In October I rode to Rochdale during rush hour. Yesterday I made the same journey again, although this time due to the time change and the time of year it was dark the whole way there.
View Larger MapThe route was the same as previously but the change in conditions led to a pronounced increase in the douchebaggery of motorists. Thanks in part to sport-cycling lobbies I cycled in the only viable manner, vehicularly, due to a lack of any useable infrastructure. Sadly, lobbies such as the CTC represent members who are largely interested in preserving their right to the road for those Sunday club rides. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be able to go on Sunday club rides, but for a hobby/sporting lobby to inform government policy on something which is primarily a mode of transport is really very detrimental to cycling. Imagine if the government listened to the lobbying on the FIA on motoring matters, we might have an F1 circuit in every city but private motor vehicles would not even be allowed on public roads (which would be great).
On the ride there I was recklessly endangered by motorists numerous times, the worst of whom overtook me at a set of lights which had turned amber as I was riding through them. The driver of MJ51 HXC sped through the same set of lights after they had turned red and then overtook me with mere millimetres to spare. I happened to catch him at the next set of lights and firmly but civilly challenged him about his behaviour. He wound down the windows leading to the following productive exchange:
Me: You nearly killed me back there, that overtake was really dangerous.
Neanderthal: You were riding in the middle of the fucking road.
Me: I have every right to ride in “The middle of the fucking road.”
Neanderthal: Do you want me to fucking punch you?
Me: Yeah, I’m sure you’re going to do that.
Neanderthal: I’ll get out of this car and fucking knock you out.
Me: Sure, go on then, I’m sure you will.
[Neanderthal Drives off]
If it were not for the recent experiences of The Cycling Lawyer I would have reported the incident to the Police. Seeing as cyclists now know that the Police aren’t interested in upholding the laws which are designed to protect them, I decided to allow the exchange to become less civil. What is most worrying to me is that his defence for his reckless driving was that I was riding in the middle of the lane, which I am allowed to do by statute. He is merely licensed to use the roads based on his ability to behave appropriately and he should behave as such. The Police and CPS could do with reminding of that fact too.
The other main reckless motorists were a Ring and Ride driver who overtook extremely dangerously and another bad overtake by a private vehicle. Someone tried to cut me up whilst coming to a stop at a set of lights, they tried to squeeze me towards the kerb. This occurred at a very low speed so I decided it would be safe for me to refuse to give in to this bullying and they were forced to stop and before finishing the cutting-up manoeuvre to avoid scuffing their paint. One of the most annoying incidents was at Big Lamp roundabout in Shaw:
![BigLamp[1]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYg72aCVgUReyI7fKwcaZkYlGwWoRdX52inU-ud6387zH_DZ03qMWUInF1vhl6yP6xRwh7YpEW6U9gSc6T6HmIf_B1MMvjKdBFTY1ZlA-ojX9jbYsHzUcxnD8ScCPIkKsvtWNNI19pKv9F/s1600-h/BigLamp%5B1%5D%5B5%5D.jpg "BigLamp[1]")
Image courtesy of Wikipedia.
After going through the above ordeals I was understandably a bit less forgiving than usual. Roundabouts are inherently anti-cyclist, tackling them is very difficult for many cyclists because of the speed required to get through a roundabout in relative safety, combined with the observation that almost no-one in any vehicle seems very sure about what they are supposed to do on a roundabout. I was attempting to take the second exit when two lanes of cars waiting at the next road decided that because I was only a cyclist they would attempt to forcibly steal my right of way. This has taught me a new cycling top tip which I may not have discovered had it not been for my pre-existing exasperation; Screaming, “For fuck’s sake!” at the top of your lungs is necessary and sufficient to stop motorists from stealing your right of way on roundabouts.
At around 10 pm I made the return journey. The lack of cars made the return trip an absolute delight, I was tired but made better time than on the way there. It seems obvious now that the solution to Manchester’s traffic woes is to remove private motor vehicles from our roads. When I got home I noticed my day total on the odometer was 59 km, pretty good for a work day.
I wonder if instead it would be worthwhile to contact/report it to the Police? The chap threatened you with physical assault!! I am not a lawyer but I'm aware of the Public Order Act, 1986.
ReplyDeleteAn extract reads: " Section 4 - Fear or Provocation of Violence
A person is guilty if he either
a) uses towards another person threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or
b) distributes to another person any writing or sign which is threatening, abusive or insulting
and either
i) he intends to cause that person to believe that immediate unlawful violence will be used against him or another by any person or to provoke such immediate violence, or
ii) it is likely that the person will believe that such violence will be used against him, or it is likely that such violence will be provoked."
So, surely the police would need to act (somehow) or at least record it, and if something similar happened by the same driver and someone else reported him, the Police could start building a bigger picture... perhaps you're right, perhaps they'd do nothing... but if they start getting 'hassled' by abused pedestrians and cyclists perhaps they'd take more notice, or at least they'd have to do something about it.
Glad to hear you had a more pleasant journey back though. Sometime I prefer staying at work (or in the library, as of lately) little longer to let the traffic die down for same reason =)
I think that hassling the Police would be the only positive outcome from reporting it, as was seen by Martin Porter. What really puts me off is that he had actual video evidence of the incident, the guilty party didn't just threaten violence but specifically threatened to kill him, and the fact that Martin Porter himself is a barrister and still couldn't get the Police to treat the incident with the seriousness it deserved. Sadly it seems like the approach this cyclist took is more effective (the article is written from the motorist's perspective, but it will sound very suspicious to anyone who has ridden a bike).
ReplyDeleteI may still end up pursuing it though, simply because when the Police run the reg I suspect they may find the car to be uninsured or another similar offence which they may just treat seriously.
Well the internets says the car was a: PEUGEOT 406 RAPIER 4 DOOR SALOON 1749cc (24-10-2001) PETROL
ReplyDeleteWhich might be helpful!
Blimey - there are far too many idiots out there...grrrr
ReplyDeleteGet him reported. Who knows what the Police will say. Thing is - if nobody does report these tossers, then no 'paperwork' gets generated & so the problem doesn't officially exist. They don't even have to find an excuse, because they knew nothing of the problem :>/
yup! Agree with you on following it up and def with Ian. If it's no reported it doesn't exist. I have worked with Police Authorities across the country and I can say, from my experience, they are all very different. You may find that you have a much more positive experience with GMP than, unfortunately, Martin had (I was shocked too to learn that even by being a barrister didn't assist the situation, very disheartening!).
ReplyDelete