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news
Cyclist punched repeatedly in the head by aggressive driver furious that group were riding two abreast
Update, 13/09/21, 5:44pm: a Wiltshire Police spokesman has now responded after being asked for comment. The full statement is below, and the original article appears underneath it.
“In line with national policy, in cases of common assault with no injury, where the offender is identified and fully admits the offence, then an adult caution is deemed a suitable outcome.
“We are committed to providing a high level of service for all victims of crime, and if any victim is dissatisfied with the service they have received then they can make a formal complaint via the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner.”
A shocking video shows a cyclist being punched multiple times in the face by a driver who was enraged that he was riding two abreast in a group.
Ady Short's wife, who was riding in front of the car, was also knocked off her bike by the driver as he attacked her husband through the car window.
Mr Short was out with his wife and six other Swindon Wheelers club members when the driver of a black Nissan caught up with them on a bendy section of road where he was unable to overtake.
Mr Short said: "He followed us for about 90 seconds, overtook us and braked hard in front of the group causing us to swerve around him but as we rode around him he took off again within the group causing further issues whilst remonstrating about us not singling out (he wouldn’t have got past one person let alone eight through the bendy section)."
While this, as Mr Short pointed out is, sadly, an all too common occurrence for cyclists on Britain's roads, what happened next was shocking.
> Aggressive driver in total meltdown with Carmarthenshire cyclists after close pass
Mr Short continued: "As club secretary and a trained Ride Lead we’re meant to de-escalate any situations so normally (happens too often) we wait to hear what they say and then explain why we were riding two abreast.
"He was very angry as you can see but before I could explain he started hitting me, I just suffered a black eye as a result and didn’t actually get the chance to say anything before he hit me.
"He also knocked my wife off her bike, the camera was hers and she suffered cuts and bruises but wasn’t considered part of the case as the police couldn’t actually see her.
"We made the guy wait as the police were called and told him when he tried to drive off that he would end up in more trouble."
> Police install 'give cyclists room' signs...local asks for 'cyclists single file' version
Mr Short said he had been told by Wiltshire Police that the driver 'fully admitted' the assault and claimed to be very remorseful.
The driver was only handed a caution for the unprovoked attack.
Mr Short said the group were looking into appealing the seemingly light punishment.
He also explained why he had tried to talk to the driver in the first place.
He said: "Generally, in our experience, it just humanises the situation if we can let them blow off steam and appear calm, we usually explain that we all drive cars as well and apologise for any inconvenience even though we shouldn’t have to apologise it just seems to take the anger out of the situation.
"Its a case by case basis as to whether we talk about must and should where the highway code is concerned, this guy was absolutely adamant that we must ride single file which is what he was shouting about as I cycled by him...
"What took the steam out of this situation more than anything post fracas was my wife shouting that we had cameras."
Wiltshire Police have been contacted for comment.
Update, 13/09/2021: We've had a huge response to this article, with many readers expressing shock and distress, plus surprise at the response from Wiltshire Police. You can contact the office for the Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner here, and if you were directly affected, you can make a complaint here.
Latest Comments
- P3t3 1 sec ago
Pedal reflectors are brilliant, you can tell its a bike form a long way off, I htin the fact that the reflectors are moving up and down when...
- mctrials23 18 min 8 sec ago
The drivers are also licensed so they obviously behave themselves as well.
- chrisonabike 46 min 50 sec ago
But... the last is only not the case with drivers on normal roads because driving on the cycle path / footway / rolling a vehicle up there is seen...
- wtjs 53 min 18 sec ago
YOU'VE RUINED MY LIFE! WHAT FOR?!...
- mdavidford 1 hour 24 min ago
I think you're missing an opportunity to pack even more tech into it - add accelerometers that can detect whether they're pedalling or stepping....
- chrisonabike 1 hour 49 min ago
Thanks. I guess the question is "need". If the road is busy, it sounds like it is a desired route between places? In which case (given this an...
- mdavidford 1 hour 57 min ago
Don't know what you mean. I thought my suggestion was entirely practical.
- mdavidford 1 hour 59 min ago
...and a square of faux sheepskin for the back of your saddle.
- Rapha Nadal 2 hours 31 min ago
I'd buy a motorbike fo rthat kind of money!
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205 comments
There was a dangerously driven car involved here, that the assailant is supposedly in charge of. He's not fit to be in charge of a scooter with that temper.
However, I find it hard to believe (I) that this is his first ever time doing something like this and (ii) he appears to gotten the better of a group of 6 riders.
You’re right that touching their cars does seem to wind some of the orcs up, but that’s not acceptable. They seem to view a fingertip on their car as a licence to assault the fingertip’s owner. I’m reasonably confident the law doesn’t agree, so enforcement might be nice.
Weirdly the overtake was the one part I was impressed with (well the bits we saw). TBH on first viewing of the video I actually expected the following car to badly overtake them and be the "star" of the show until they all suddenly braked and had to avoid the car. The rest of his driving was dangerous though.
Which mags court is it wtjs?
Presumably a first hearing - to enter a plea - as opposed to a trial, as you haven't been called as a witness.
0 comments so far. Let's see how many in 2 hours time !
It looks like a simple caution is spent immediately, but will stay on a DBS check for a number of years. So it will cause a problem for the specific sorts of job you mention, but he won't have to disclose it for other jobs.
(A lawyer, but not a criminal one)
Ok, I think we can do it in relay if we are careful. 4 Comments as of now. Three indicating that the Police should have done more.
One criticising the cyclists for riding in a train (although states two a breast is not a problem just the length). He then goes on to state he rides a bike alone but ensures he pulls in like a tractor as it is his duty to keep traffic flowing smoothly.
Whilst so far, they all have more likes then dislikes, guess which comment has almost a 1000 likes to 18 dislikes?
Is he a traffic policeman? Why does he think he has responsibility for the choices made by other road users?
Only 15 comments
Although we got the completely irrelevant 'Time to start making insurance compulsory for using bikes on roads. They should be taxed in the same way cars are too.'
157 comments now the gammons are out in force!
Be warned - not nice reading.
OMG what is the matter with 'people' why can't they just be nice. The DM comments section is bad, really bad, I need a hug.
"Mr. Squirrel hugs you" by nicubunu.photo is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0.
@HP Count me in - should one of your regular squirrels not be around
Is that a new profile picture? Noice!
Mr Squirrel looks more like he's about to rugby tackle me. Perhaps for cycling in a PSPO area.
Dave Gorman started doing his found poetry on his Radio show/ podcast initially from mainly DM comments on the news of the day. He did continue it into his standup and TV shows as well.
Classic Schrodinger's cyclist here
"Just driven through Richmond Park with cyclists passing me because I was driving at the allowed speed of 20 mph obviously not going fast enough for them, then came across a group of 12 riding 2 abreast in a long line not letting any car over take them, they think they own the roads but pay no part in the up keep of them."
The irony of driving through a park was lost on her.
I just looked and there are 542 comments
The level of ignorance is pitying
'road tax'
'you should not ride 2 abreast' - 'it puts car drivers in a dangerous situation'
'Many veer out avoiding a drain or pothole ignoring cars behind them.'
'cyclists need to be fined for being caught on camera blatantly breaking the law also.'
'I had 5 abreast yesterday.'
I don't think any people commenting made had any idea how to overtake safely and failed to understand it wasn' safe to overtake a single rider on that section.
I virtually never ride in a big group; usually with 1-2 others max. People I know in cycle clubs have explained the large group best practice (split into smaller groups so cars can hop between them) but whenever I've been in larger groups (eg Sportive) you can feel the tension rising in the motorists; when they've overtaken numerous small groups they start driving like maniacs. Doesn't seem to be a perfect solution but convincing motorists that their journey time won't be impaired is probably impossible. I was recently driving behind a group of 8 cyclists, all going pretty fast, on a road with minimal good overtaking places. I sat behind them for a couple of miles knowing there was a good overtaking spot coming up. Mid-overtake, the lead cyclist sprinted off the front and I was stuck as I couldn't drop back with the main group behind. Got past eventually but not without the oncoming car having to slow down. Thought they'd just ease up a bit as I started to overtake; anyway that's what I'd do, especially if the car had sat patiently behind waiting for a good, safe overtaking spot.
It was an SUV. They are very, very proud of them. Need anything else be said?
https://youtu.be/X0oatHLTJy4
The thing which surprises me is that the actual overtake was safe, in the scheme of things, rather than the close-pass-horn-blow that usually happens in such incidents.
If nothing else, the more I see of this sort of thing the more I think its best to not react at all, unless its a matter of personal safety and I want to let a driver know I'm there. People seem increasingly unhinged, no good ever seems to come of a 'discussion' and you may just be the straw that breaks the camels back. I'm usually out for a bike ride to enjoy myself, and getting all worked up with drivers just makes me feel angry. Best take a deep breath, enjoy the scenery.
Driver is a complete and total dork and should be imprisoned.
Cyclist has not behaved in a way to defuse things by putting his hands on the car and trying to explain - how can you be logical with someone who is clearly lacking all logic and control?
Just walk on / bike on by.
I can kind of see what the Police are probably thinking... it's pointless pursuing this any further as the charges associated with doing so, are likely to end up in county court. Doing so, means a jury will decide what has gone on here... sadly I can see that jury believing a defence based on acting in self defence... his motor vehicle had been surrounded by raging cyclists, etc. etc.
Its a waste of everyones time to try and take further action.
Justice and accountability very much come second to resource / workload management.
That's the CPSs decision, not theirs.
In any case, I'd like to know exactly what priority Wilts Police actually believe tops catching an individual red handed when
in one incident lasting less than 20s.
Unless it's tea. It, after all, doesn't drink itself...
Indeed it should be the CPS's decision... however I can easily see 'stretched' forces preempting CPS's thought processes and saving themselves the bother of submitting anything...
It's not right, but you can see how it happens, especially, as you say, there are brews to be savoured somewhere.
But what criteria are used to allocate these resources, just how serious must it be to get a proper investigation?
I'm three pages too late to this comments party.. but WTF.
That the moton gets a just a caution for that, is shocking!
So 2 assaults with a weapon (a car) or Careless/Dangerous driving as our car centric lawmakers would have it.
One real physical assault and Wiltshire cops do nothing.
I'd be making a formal complaint to the Chief Constable and their Crime Commissioner.
Putting the assault to one side what about the crash? I hope the cyclist with bruises claimed on his insurance.
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