Cyclist Wanted (threads merged)

[vernon]

Did not Nigella Lawson's now ex-husband end up in front of police even though she did not report the "assault" caught on camera?

Cake crime vs hate crime?

 

[Roadrider48]

It's called an Advanced Stop Line, designed so that cyclists can get to the front of the traffic at lights. If you don't like them then lobby for their abolition. If you don't understand how they work maybe you should avoid them, but don't critcise someone who does.

As for 'deliberately holding up cars'? Do you understand the concept of Primary Position?

We all understand what ASL's are for! But the cyclist was determined not to let the driver go first right from the first part of the video.
When the driver pulled around the cyclist a bit in the first part, why did he not just let him go?
Because he was hell-bent on some sort of row. The driver shouldn't be there, we all know that. But it's fighting a losing battle; cars will always pull into the ASL's. Sad, but true.
Someone already said that the car is faster, so just let him/her just go. It avoids situations like this.
And whether you like it or not a lot of cyclists do have this "because I can" attitude.
I cycle daily in London and almost never have a problem with anybody. And I can't really say that I am delayed or feel aggrieved that a car has encroached an ASL.
Finally, I am not condoning punching people, but it was avoidable.

 

[Roadrider48]

Really? If you found yourself in a similar situation you would have got out of your car and hit the cyclist? You do know that assaulting someone is illegal in this country don't you? Whether or not you think they are a twat.

You'd better hope that the cyclist you jump out of your car to hit isn't me.

We get that assaulting someone is illegal. But the cyclist is an arse! Not an excuse, but it happens.

 

[Roadrider48]

If you don't go round ranting and raving at car drivers no one will get out and deck you. simple.

That's the point I am making....just cycle and enjoy! Life is too short for petty squabbles.

 

[Roadrider48]

If people are shouting at you when you're driving you're probably a rubbish driver, as the clip proves.

The cyclist is only shouting at the driver to satisfy his own ego.

 

[Roadrider48]

That is what he is telling the driver in the 2nd incident. I think having a car driven over your foot would be somewhat annoying!

In essence we have a car being driven aggressively causing possible injury to a cyclist. When the cyclist complains, albeit rather loudly, the cyclist is punched to the ground by an occupant of the car.

In my understanding ASLs are for the use of cyclists. To increase their safety. Clearly the Audi driver took exception to the cyclist using it in the way it is intended and lost his/her rag. I'd suggest that a driver who has that degree of control over a dangerous machine* is unfit to hold a licence and the passenger has clearly assaulted the cyclist who was complaining about having his foot run over.

* Audis do appear to be particularly dangerous machines!

It's a question of applying common sense. Why hold up a single car in almost no traffic? Answer....because I can!

 

[asterix]

That's the point I am making....just cycle and enjoy! Life is too short for petty squabbles.

That's what I say! And it takes 2 to tango as we all know. End of.

 

[Andrew_P]

That's what I say! And it takes 2 to tango as we all know. End of.

I have had two run in's in the last two weeks and both I have dealt with a smile and "bloody hell mate you were close" then they give some glib excuse "you should really give cyclists more room in the future" they don't know what to do when you do it with a smile it blunts their aggression.

 

[Roadrider48]

Nobody is saying that the cyclist deserved a punch in the face. But after his first words with the driver, and then the driver drove off, why didn't he just forget about it?
The problem seems to stem from two things. 1. Until the police or whoever manage ASL's properly then this will continue(hopefully not physical assault). 2. Some cyclists do have a "because I can" attitude.
There wasn't really any need for him to go in front of the car.
I don't think anyone wants to see this kind of behaviour on the roads; cyclists and motorists alike.

 

[MontyVeda]

the police aren't going to 'police' ASLs any more then they 'police' drivers speeding up when the light changes from green to amber.

 

[Roadrider48]

the police aren't going to 'police' ASLs any more then they 'police' drivers speeding up when the light changes from green to amber.

Agreed.

 

[MontyVeda]

Agreed.

And i also hope they wont bother policing petty squabbles that are essentially six of one and half a dozen of the other.

 

[d87francis]

In complete agreement that the cyclist over reacted, however, I do not feel that this makes it six to one and half a dozen the other.

I would have likely stayed behind the car rather than use the ASL, I feel they can promote a must get in front attitude to cyclists - one which means I often see cyclists going up the inside of a bus or HGV to reach an ASL. However, if using an ASL makes cyclists feel safer going through junctions and they can safely filter into them, there is no reason to knock someone for using it.

A cyclist politely challenging a driver for encroaching the ASL, as happens in the video is fine. The drivers reaction to this which jeopardises several peoples safety is completely no OK! I feel I may have had issued some choice verbals to such a driver if I caught up with them at the next lights. I would hope I would have acted slightly calmer than the cyclist in the video, but when some idiot in a car has almost run you over due to their own arrogance it is difficult to predict how you may react in such a situation. Plus given the way the police/CPS/courts treat most road violence, if I were assaulted in such a manner by a driver, it is hard to say that my D-lock may not accidentally make contact with one of their windows

 

[400bhp]

I have had two run in's in the last two weeks and both I have dealt with a smile and "bloody hell mate you were close" then they give some glib excuse "you should really give cyclists more room in the future" they don't know what to do when you do it with a smile it blunts their aggression.

This is what I try and do - forgot on Tuesday and the red mist descended a little over an incident

 

[Andrew_P]

This is what I try and do - forgot on Tuesday and the red mist descended a little over an incident

Last time I did that and they refused to pull over I made the mistake of cycling in front... To be hit from behind passed with them doing the self-gratification artist sign out the window and me braking a blood vessel for 3 miles in the hope traffic had slowed them up. Really trying to cap off my red mist too, cyclist was a stupid in this video but I know how it happens, he was more stupid for not being prepared for someone to get out..