BBC South - Incident in Hove

[BenM]

TV on in the background and heard a report... apparently some cyclists gave a motorist what for and the motorist now has a blood clot on the brain... doesn't sound good and can only further damage the image of cyclists.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-11710188

One of the cyclists was riding a distinctive bright green bike according to the report on the TV (not mentioned on the web site though).

Nice one chaps - whatever the provocation, giving someone a hiding isn't really called for on your commute or even on your day out on a Sunday.

B.


Edit: broken link fixored; thanks Mark

 

[Mark Grant]

You link didn't work for me.
I guess this is the article

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-11710188

Mark.

 

[BenM]

You link didn't work for me.
I guess this is the article

http://www.bbc.co.uk...sussex-11710188

Mark.

Yup that's the one - too many BBS with too many versions of BBCode for my liking

 

[As Easy As Riding A Bike]

It does piss me off slightly that this incident is described as violence by "a cyclist". To my mind, it's a nutter who happened to be on a bike, and reporting him as "a cyclist" is frankly not very helpful, especially when people who attack others after stepping from cars are rarely described as "motorists."

Edit - mentioned bad link that has already been fixed.

 

[downfader]

Read the comments here:

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/8623...ists_leave_Hove_driver_fighting_for_his_life/

Apparantly every cyclist within the area should be done for conspiracy or something. A witness even went on there and said to their mind they just happened to be a bunch of unrelated cyclists on the road. Trouble is some morons out there are seeing us as all "in it together"

I hope the guy makes a recovery. South Today seemed to suggest the driver flung the door open without looking and knocked the guy over, they then had a massive barney and the guy on the bike lost it and gave a single punch to the head. They reckon theres CCTV too.

As someone suggested on the B&H Argus site - it could have easily been a case of another RTA being reported had the cyclist been run over by a passing vehicle, if the above is correct.

 

[661-Pete]

Sheeit! I used to live quite near there - often cycled along Portland Road. Hope the guy makes a full recovery. Of course, we have to expect that 'all tarred with the same brush' stuff nowadays, and I don't think it'll help by calling the perpetrator something other than 'cyclist'. He was a cyclist. Make every effort to dissociate 99.9% of all other cyclists from this reckless behaviour - that's what counts. And catch the culprits and bring them to justice.

 

[661-Pete]

Further news in the Argus. It appears the victim is 'stable' after the assault. Whilst I'm sure everyone joins me in offering every best wish and sympathy to the unfortunate Mr Magdi, some of the 'comments' under that article are unbelievable. Here's one from someone posing as 'dunderheads':

I for one will be prepared in future and punch every cyclist before they get the chance to attack me or damage my vehicle! I exhort you all to do the same!

I have reported* that one to the Argus, so it may disappear in due course. I invite others to do the same.

And another, from one 'virgil':

...Somebody knows the culprit; do you have a neighbour who cycles regularly but has left his bike at home for the last few days?...

So: if I'm off the bike for a few days, say because I've got a cold or something, do I automatically get someone putting the rozzers on me?

[edit]The comment which I reported has now been removed.

 

[Simba]

This hatred towards cyclists has got way out of hand now. I want the guy to make a full recovery but, jeez what is it with some people?

 

[adscrim]

This hatred towards cyclists has got way out of hand now. I want the guy to make a full recovery but, jeez what is it with some people?

Racism is no longer acceptable so people need other groups to have a pop at. As such, if you are a religious ginger cyclist, then you're fooked.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Racism is no longer acceptable so people need other groups to have a pop at. As such, if you are a religious ginger cyclist, then you're fooked.

one out of the two, either one, your call, will generally see you fooked tbh.

 

[Camgreen]

Racism is no longer acceptable so people need other groups to have a pop at. As such, if you are a religious ginger cyclist, then you're fooked.

You forgot to add "with a limp and is a cross-dresser" !

 

[downfader]

Virgil seems a bit daft. Dunderhead or whatever his apt little username is has been leaving vile threats and crap on that site a few times when cyclists are mentioned.

Update - one arrested:
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/8628278.One_arrested_after_Hove_bike_rage_attack/

 

[661-Pete]

Virgil seems a bit daft. Dunderhead or whatever his apt little username is has been leaving vile threats and crap on that site a few times when cyclists are mentioned.

Update - one arrested:
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/8628278.One_arrested_after_Hove_bike_rage_attack/

I see you've given 'Granny' a bit of an update as she (he?) deserves! Do the Argus allow you to post URL links?

 

[As Easy As Riding A Bike]

It's getting beyond a joke, really, this "CYCLISTS ARE ALL THE SAME" nonsense.

Granny, Brighton says... 1:44pm Wed 10 Nov 10

Let us hope he does the decent thing and turns himself in. I don't hear any so called law abiding cyclists pouring scorn on this terrible occurrence."

And

rashidk, Brighton says... 4:19pm Wed 10 Nov 10

Cyclists: This morning (a) raced past me(pedestrian) against Dyke Road/Churchill Sq. red lights (b)rode across traffic on to Western Road pavement© waited with traffic at Western Road/Montpelier Road red lights. Make of this what you will."

I may be being paranoid, but I can't imagine any other group of people being described in such a way - that is, lumped together as a monolithic block.

FFS, "Granny" might as well be calling for people with greying hair to be condemning the actions of the bloke being sought - because, after all, he's got greying hair, and they're all the same.

 

[downfader]

I see you've given 'Granny' a bit of an update as she (he?) deserves! Do the Argus allow you to post URL links?

No, not really, you can post links but iirc it cuts it in bits and you have to leave the http and www bits off.
Looking at the later article and the comments by Savi (if they're telling the truth, you know how the internet is) it seems the guy who hit him WASNT the one affected, that no one has been actually clipped with a door (just a swerve) but this plonker got involved in is own personal way. Perhaps its nothing to do with a car door, he could just be a tosser.