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news
Lord Robert Winston (CC licensed by Andy Miah via Flickr)Lord Robert Winston says a woman kicked him when he told her not to cycle on the pavement
Lord Winston’s not letting it lie. Days after being told by the Government that the costs and complexity of licensing cyclists would significantly outweigh the benefits, he says he’s considering introducing a private members' bill to force them to have number plates. He says a woman attacked him when he challenged her for riding on the pavement this week and that he didn’t report it because she is “impossible to identify.”
Last year, without citing evidence, Lord Winston claimed that cycle lanes have led to increased air pollution in London – something that was flatly rejected by the mayor. He has since been campaigning for cyclists to have licences and insurance.
After he tabled a question at the House of Lords, Winston was told that licensing and insurance were considered as part of the cycling and walking safety review in 2018.
Conservative peer Baroness Barran told him: “Over three million new cycles are sold each year. Licensing and insurance would require the establishment of a central register, and the government’s view is that this would be very cumbersome and expensive to administer.
“There is evidence that other countries that have trialled these schemes have then withdrawn them.”
But Winston is undeterred. This week he tried to support his position by telling The Times about a recent encounter with someone who had been riding on the pavement in Bloomsbury in London.
"I went up to her and told her very politely that it was against the law to cycle on the pavement and it was dangerous," he said.
“I thought she would apologise and walk off but she became very aggressive and was swearing. She snatched the telephone out of my hand and then threw it into the road. She then kicked me repeatedly.”
Two passers-by came to his aid and the woman – who he said was ‘clearly well-educated’ and in her late 30s or early 40s – rode away.
Winston said he had not reported the incident to police because it would be impossible to identify her.
"The requirement for number plates would mean cyclists who are blatantly breaking the law can be identified," he concluded.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
Latest Comments
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You didn't mention The Scottish Dodge, whereby if, by witchcraft, you manage to force your HD video upon the reluctant Scottish Police and they...
- mdavidford 1 hour 11 min ago
Not particularly sure that follows.
- mdavidford 1 hour 29 min ago
There's one that's always lurking outside our house at night.
- mdavidford 1 hour 48 min ago
When these were designed in to the new development near us the excuse was 'well if we didn't it would be impossible to get a rubbish truck in to...
- Rendel Harris 2 hours 45 min ago
I should get onto the Guinness Book of Records people then, as they have the world record slowest heart rate for a healthy person down as 26bpm,...
- Hirsute 5 hours 9 min ago
I made a complaint within an hour of the story being published. I have zero faith that they will amend anything....
- chrisonabike 5 hours 31 min ago
TBF I think that's before she saw the light and got on her bike. Not so great if her views have been informed by Mr. Briggs though.
- Saracen888 6 hours 11 min ago
That's a great price. Just bear in mind Import duty and handling charges will be applied pre delivery.
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Yep, I appreciate your problem. I wouldn't buy a bike without at least sitting on the same frame configuration on a trainer in the shop, something...
- Secret_squirrel 8 hours 46 min ago
One less thing to clutter up your jersey pockets no? Though difficult to retrieve in a hurry...
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69 comments
So he was assaulted, there were two witnesses, and he didn't report it? I don't wish to cast aspersions on his honesty, but why not? It is likely that the assailant was local and easily identified, but rather than reporting this abberation, he decides to punish all cyclists. Reminds me of a friend, who believes that cyclists should pay road tax (his words) and then we'll all be respected, and it doesn't matter how many times he is told he's wrong or by how many people, he still believes it.
Everybody has told Winston that his idea of licensing cyclists is impractical, horrendously expensive with no good features, but he keeps pushing it; how much is the car industry paying him?
If the road tax for an electric car is £0, what should it be for a bicycle?
x
I did have a discussion once with someone who told me it should be £200 but when I pointed out that you could easily buy a bike for less than that, he didn't see the problem.
Pedantically, if the electric car costs more than 40k, you get stung with a luxury tax of £310 a year (for 5 years ??)
Given we on bikes are actually benefitting society we should be getting paid a few pence per mile, deffo all for that and that would grind motorists and the likes of the liar Winston something chronic.
I'm afraid all rational arguments fail with him "Cyclists must pay road tax then drivers will respect us." is all he says and he literally walks away from any discussion. The only problem is that the local BBC radio station know his views and ring him every time they want to wind up cyclists.
Even MPs don't have any faith in the police these days.
He's lying, of course.
Sent to the House of Lords e-mail address, for the attention of Lord Winston:
Good afternoon, Lord Winston,
I read with interest the article in the press where you allege that a cyclist 'kicked' you when you politely asked her not to cycle on the pavement. I cannot sympathise enough, and can assure you that very few cyclists consider this appalling behaviour to be acceptable.
I should be very grateful if you would confirm for me:
* where this incident occurred
* the date and time of the incident
Also, since I presume that your telephone was broken in the attack, you will no doubt have reported this to the Metropolitan Police. Can you tell me where and when you did so?
Feel free to write to him to ask for clarification: contactholmember [at] parliament.uk
EDIT: just saw that he said he hadn't reported it to police. That wasn't in the report I saw. Funny, though. I mean, his telephone was presumably damaged, and a couple of people came to his aid. That's got to be worth reporting. But of course, that would mean a paper trail somewhere, and he has to be able to make these claims without being caught out....
How do liars like this get away with it?
Because we allow them to.
And because our country is full of moronic fucks who think that everyone in Parliament is 'generally decent'.
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