, I'll feel bad for days, even if I was comletely in the right.

I suppose the point I'm making is that confronting drivers gets you nowhere.

 

[dawesome]

Reporting drivers who assault vulnerable road users means they are less likely to be so stupid in future, and it serves as a warning to other chavvy thugs. Well dome eml, you handled that well.

 

[eml1909]

Reporting drivers who assault vulnerable road users means they are less likely to be so stupid in future, and it serves as a warning to other chavvy thugs. Well dome eml, you handled that well.

That's exactly why I intend to report him, but thanks for the support / encouragement.

 

[Matthew_T]

Its been a long time since I have had a driver get out of the car and confront me. I have had abuse though (just general swearing and "Get on the path" types of things).

The problem with even being assaulted is that the police (especially in my area) just dont care. Only if there is an injury or damage would they actually do something. I am just tired with the police and from now on I make sure that if I do report anything, then it is something worth reporting.

 

[dawesome]

I heard of a cyclist hit, possibly deliberately, by a middle-aged driver. When the cops arrived they said to the cyclist:

"Look, this is a respectable driver with an unblemished record, do you really want to get him in trouble?"

No idea if it's the police automatically excusing the driver, or just lazy.

 

[Thomk]

Mistakes from both parties I think. But the golden rule is that you NEVER lay hands on another person. This must be followed up and punished (I learned all this from the sexy, smart and slightly godlike Judge Judy).

 

[sabian92]

I heard of a cyclist hit, possibly deliberately, by a middle-aged driver. When the cops arrived they said to the cyclist:

"Look, this is a respectable driver with an unblemished record, do you really want to get him in trouble?"

No idea if it's the police automatically excusing the driver, or just lazy.

It's like a CRB check for working with kids.

Just because it doesn't say you're a paedophile, doesn't mean you aren't one - you just haven't been caught.

Same with that, he could be the worst driver in the world and just not been clocked by the Police yet.

So the answer to the question would be "Yes, I would like to because he's just run me over with a tonne of metal".

Mistakes from both parties I think. But the golden rule is that you NEVER lay hands on another person. This must be followed up and punished (I learned all this from the sexy, smart and slightly godlike Judge Judy).

Indeed. Arguing is one thing but hitting another person is quite another.

 

[dawesome]

Atkinson McLeod Estate Agents

12 hours ago​

We have been made aware of an incident concerning a cyclist and an Atkinson McLeod car - to all concerned, thank you for making us aware. We have taken appropriate action today.​

Like​

​

·​

​

Comment​

​

·​

​

Share​

https://www.facebook.com/AtkinsonMcLeod

 

[eml1909]

Yes, interesting that they don't condemn the behaviour and they don't say what action they have taken...

 

[Lurker]

Are they taking action against the car, then? That would seem to be the implication of Atkinson McLeod's facebook statement. Surely it's the driver's behaviour that needs to be addressed....

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

Nothing wrong with op’s cycling, position or actions – why should he have to justify stopping because of intimidation from an impatient dick of a motorist behind him? I know it wouldn’t have been the right response but I wouldn’t blame any cyclist for flooring an idiot like that.
Doesn’t happen often but if I get an arse like that behind me, beeping you because they want to race up to the stationary traffic 10 yards ahead at the lights, be it on my bike or in the car, I stop and get off/out in a very non confrontational way and look totally confused and examine the back of the car/bike for whatever it is they are beeping at – playing dumb winds them up more – I suppose it helps that i’m 6’2” and well built. Just like blowing kisses at yobs hurling abuse from their vehicles.
And before the inevitable “perfect cyclist” comes on here and suggests that I go around deliberately holding up innocent car drivers just to provoke them – I don’t – just the rude, selfish impatient ones like the nob in this video
And as a cautionary note as to why holding primary when appropriate is essential, I “allowed” myself to be intimidated on the road last night – first problem in ages – had a couple of close passes by black cabs in Richmond and then felt further threatened by the bus sitting right on my arse... If there is no room to pass safely I usually sit in primary (as in the advice in cyclecraft, which has served me well so far) but I made the almost fatal mistake of feeling a bit venerable for some reason and pulled left into the worst position I could be in – pretty much in the gutter. The bus went by too close and i clipped the kerb and came off over the bars and onto the pavement luckily. There was no contact by the bus whatsoever but it was a good reminder to take the lane and not to let other road users intimidate you into the gutter. No injury and bike ok, bus didn’t stop but a couple of women out jogging stopped to check if i was ok – so my belief in the basic decency of humanity remains intact.