Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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11 comments
@johnnycondor - Thing is, we don't *need* cycle lanes - what we need is for a minority of motorists to develop some kind of respect for other human beings whether they are pedestrians, cyclists, horse-riders or other motorists (as it's my observation, from spending far too much time driving, that many offenders against cyclists are actually pretty inconsiderate to other people driving cars, too).
What's needed, in part, is a justice system that will perhaps "instil" that respect if the individuals concerned are neither bright enough or humane enough themselves, to have that respect.
All segregation does is increase the "them and us" mentality in a minority of (probably inadequate) individuals and so make the situation worse. It doesn't increase safety, it means in many cases still more concrete as road margins get sealed and roads widened to accommodate cycle paths, there is an additional cost to you and me as taxpayers ... and the creation of such facilities piecemeal allows a bunch of mostly half-arsed and pathetic politicians and civil servants to prattle on about what a great job they are doing for cyclists ...
Sorry, rant over - I'll stop drinking the Espressos now ...
I live in Cumnor and this is my route home.
I have had more running battles with drivers along here than any other stretch of road in oxford (Cowley road - hich is a pure death trap- aside).
Its incredible that a road as wide as Botley isnt completely cycle laned the whole way, the section past the retail parks are death traps with buses and cars screaming out of junctions every 100 metres or so.
Very sad state of affairs.
But there are cycle lanes the whole way, its a daft amalgam of a road lane that shoots left to turn into a split pavement/cycle lane for Westbound traffic. I won't take to that option as have repeatedly witnessed folks riding straight over the side road junctions without so much as a glance - many lucky not to be flattened. Its no wonder drivers don't "get it" when some riders are so blatantly reckless. Me, I stick to the 40cm of gutter I feel I have some right to & defend it appropriately, acknowledging cars that are helpful with a raised hand. Every little helps?
At least they caught these tossers. There was an identical incident a few months back where the guy ended up badly hurt. I never read that the culprits had been found.
Nothing will happen at all. I predict not even a prosecution.
They no doubt thought that this was "funny" and did not give any consideration to the risk of serious injury or death to the cyclist. As the posters above say, a custodial sentence for this sort of thing might change some people's behaviour but I'm not holding my breath.
Without wishing to sound like my dad, doing this sort of thing would not have even entered my head at that age.
i assume the police will be pushing the CPS for attempted murder?
As 'Antonio' says I'm not holding my breath either slapped wrist sent on your way and maybe a driver training class if they get a harsh Judge/JP. Here’s hoping I’m wrong.
What sort of sick minded person takes pleasure in hurting a fellow human being? Lets hope a stong message is dealt out; and at least a driving ban for actual bodily harm with a motor vehicle.
A lesson needs to be learned for this type of behavior by offenders, let's hope a strong message is sent, not holding my breath though.