Cyclist killed in road rage incident

[TwickenhamCyclist]

TC, later in the same post he says that his uncle had a four cylinder 140bhp engine to aid his getaway. Suspect that was the clue.....

too much budweiser too much budweiser too much budweiser

 

[Bollo]

Its right about this and not the main thing but when it works and doesnt its fine, but I take your point before the last point after too

Exactly!

 

[Arch]

[quote name='swee'pea99']Well, who would? It's a slippery slope tho', to imply as you seem to be doing that RLJing justifies or excuses 'retribution'.[/QUOTE]

Last night, on DIYSOS on BBC1, Nick Knowles, who I normally quite like, went off on one about cyclists. Obviously meant to be a bit of a standard comedy rant, but the two things he picked up on were RLJ and pavement riding. At the end, one of the gang of blokes who do the work said they were going to cycle home, and put on a helmet. Knowles said "you do that, and I'll run you over on the way"

So there you are. He seemed to think it was ok to joke about runing someone over, just on the basis of observing RLJing etc. Obviously, that was all meant as a joke (in rather poor taste, and I'm thinking of complaining, with a link to the story in the OP), but there are plenty of very angry, unhinged people out there who might get a bee in their bonnet over something, and lash out at the nearest person who happens to fit their general picture.

I don't think I in anyway suggested that RLJing deserved retribution (except from the power of the law). But I do know that lots of things don't deserve retribution (looking at someone a bit funny? telling them to stop vandalising a place?), but that doesn't stop angry people handing it out anyway.

 

[Bollo]

Last night, on DIYSOS on BBC1, Nick Knowles, who I normally quite like, went off on one about cyclists. Obviously meant to be a bit of a standard comedy rant, but the two things he picked up on were RLJ and pavement riding. At the end, one of the gang of blokes who do the work said they were going to cycle home, and put on a helmet. Knowles said "you do that, and I'll run you over on the way"

So there you are. He seemed to think it was ok to joke about runing someone over, just on the basis of observing RLJing etc. Obviously, that was all meant as a joke (in rather poor taste, and I'm thinking of complaining, with a link to the story in the OP), but there are plenty of very angry, unhinged people out there who might get a bee in their bonnet over something, and lash out at the nearest person who happens to fit their general picture.

I don't think I in anyway suggested that RLJing deserved retribution (except from the power of the law). But I do know that lots of things don't deserve retribution (looking at someone a bit funny? telling them to stop vandalising a place?), but that doesn't stop angry people handing it out anyway.

Yeah, I picked up on that on myself and was none too happy (I wasn't exactly ecstatic about having DIY SOS on in the first place.)

Trouble with that is that any kind of response or complaint prompts accusations of being uptight or part of the 'PC Brigade' (OT, but I'm going to do violence to the next person who uses that term seriously . THERE IS NO F***ING BRIGADE!)

I think bonj has done this to death about what people find offensive, but what grips my sh1t is how casual, lazy and unimaginative it all is. I can think of some jokes or articles that I've found offensive, but I've also had to acknowledge that they're clever and, well, pretty funny. The effort has been made.

Anyway, Nick Knowles looks like he needs a good bath.

 

[Arch]

Trouble with that is that any kind of response or complaint prompts accusations of being uptight or part of the 'PC Brigade'

Well, I complained anyway, via the BBC website...

"I would like to complain about the rant by Nick Knowles on DIYSOS about his apparent hatred of cyclists. While I am quite aware that there are bad cyclists out there who break the rules, those of us who don't do not deserve to be tarred with the same brush. I was particularly worried by the remark at the end, when one of the team said they were going to cycle home, and Mr Knowles make a remark along the lines of "you do that, and I'll run you over".

Perhaps Mr Knowles would like to read the story in the following link about a man killed by a driver who mounted the pavement in order to hit him, and then explain how his remark is in any way funny, or justifiable.

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/new...2746-23432533/

There are already a lot of very angry people out there in motor vehicles who think cyclists are 'fair game', without inflammatory remarks like those made by Mr Knowles. In any case, the policing of the roads is a matter for the police, not private individuals with an axe to grind. I'm sure he meant it all as a joke, but he might do well to consider that those of us who obey the rules do not wish to be on the recieving end of such lazy and potentially dangerous jibes."

Thread here, in Beginners:

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=32717

A few others have also complained. As I say in the thread, it's partly the context. DIYSOS is a family show (I'm afraid I quite enjoy it, in a knitting-at-the-same-time sort of way) and they are basically meant to be helping people out. If it had been Clarkson on Top Gear, I'd barely have noticed, because we all know what Clarkson is like. I always thought Nick Knowles was better than to stoop to stereotyping and idle rants like that. If it was just insults, I'd not bother, but when it comes to threats of violence, however apparently chummy, I draw the line.

 

[J4CKO]

out of interest - why/how was your uncle "out riding" his bike on the motorway? Or was he on a motorbike???

I did mention having a four cylinder engine in the post, as a means of escape and generally cyclists don't fare to well on the Motorway.

 

[Crankarm]

This story might be really relevant now as we are currently experiencing a heat wave and drivers' fuses are very short.

There will be loads of hot and angry chavs and psychos in all sorts of vehicles spoiling for a confrontation. Be careful and be safe. Back off to ride another day.

 

[fossyant]

There have been warnings on the local radio, asking drivers to calm down/be careful due to the heat...

 

[John the Monkey]

There have been warnings on the local radio, asking drivers to calm down/be careful due to the heat...

...irate motorists, of course, being the only potential criminals that we have to ask nicely to obey the law, it seems.

 

[tdr1nka]

You get stoopid drivers when it's too hot, stoopid drivers when it's too cold.
I feel you get the same proportion of stoopid drivers no matter what the weather 'does' to everyone.

 

[col]

...irate motorists, of course, being the only potential criminals that we have to ask nicely to obey the law, it seems.

It seems this applies to all walks of life, even us cyclists when we try to dream up ways of getting back at people, we could go too far in this unusual heat too?

 

[Bollo]

Anyone know what happened to the accused in the OP?

 

[Browser]

Anyone know what happened to the accused in the OP?

Article in the Daily Fail, 'the trial continues'.

 

[slowmotion]

a £150 wing mirror?

 

[sheddy]

Arch, can you remember in which half of the DIY SOS was the remark made ? (We need to look up the iplayer)
Sorry just noticed that was a year ago - doh