Incident at Waterloo Any witnesses

[san]

!Hi All

Just wondering if anyone managed to see my get rammed off the road this morning at about 6:50am by a silver cabbie. He purposefully forced me into the pavement where I fell off the bike and the bike got trapped underneath his car. He then said " You see, You see" . This after he had cut me up in the cycle lane just to get a fare and I gave him the finger.

My bike is wrecked, he drove off and I never got his place (I was slow to react) I've written a report to the police, but they are of course not going to make much effort.

Also, anyone know if the ATC3K camera on wiggle is any good. I'l like to get one as these cabbies are starting to take the P now.

Laters All
San

 

[Will1985]

Damn that's bad - sorry to hear about that. Best piece of advice is to talk to the police (you need a rapid response here) and get them to check CCTV in the area.

Also, take photos of your bike and any injuries you sustained, however minor. Next, if you don't have BC or CTC membership, get it ASAP and tell them that you got knocked off - the legal teams will help you out.

EDIT: Tell the police you have been assaulted. That's what it amounts to.

 

[HLaB]

That's shocking. I'm not really an expert on the police/ legal stuff but as Will says get it sorted out, hopefully you have witnesses/ CCTV. I've got an ATC5K mounted on my bars and whilst its OK for picture its not really good for sound, it does have a microphone but I guess to make it waterproof its a bit muffled. For more info check out the Helmet Cam section of this site.

 

[wyno70]

So I'm guessing you are now thinking giving cabbies the finger isn't such a good idea???

 

[Tynan]

easy to do and I still do it too much but provoking drivers is just that, provoking them, there's plenty of people left in this world that take insults as insults, cabbies, van drivers and truckers being prone to be that sort of person

sorry to hear that anyway

 

[san]

To all, thanks for the advice. About the finger etc, Indeed I shall stop provoking, but I really hate having to let people get away with it. I grinds me, but I suppose is worth it if it's going to save my butt. Camera ordered...

 

[Will1985]

Good choice on the camera, but have you done the police? We can't let dangerous drivers continue to endanger cyclists' lives.

 

[Eat MY Dust]

Surely the police will be able to access CCTV from the area. You could see if you can get a local journalist to take an interest, if it makes to a local rag then the police will probably act.

 

[downfader]

+1 on the local paper route. They will usually jump at the chance to do a story like this, just tell them you "reacted in the heat of the moment and through shock" if they ask about the finger.

I have sworn a fair few times at some drivers, but its been more from shock than revenge. Usually I will shout something like "OI!! Steady on!" as they cant take that the wrong way. Avoid hand gestures as they will and can twist it back on you if they are that way inclined.

I would also second the Police route if in this position again, even if you think it wont lead to anything. Technically its hit and run and a deliberate assault. A LOT of people think bumping a cyclist is funny, but they dont realise the damage a small bump can actually do. Even doing it to another car, infact.

I would hope there is some damage to his car and that the fare in question reported him.

 

[Sittingduck]

Sounds nasty... My flat mate got road raged by a cab yesterday in central London too. Must be something in the air!

RE the camera, take a look at this if you are interested:
http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=22538

I go close by Waterloo each day on my commute too, so no postage required maybe...

 

[alp1950]

FWIIW minicab driver up here has been jailed for a deliberate assault on a cyclist. There is a thread on this somewhere..

With luck you will get some evidence to pursue this.

 

[rnscotch]

If a pedestrian made a hand gesture at a cabbie in similar circumstances, would they expect the cabbie to mount the pavement?

Fine they are behind x amount of metal but still does not mean they can provoke a reaction then get all miffed when they get that reaction, I would have chinned the arse for wrecking my bike.

Hope you are ok m8, and you get your bike sorted.

 

[asterix]

Speaking as a general road user, if anyone makes me a hand gesture it's like water off a duck's back (Can't remember when it last happened tho').

Whilst I think you were ill-advised to do so, it pales into insignificance with the cabbies reaction which has got to be literally criminal IMO. (Unless you are Napoleon)

 

[san]

Handed in an accident report, drawings etc the same day. Won't hold my breath thought. If your mate got road raged by a silever cabbie it might be the same guy taking it out on Bikes, haha. thanks for the camera offer, got a mate who can arrange one with no VAT as he works in CCTV so it's gonna come in at tabout the same price. But thanks anyway

 

[downfader]

Handed in an accident report, drawings etc the same day. Won't hold my breath thought. If your mate got road raged by a silever cabbie it might be the same guy taking it out on Bikes, haha. thanks for the camera offer, got a mate who can arrange one with no VAT as he works in CCTV so it's gonna come in at tabout the same price. But thanks anyway

You never know, they might be able to track the guy and get him on his own cabbie-CCTV if he has any (the local boys have them in a couple of firms due to the robberies around southampton).

I still say its worth phoning the local rag, any pedestrians or the fare he chased after could come forward yet.

Good luck!