Cyclist vs White Van Man Twitter Scandal

[405dogvan]

Apols if this has been posted - couldn't find it with the search etc.

Earlier today, Ben "Bad Science" Goldacre posted these 3 things to Twitter

1 - a cyclists blog
http://www.birminghamcyclist.com/forum/topics/assa...

2 - a police statement on the incident
http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/latest-news/pre...

3 - the frankly pretty shocking video from the cyclists headcam
http://road.cc/content/news/81677-no-charges-road-...

That started a discussion with WMPolice about the incident with the main concern appearing to be that the cyclist had to choose between compensation for his bike or the motorist being cautioned - which seems a bit crap?

The driver is clearly a maniac and action should have been taken against him, however the bit almost no-one is talking about is at the start of the video where the cyclist undertakes him and "leans on" a parking car dangerously - something the cyclist appears to not have even realised were the source of the problem (as he says he thought it was his riding far-out in the road which angered the driver)

I'm not saying it's OK to try to kill cyclists (it's not really necessary - many seem to have a lemming-streak a mile wide) but isn't part of the issue here that there's really no action the Police could have taken against the cyclist despite his blatant disregard for other road users?

I've cycled enough to know how hard it is, how you don't want to have to slow down/stop/give way when you're moving etc. - but that fact is that cyclists often show total disregard for other road users and the start of that video is a case-in-point!?

Isn't it about time we said that cyclists must have a licence from 16 onwards, can receive points and even a ban and must have some form of insurance - then the cyclist could have been given points and a fine, the driver could have been charged with assault and the insurers could fight-out the damages!?

[chrisw666]

The cyclist was riding in the middle of the road.

The driver didn't pull in too sharply.

The cyclist sounded his horn and made what could have been interpreted as aggressive gestures.

The driver tried to talk to him, cyclist moaned like a girl.

If he wasn't prepared to face the driver he should have let the van go and should consider not taking up more space than a car on the road he uses for free.

[TheFungle]

chrisw666 said:

...taking up more space than a car on the road he uses for free.

Does a Fiat 500 TwinAir driver have less right to be on the road than a Range Rover V8 driver?

[chrisw666]

TheFungle said:

Does a Fiat 500 TwinAir driver have less right to be on the road than a Range Rover V8 driver?

A twin air driver pays fuel duty.

[KingNothing]

chrisw666 said:

The cyclist was riding in the middle of the road.

The driver didn't pull in too sharply.

The cyclist sounded his horn and made what could have been interpreted as aggressive gestures.

The driver tried to talk to him, cyclist moaned like a girl.

If he wasn't prepared to face the driver he should have let the van go and should consider not taking up more space than a car on the road he uses for free.

Are you a comedian by trade? Because that's some funny st.

[poing]

chrisw666 said:

The cyclist was riding in the middle of the road.

The driver didn't pull in too sharply.

The cyclist sounded his horn and made what could have been interpreted as aggressive gestures.

The driver tried to talk to him, cyclist moaned like a girl.

If he wasn't prepared to face the driver he should have let the van go and should consider not taking up more space than a car on the road he uses for free.

Pretty much agree with most of this. I didn't think the van driver cut him up in a particularly dangerous way and not enough to be blasted at by a loud horn. I did work as a cycle courier in Edinburgh for a while so maybe my judgment and tolerance are different to other peoples though.

ETA: that doesn't justify the van drivers reaction though.

[KingNothing]

So someone stops their vehicle dead in the middle of the road because a cyclist sounds their horn, flings the door open into moving traffic without any regard, then afterwards, chases down said cyclist, dumps their van in the middle of a road, dives out, then chases the cyclist down and pulls them off their bike and hits them, and it's justified? Are you guys fking stupid or something?

[philmots]

Looked like the van driver gave him plenty of room to me.

Sounds to me like cyclist gets kicks out of holding people up. Cyclist not happy the van got past so blasted the horn and gave gestures...

He's probably ridden like this for years and has finally messed with the wrong bloke.

Edit to add... I don't agree with what the van drive did in the slightest.

[chrisw666]

poing said:

Pretty much agree with most of this. I didn't think the van driver cut him up in a particularly dangerous way and not enough to be blasted at by a loud horn. I did work as a cycle courier in Edinburgh for a while so maybe my judgment and tolerance are different to other peoples though.

ETA: that doesn't justify the van drivers reaction though.

It doesn't justify it but it does explain it.

Simple rule, don't provoke people if you're not prepared to deal with the consequences of provoking them. Why people who can't handle themselves physically put themselves into avoidable situations like that is beyond me.

[ModernAndy]

I would like to think that people who behave as the van driver did would lose their licence but at the very least, I'm sure he's been severely reprimanded by his work in addition to having to write an apology and offer compensation (unless he's self-employed of course)

[ModernAndy]

KingNothing said:

So someone stops their vehicle dead in the middle of the road because a cyclist sounds their horn, flings the door open into moving traffic without any regard, then afterwards, chases down said cyclist, dumps their van in the middle of a road, dives out, then chases the cyclist down and pulls them off their bike and hits them, and it's justified? Are you guys fking stupid or something?

oh, and +1

[4lf4-155]

If the cyclist didnt think that way he dealt with the parking car and then cut infornt of the van rather than wait 2 seconds was likely to p##s other road users off then he is either naive or stupid.

Doesn't excuse the overreaction from the van driver at all mind!

I can't see a licensing system ever becoming reality but all i think all kids should have to do cycling proficiency - it's a great way to start learning roadcraft.

Edited because the swear filter didn't work

[Northernchimp]

Cyclist had no grounds to complain, he picked a fight, he got a fight. Had he been on a scooter there'd have been no doubt that he was riding like a . Why is OK to do that because you don't have an engine?

[Geekman]

It never ceases to amaze me how cyclists think that someone who's just come close to seriously injuring them is going to be a decent kind of chap who'll happily stop to allow said cyclist to give them some friendly advice about their driving.

You don't have to be a genius to realise that those kinds of people aren't going to take too kindly to having a horn blasted at them/rude gestures/swearing - doing such things when you're the most vulnerable person on the road is complete madness.

[FreiWild]

philmots said:

Looked like the van driver gave him plenty of room to me.

Sounds to me like cyclist gets kicks out of holding people up. Cyclist not happy the van got past so blasted the horn and gave gestures...

He's probably ridden like this for years and has finally messed with the wrong bloke.

Oh yeah that justifies van man's behaviour then.

He gave gestures! Gasp! He blasted, hear me, BLASTED, his horn. Better pull him of his bike and punch the , how dare he.

Oh oh, he also ran wide on the road, probably does it all the time, punch the fkwit one more time.

[chrisw666]

Northernchimp said:

Cyclist had no grounds to complain, he picked a fight, he got a fight. Had he been on a scooter there'd have been no doubt that he was riding like a . Why is OK to do that because you don't have an engine?

Sorry you're wrong.



















He picked a fight and got a kicking.

[Synchromesh]

The van driver cut in a little too close for comfort but this happens all the time when cycling. I'm trying to work out what the cyclist was planning to achieve by using his horn though? The deed had been done so my guess is that it was a retaliation. The kind of person who feels the need to get 'revenge', whether on the roads or not, has to be able to take the consequences when they eventually and inevitably come across a nutter.

[TheEnd]

philmots said:

Looked like the van driver gave him plenty of room to me.

Sounds to me like cyclist gets kicks out of holding people up. Cyclist not happy the van got past so blasted the horn and gave gestures...

He's probably ridden like this for years and has finally messed with the wrong bloke.

Yea, I didn't see anything that particularly needed a horn, apart from the cyclist trying to make a rolling road block.

[Northernchimp]

chrisw666 said:

Sorry you're wrong.




He picked a fight and got a kicking.

Poor man. Probably thought strapping CCTV to his head made him invincible.

[Negative Creep]

TheEnd said:

philmots said:

Looked like the van driver gave him plenty of room to me.

Sounds to me like cyclist gets kicks out of holding people up. Cyclist not happy the van got past so blasted the horn and gave gestures...

He's probably ridden like this for years and has finally messed with the wrong bloke.

Yea, I didn't see anything that particularly needed a horn, apart from the cyclist trying to make a rolling road block.

Agreed. Doesn't excuse the reaction, but I don't see anything wrong with the actual overtake