Swindon Rammer Final Update

[Bicycle]

In a casually half-interested way I'd be interested to see how this one pans out. It sounds as if the officer in question didn't go to charm school, but I can see where he was coming from.

I was surprised to see the camera bike being in what appeared to be primary from the start of the clip (6 seconds) right up to the squeeze point.

As there was (clearly) room for an uncomfortably close pass with the OP in primary, I wonder what was gained by being in that position. A few feet to the left might have saved everyone a lot of trouble and angst. Although some people thrive on angst, trouble and discord, I abhor all three.

Whilst all sorts of documents might say that cyclists have a right to take primary before pinch points, I do wonder whether most cyclists would consider the Alfa 147 across the road a reason to do so. I suspect that most would not.

I've suffered close passes; tons of them. Anyone who cycles has. It's not a big story. There is a way of riding and positioning a bicycle so that the occurrence of these things is minimised. I'm reminded slightly of nimble forwards who drag a foot in the box and get a penalty. It's not against the rules of football, but it's not how I play the game.

I do think the OP was lucky to be rammed and not suffer any damage to self or bike. That is a very good thing and we should all be grateful that it was so. I've been nudged from behind a couple of times and both times the rim took a ding. I've never been 'rammed', but gentle nudges were enough to do the rim and on one occasion to put me on the floor. Whoever builds your wheels knows what he or she is doing. Both times I was nudged, I had to true the wheel with the spokes.

I also think the OP is extremely unlucky to have a driver stop mid-junction, reverse, turn and follow him. You'd imagine that most people who suffer that have spoken or gestured offensively to the driver. It really is very unlucky to suffer something like that quite unprovoked. The OP has massive sympathy from me for finding a driver who'll do that unprovoked, although I was surprised (and heartened) to see a roadrage rammer like the man in question looking quite so reasonable when he got out of his vehicle. An apology for the ramming would have been nice, but he wasn't Ratko Mladic.

I do not cycle as many would like me to. I try to keep an eye out for approaching vehicles and alter my speed and position to allow everyone to get by and get on where possible. Artless and spineless it may be, but I do find I don't often have drivers wanting to discuss my riding at the roadside.

I wish the OP well and would be interested to see how this pans out. I'll keep an eye out for it on the forum. So far, it seems to be going the right way.

 

[Amanda P]

Unbelievable.

No, actually, all too believable....

 

[Nigeyy]

Sometimes you have to sit back, think and move on. It's fine everyone saying you should do this, or do that, but bottom line is it's you, and what you want to do. Sometimes you cut your losses and move on -or decide to make a stand. Again, up to you.

What I do find interesting in this thread (and the prior one you posted) was that it seems to be lost that *regardless* of whether you called him any name under the sun or even if you were cycling 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 feet from the kerb when he overtook you, the guy came after you deliberately, and from the video, it looks like he did deliberately hit you with his vehicle. That's the bit that worries me. Some of the theories over what happened with the police sound likely to me. A combination of an unsympathetic officer, no harm done, possible loss of a job, etc

Now for all I know that guy just had a bad day and an uncharacteristic melt down, and normally he might be an OK sort of person. Minimally, I think he needed a visit from the police and a stern talking to about road rage.

However, and being honest, and I do have a bit of a stubborn streak, if a police officer said that to me, I'd see red. I'd want to make a point -it's so wrong at so many levels.

 

[Vikeonabike]

I thhink from a policing pointof view you have to ignore everything before the traffic lights. The fact that in all probability the OP used fairly strong words on the driver for what he believed rightly to be a close pass, however the drivers reaction to that is where a definite offence was committed. In fact you could say it now sets a precednce for anyone that belives they hae been verbally abused to hit the abuser.

It Is a road rage incident, it is common assault* and the driver of the vehicle should be punished!

However a little patience from both parties may have avoided this entirely. If the driver had waited for the OP to clear the ALFA, even with him in primary there would have been plenty of room to pass. And if the OP hadn't ridden upto the drivers side of the van to confront the driver he wouldn't have reacted!


One piece of advice from me, For every action there is a Re-Action, unlike in science, with humans there is a considerable chance that the re-action is not going to be in proportion to the action!



*committed by a person who causes another person to apprehend the immediate use of unlawful violence

 

[BSRU]

One piece of advice from me, For every action there is a Re-Action, unlike in science, with humans there is a considerable chance that the re-action is not going to be in proportion to the action!

I have certainly learnt to try to keep my hands on the handlebars, as any gesture however benign can easily be misconstrued by a driver with a limited view in their mirror as vulgar/offensive.

 

[BSRU]

My current thoughts about what to do next is probably write to the Chief Constable for some clarification on a couple of issue's used as justification for not proceeding.

The first one being that the police officer investigating was not a traffic officer, I believe a traffic officer may have been more aware of the correct way to ride on the road. If an officer with understanding of cycling positioning had told me I was too far out then that would have been more exceptable than someone who did not even know the term "primary position" giving me advice on how to ride safely. Not a slate on the investigating officer, as it appears to be a common misunderstanding by non-cycling drivers, I would have included myself in that group a few years ago.

Secondly, the statement that having a YouTube channel may give the impression I do things like this deliberately which a prosecuting solicitor/barrister may use to have the case dismissed. A prosecuting solicitor/barrister could not use this as a defence as it would be slander and I would gladly sue. The main contradiction being that last October the Police were quite willing to use video evidence despite my YouTube channel having far more video's than it currently does.

I am currently not keen on the IPCC idea as it would involve even more time and effort with the same disappointing outcome possible. Plus as this was a minor incident, although deliberate,there was no injury and only slight damage, I would rather save this in case of similar police inaction for a more serious incident.

 

[BentMikey]

To be fair, traffic officers get it wrong sometimes too as they usually won't have any cycle specific training. If you remember that overtake video where I slapped the MPV, the traffic officer there told me I should be riding more to the left. They seem to have accepted this now, although it took quite a bit of pressure from me. I got the Cycle Task Force involved, loads of cycling instructors, and John Franklin. It's just a pity it went no further than tacit acceptance, I think the officer concerned found it very difficult to admit the error.

 

[BSRU]

To be fair, traffic officers get it wrong sometimes too as they usually won't have any cycle specific training. If you remember that overtake video where I slapped the MPV, the traffic officer there told me I should be riding more to the left. They seem to have accepted this now, although it took quite a bit of pressure from me. I got the Cycle Task Force involved, loads of cycling instructors, and John Franklin. It's just a pity it went no further than tacit acceptance, I think the officer concerned found it very difficult to admit the error.

Fair point, maybe asking for an officer with cycling knowledge, if they have any, would be better.

Maybe worth mentioning that knowledge of best practice for road cyclists maybe a good idea since there has been a big increase in cyclists over the past couple of years, although remembering the current police budget problems may not allow this.

 

[BSRU]

What about the issue of the badges on his van he wasn't entitled to use.

The Great Western Ambulance Service investigation is still ongoing, they will inform me of the outcome.

 

[BSRU]

For anyone who wants to see the DfT document out of interest.

DfT Bikeability Manual

 

[BSRU]

Also, the document the police are supposed to use.

Police Training Doc

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

To be fair, traffic officers get it wrong sometimes too as they usually won't have any cycle specific training. If you remember that overtake video where I slapped the MPV, the traffic officer there told me I should be riding more to the left. They seem to have accepted this now, although it took quite a bit of pressure from me. I got the Cycle Task Force involved, loads of cycling instructors, and John Franklin. It's just a pity it went no further than tacit acceptance, I think the officer concerned found it very difficult to admit the error.

I think this indicates that there may be a real attitude problem among some (probably a minority of) police officers. We are used to drivers' making the laws up as they go along in areas where they are ignorant of the facts, but police officers should not make statements like this unless they know what they are talking about. If they do not have specific knowledge in some area, then they should jolly well find out before they start making statements about that area. Presenting themselves as authorities in areas in which they do not have competence is extremely unprofessional.

 

[Origamist]

I have certainly learnt to try to keep my hands on the handlebars, as any gesture however benign can easily be misconstrued by a driver with a limited view in their mirror as vulgar/offensive.

I like my camera set-up because it shows what my hands do (brake, indicate, point out hazards etc). It also shows what I don't do - i.e make an offensive gesture because I'm covering the brakes...

Don't go to the IPCC yet (I think they recommend that you initially complain via the force anyway) and to be honest, I don't think I'd go much beyond another letter to Wiltshire Police.

Good luck with it.

 

[BSRU]

I like my camera set-up because it shows what my hands do (brake, indicate, point out hazards etc). It also shows what I don't do - i.e make an offensive gesture because I'm covering the brakes...

Don't go to the IPCC yet (I think they recommend that you initially complain via the force anyway) and to be honest, I don't think I'd go much beyond another letter to Wiltshire Police.

Good luck with it.

I think the same, send of a letter then forget about it.

I have been thinking about a camera to show my handlebars/hands after watching a video from a fellow CC user where it showed him clearly indicating to turn right before a driver decided on a blind bend overtake.

 

[BentMikey]

Origamist, does your camera show your hand whilst signalling, to differentiate between signalling and gesturing, for example?