Knocked off : advice...?

[David Fleming]

Afternoon All,

I don't want to go into too much detail, but I had a pretty intense 30 seconds on my commute this morning.

I was cycling in a bus lane in North London during a restricted period when a car overtook me at considerable speed (45-50mph minimum in a 30mph area) within 8-12 inches of my handlebars & frightened me quite a bit as I didn't hear them approaching & I was weaving through the potholed-surface so it could have been pretty ugly on another day...

The car was held up behind a bus at the next junction about 500m ahead. I stopped at the driver's window & yelled about how fast and close the overtake was in addition to being in a bus lane and was ignored. I pulled a few feet ahead & stopped right in front of the car behind the bus (there was about a 10 foot gap & I couldn't get past the bus, so plenty of room to do so).

The car then drove into my back wheel while the bus was still stationary, knocking it out from under me, but I remained upright. I let go of the handlebars & turned around to see the car reversing & indicating to pull out into the main carriage way. I blocked their path & said that they were going nowhere as I was calling the police. The car reversed further back & then drove around me at speed. As the red mist had descended at this point, I took a swing at the car with my right foot & caught the passenger door pretty cleanly I think. It turned left at the junction & sped off out of view.

A passer by got the registration, but hadn't seen what happened before they drove off. No other witnesses stopped/gave details. It was all over in 25-30 seconds I think.

My rear wheel is a right off. There are bits of bumper paint still on the tyre! It took me about 2 hours to get home via an expensive cab ride. I have a few scratches & a bit of a sore back, but otherwise unscathed.

First time in 10 years of commuting in London that I've had a problem - it could have been a lot worse & I'm aware I should be pretty thankful that I walked away with just a bust wheel...!

So given there are no witnesses, I'm not (really) injured, I potentially damaged their car & my bike is otherwise ok, should I just put it down to experience or should I pursue it? Will I potentially end up in more trouble for criminal damage/etc if I do pursue it?

Thx,

D.

 

[Gez73]

Glad you're ok after your nasty incident. I don't cycle in London but surely this clown should feature on cctv somewhere? Pursue it with all at your disposal. I would inform the police at least in case someone ends up under their wheels next time. At least three illegal offences committed, bus lane driving, speed and failing to stop when they must have known they had hit you. Others will have more helpful info, take care and get stuff on paper as soon as you can. Good luck.

 

[Pale Rider]

First point is you cannot be sure there are no other witnesses - I'm not saying that's good or bad, but the uncertainty is something to bear in mind.

The driver used his car as a weapon so a serious criminal offence has almost certainly been committed.

That should be reported to police, but given what followed, I can understand you are tempted to put the whole thing down to experience.

One thing you should do is write down all the details now while they are fresh in your mind.

Pay particular attention to time and place.

 

[Milzy]

Maybe yelling & banging on the windows of bad drivers isn't such a good idea. A reputable cyclist I know who's been riding for nearly 50 years tells me to let it go over your head & not react or you can end up been as bad as them.

Hope you find the f***e* though.

 

[Gez73]

Maybe yelling & banging on the windows of bad drivers isn't such a good idea. A reputable cyclist I know who's been riding for nearly 50 years tells me to let it go over your head & not react or you can end up been as bad as them.

Hope you find the f***e* though.

I agree with this sentiment although if the chance presented itself to 'have a word' I would be very tempted if I happened to have caught up to them. It's easier to ignore and put down to experience if you don't encounter them again straight away almost, while you're still quite irate. I don't as a rule say or do anything but it's not always been my tactic. Luckily never been 'punishment rammed' as the OP seems to have been.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

You have the vehicles registration so report it as a sore back today could put you out of action tomorrow.
As others said, the car was used as a weapon to attack you so an offence as been committed.

Check google street view to see if there are any obvious CCTV cameras.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Definitely report it, and definitely learn the lesson for next time (and I speak as someone who had to learn the same lesson): if someone demonstrates themselves to be a twat, you want them ahead of you, not behind you.

 

[classic33]

See
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/hi...poss-slight-damage-to-bike-what-to-do.136982/
for more advice on what to do.

 

[Leodis]

I read this as you blocked him in with your red mist, the driver then rammed you and you then kicked there door.

 

[jarlrmai]

Way I read it.

Overtaken close and fast
Stopped and yelled at driver at lights.
Pulled ahead of car
Rammed by car while waiting (actual crime committed)
Then attempted to block car from leaving whilst calling police
Car reversed and attempted to drive at him as a threat.
Struck car with foot as it left.

I would report it but be prepared to deal with the yelling and striking of the car to be considered as mitigating circumstances, not that I agree but given the experiences of others (funeral corteges, taps) it's seems likely.

The yelling was down to flight or fight and the kick was the same a fending off as the car tried to drive at you.

Car driver fearing for their life, I doubt that, there was only one party in any danger here.

Obviously in the police's eyes this will be 50/50.

 

[Joffey]

Not that I have much experience in these matters but you should have really left it when you shouted at the guy in the car.

He's rammed you, you've booted his car. If you report it are you sure you won't have to pay for the door to be repaired?

If I were you I'd take it on the chin and maybe try not to react as severely next time.

 

[jarlrmai]

Once the yelling had happened that was the start of the incident spiral which the driver chose escalate twice.

I think people are ignoring that the boot happened after the SECOND time the driver used the car as a weapon.

The 1st time was the ram after the yelling, the second was when the car was driven at the guy as he attempted to call the police about the ram.

 

[Joffey]

I sympathise greatly, and as I said, I don't have much experience in these matters. The driver will say you started shouting etc for nothing unless you have it on CCTV that he passed close. If its your word against his it could be misinterpreted that you were the aggressor. That obviously does not excuse his actions after.

Maybe to protect yourself get an appointment with a solicitor who has experience in these matters first before making a complaint, just to make sure you can't get done for anything.

Good luck though, hope the driver gets done for it.

 

[PK99]

I stopped at the driver's window & yelled......

I pulled a few feet ahead & stopped right in front of the car .

The first was unwise, the second was plain daft.

If you were walking along the pavement and a big thuggish bloke barged into you would you:

A. Yell and scream at him then stand in his way
or
B. Decide that discretion and personal safety were the better part of valour and keep schtum?

I was subjected to a very close overtake today, big BMW, it stopped at the roundabout 150m ahead. I could have banged on its roof and got all stroppy and righteous, but in the middle of 3 lanes of traffic that would not have been wise. Instead I had a quiet word with the driver of the following car which had given me plenty of room (Nice White car, with a pretty orange stripe and fetching blue light on top), told him I thought the BMW's overtake had been too close, he nodded and sped after BMW (which had already gone round the roundabout).

 

[Leodis]

Once the yelling had happened that was the start of the incident spiral which the driver chose escalate twice.

I think people are ignoring that the boot happened after the SECOND time the driver used the car as a weapon.

The 1st time was the ram after the yelling, the second was when the car was driven at the guy as he attempted to call the police about the ram.

There is no mention of this from the OP.

From the OP

I don't want to go into too much detail

I can see why, I'd like to hear the whole story.