Cyclists threatened with knife by gang of youths on Bristol & Bath Railway Path

HowardR wrote:

I feel the need for Tweed:

Is that Michael Palin in the 1971 sketch “Hell’s Cyclists win the Battle of Amiens”? Or have the Tour de France anti doping people got serious?

i also loved the cyclist’s pistol advert “I fear no tramp”.

Back to the OP, it seems to be saying that a group of ?four people were attackec by these ruffians in daylight??

HowardR wrote:

And - may be of interest:

http://www.bartitsu.org/index.php/2014/12/self-defence-with-a-bicycle-italian-style-1905/

I did a bit of research into Barton-Wright and Bartitsu - he was ahead of his time. However, that bicycle self-defense is ridiculous; how are you going to position a bike quicker than someone can attack with a knife? (excepting Jackie Chan of course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SggXYXM0c8). His stick-based self-defense was more practical and he ended up teaching ninja suffragettes: https://vimeo.com/275968947

Woldsman wrote:

Surely this story serves as a timely reminder that a central database should be set up of all registered D lock owners. 

Responsible D-lock owners always keep them in a securely locked cabinet for safety.

hawkinspeter wrote:

Woldsman wrote:

Surely this story serves as a timely reminder that a central database should be set up of all registered D lock owners. 

Responsible D-lock owners always keep them in a securely locked cabinet for safety.

I think you will find that there is a dedicated D-lock police officer who checks that said cabinets are secure and appropriate.

Grahamd wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Woldsman wrote:

Surely this story serves as a timely reminder that a central database should be set up of all registered D lock owners. 

Responsible D-lock owners always keep them in a securely locked cabinet for safety.

I think you will find that there is a dedicated D-lock police officer who checks that said cabinets are secure and appropriate.

 

I once made the mistake of using a D-lock to secure the D-lock cabinet and had the recursive police contact me.

earth wrote:

 Do people not know there are pavements alongside almost every road?  Do they have to use a shared path when they have a dedicated pavement just for them?

Careful with that logic or you'll argue yourself off the roads.

Yorkshire wallet wrote:

earth wrote:

 Do people not know there are pavements alongside almost every road?  Do they have to use a shared path when they have a dedicated pavement just for them?

Careful with that logic or you'll argue yourself off the roads.

You're right.  I have considered that.  We are the lowest on the pecking order.  Pushed off the roads by motorised vehicles onto cycle lanes that become 'shared use' then the pedestrians invade them and we have to deal with those hazards along with morons like those in the article.

earth wrote:

It does not surprise me that this has happend.  There are a number of kids who are afraid of more competent people riding faster than they can and overtaking them.  Their fear manifests itself as agression towards anyone else using the path.  They actually think they are policing the path.  The adults who are responsible for them show the same ignorant behaviour and ride aggressively towards anyone who is moving faster than they are.  Doing their best to block peoples way.

I say this as someone who uses the path every day.  Something has to be done about peoples consideration for others.  Pedestrians walk with their backs to the oncoming traffic and then paint 'shared path respect' everywhere.  Do people not know there are pavements alongside almost every road?  Do they have to use a shared path when they have a dedicated pavement just for them?

Surely this is just about theft and violence for kicks with cyclists being an easy target rather than some sort of persecution of cyclists angle.

earth wrote:

It does not surprise me that this has happend.  There are a number of kids who are afraid of more competent people riding faster than they can and overtaking them.  Their fear manifests itself as agression towards anyone else using the path.  They actually think they are policing the path.  The adults who are responsible for them show the same ignorant behaviour and ride aggressively towards anyone who is moving faster than they are.  Doing their best to block peoples way.

I say this as someone who uses the path every day.  Something has to be done about peoples consideration for others.  Pedestrians walk with their backs to the oncoming traffic and then paint 'shared path respect' everywhere.  Do people not know there are pavements alongside almost every road?  Do they have to use a shared path when they have a dedicated pavement just for them?

I really doubt that this is their motivation.  It's more likely to be "People ride along here.  People ride shiny bikes.  Therefore people have money.  I have a knife/gun/big stick and my mates.  Therefore, I will take their money."

hawkinspeter wrote:

.

Spent so long attaching the gun that they put the saddle on back-to-front.

velo-nh wrote:

This is what happens when you ban firearms.  

This is what happens when you didn't ban fireamrs.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/02/us/school-shootings-2018-list-trnd/in...

dydanz wrote:

velo-nh wrote:

This is what happens when you ban firearms.  

This is what happens when you didn't ban fireamrs.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/02/us/school-shootings-2018-list-trnd/in...

WHOOOOSH!

velo-nh wrote:

This is what happens when you ban firearms.  

Forgive me for asking (I'm a bit out of practice) but are you being sarcastic or are you just really stupid?

brooksby wrote:

velo-nh wrote:

This is what happens when you ban firearms.  

Forgive me for asking (I'm a bit out of practice) but are you being sarcastic or are you just really stupid?

No, no, velo-nh has a point. The roles and expected behaviours are so much clearer to all parties when being robbed at gunpoint.

velo-nh wrote:

This is what happens when you ban firearms.  

I know - it's incredible isn't it? It's like they were just waiting for guns to be banned and then WHAM, STAB!
If only there was some way we could un-ban guns now that we've learned our hard-won lesson.

hawkinspeter wrote:

velo-nh wrote:

This is what happens when you ban firearms.  

I know - it's incredible isn't it? It's like they were just waiting for guns to be banned and then WHAM, STAB! If only there was some way we could un-ban guns now that we've learned our hard-won lesson.

The real reason we have banned guns is squirrels.

velo-nh wrote:

This is what happens when you ban firearms. a multitude of compounding factors influences disillusioned youths to take up petty crimes and misdemeanours targeting cyclists amongst perceived vulnerable targets, validated by a near constant media onslaught idolising the motor vehicle and denigrating users of other transport methods. A behaviour further exacerbated by the reduction of police officers 'on-the-beat' adding to the increasing sense of fear for the common law-abiding citizen, and eroding the nebulous sense of community.

Fixed that for you, you missed a couple of nuanced points to your argument, but I've got you covered.
As an aside, I fail to see how the introduction of firearms would have helped in this situation; the youths are clearly below the age of holding a firearms licence, and even the most svelte 9mm pistol is still going to take up valuable jersey pocket space. Unless of course you're inciting an uprising against 'news' sources who fail to cite peer-reviewed sources nor implement spell-checkers..  *ahem*

Viva la revolution!