Nasty confrontation with a cyclist

[Mon Ami Mate]

Mrs Malco and I had a nasty confrontation with a cyclist on a footpath this morning. Out walking the dogs and he came belting down a narrow footpath. Mrs Malco has called out to him because there's nowhere to go and the dogs are loose. He didn't slow down at all, got as far as "F**k off you..." before I shoved him in the hedge. He then got up and, incredibly, took a swing at Mrs Malco. Whereupon I shoved him back in the hedge, he got up, took a swing at me, and then found himself back in the hedge again. He's gone off threatening assault charges and suing for damages to his bike. I've called the Police and the local council and am sitting here ticking waiting for the cops to show up.

[Raify]

If he took a swing both at you and the missus, and all you did was shove him in the hedge I believe the police should be on your side...

[gilla]

By rights it's self defence you "shoved him", you didn't hit him, and he was physically attempting to assault you and your wife. You WERE in fear for your safety of course and only used reasonable force after all.

In reality you'll probably get arrested and banged up for 7-10 years because you admit "shoving him" such is the state of justice

[john_p]

What sort of path - a definite footpath or a shared-use arrangement (bridleway, canalpath etc)?

On the former he shouldn't have been on it at all.


Basically he was going so fast he cycled straight into you, and in doing so came off and ended up in the hedge? ?

[hornetrider]

Sounds like wanton furious cycling to me. String him up.

[Mon Ami Mate]

It's a definite footpath and it's only wide enough for one person to walk along at a time. It took all my self control not to launch into him when he swung at Caroline. He's very lucky he missed.

[Jasandjules]

Mon Ami Mate said:

It's a definite footpath and it's only wide enough for one person to walk along at a time. It took all my self control not to launch into him when he swung at Caroline. He's very lucky he missed.

You would be perfectly entitled to drop him at that point to protect your OH.

[john_p]

Mon Ami Mate said:

It's a definite footpath and it's only wide enough for one person to walk along at a time. It took all my self control not to launch into him when he swung at Caroline. He's very lucky he missed.

So he'd have to admit that he was on a footpath and in doing so get a FPN for the heinous crime, to say nothing of the assault/attempted assault on both of you.

I doubt you'll hear much from him!

[TheCarpetCleaner]

john_p said:

Mon Ami Mate said:

It's a definite footpath and it's only wide enough for one person to walk along at a time. It took all my self control not to launch into him when he swung at Caroline. He's very lucky he missed.

So he'd have to admit that he was on a footpath and in doing so get a FPN for the heinous crime, to say nothing of the assault/attempted assault on both of you.

I doubt you'll hear much from him!

I agree.

The cyclist sounds like one of the usual idiots that literally go out looking for a fight - Once he realised that he was not going to win, he runs off threatening as a final resort.

You won't hear anything back, plus if he reports it to the police, they will do the same as if you were reporting it as an actual assault - nothing. Don't worry about it.

[Mon Ami Mate]

The Police have just been - have taken them up to the footpath. The cyclist has apparently contacted them and complained that I've assaulted him and said that he swung for us because he thought we were robbing him.

[Mon Ami Mate]

The attending Officer has just said that as far as he is aware there is no law regarding cyclists using footpaths.

[gilla]

FFS... have they given you any guidance to what happens next - fked up society!!

[Mon Ami Mate]

Yes. They have gone away to speak to the cyclist and warned me that they have to investigate the assault charge. Apparently the fact that he missed both of us means he is guilty of nothing.

[john_p]

Mon Ami Mate said:

The attending Officer has just said that as far as he is aware there is no law regarding cyclists using footpaths.

Was it by a road, or a proper offroad stiles-and-sheep sort of footpath?

Mon Ami Mate said:

Yes. They have gone away to speak to the cyclist and warned me that they have to investigate the assault charge. Apparently the fact that he missed both of us means he is guilty of nothing.

Well that's not true is it? If he gets up and makes a fist and heads for your Mrs, isn't that assault?

Edited by john_p on Thursday 8th July 10:52

[Gwaredd]

Are we talking paved footpath here or a grass jobbie? Bare in mind that if your dogs were not on a leash - he could throw that into the pot too.

And HTF did the cops know where to find you? Did you give the cyclist your address or something?

[Silver940]

Mon Ami Mate said:

The attending Officer has just said that as far as he is aware there is no law regarding cyclists using footpaths.

Interesting, I got a police caution when I was younger for riding on the footpath.

[SteveScooby]

Gwaredd said:

Are we talking paved footpath here or a grass jobbie? Bare in mind that if your dogs were not on a leash - he could throw that into the pot too.

And HTF did the cops know where to find you? Did you give the cyclist your address or something?

The OP reported the incident as well as the cyclist, so the police had his details from him reporting it.

[Mon Ami Mate]

I called the Police. The footpath is a grass footpath, signposted and designated as a footpath, with styles at each end. It's only 100 yards from the Bath Bristol Railway Path, which runs parallel.

[nonuts]

http://www.bikeforall.net/content/cycling_and_the_... - it's even clear on one of the bike websites, he shouldn't have been on the footpath unless it's signposted. Even if he was under 16 it's technically still wrong.

Sounds like a right tosser and sounds like the police need to learn some more about the law before they're allowed on the streets.

[john_p]

I think there is a distiction between a footpath (by a road) and footpath (countryside). IIRC it's a FPN offence for cycling on the former, while cycling on the latter is trespass and so a civil matter.

That said, he sounds like a tosser and deserved to be pushed off. Good luck