To feel angry and shaken and wish I'd exchanged numbers with her

[Underberg]

I witnessed a really nasty incident today which has left me shaken, so I can't imagine how awful the poor woman to whom it actually happened is now feeling.

I was in my car queuing in traffic at some lights, one lane for left turns and one for right. Woman on pushbike in high vis in front of me in right turn lane, car next to her in left turn lane. (All stationary) Suddenly the the car driver door opens and nearly hits the cyclist. I assumed it was an accident and the driver had decided to open his door for some reason and not seen that she was there. She held up her hand as if to say "ok". Then the car door opens again and a man's head comes out and he says something to her, but she doesn't respond. A few seconds later the lights change and we all start moving then all of a sudden, the car swerves straight towards the cyclist! She is in the middle of our lane and the car comes right over from the left, fast and aggressively towards her and also right in my path as I am directly behind her. I sound my horn in a lame attempt to distract him or shock him into stopping as it really seems as though he's trying to kill her. I was amazed she wasn't hit. The car then speeds off with the driver shouting abuse at the poor woman he's nearly just run over. She makes it over to the side of the road, crying.

I parked as soon as I could and ran over to her, fortunately she was already on the phone to the police and we'd both noted his registration and description. I spoke to the police too to confirm I'd witnessed what had happened and they said they may contact me at a later date. After a quick chat and hug with the poor lady who was still shaking violently I left - she said she didn't need a lift home as she lived close by and would be ok getting there.

I can't stop thinking about what happened now and am regretting us not swapping numbers in case she wants to ask for details that she might not have seen or remembered due to the suddenness and shockingness of it all. And obviously I'd also like to know if she's ok.

I really want this arsehole caught and charged with something! He's clearly very dangerous. He also had an elderly lady as a passenger so didn't seem to have any regard for her either. I want to make sure that the police know this wasn't him just trying to scare the cyclist (although that would be bad enough) but that he genuinely seemed to be trying to knock her down. WIBU to contact them again? Will they tell me anything? Just going by the tone of voice of the person on the phone they didn't seem to think it was maybe as bad as it was.... And they said they 'might' contact me for more info. I really want reassurance that they're going to take this seriously.

The whole thing was just so horrible and it's terrifying to think there are people like him are out there prepared to do stuff like this.

You did all the right things. Well done.

I understand how you feel wanting to be in touch with the cyclist - you shared a traumatic event and no one else will ever quite get what it was like. I was a witness to a vey nasty accident (freak accident, no ones fault) over 30 years ago. I sat with the victim and held his hand and we both cried a lot. The police and ambulance came and I gave him a bit of paper with my number and they took him away. I never heard another thing. I don't know if he lost his leg or died or anything. But assuming he did survive I can understand why he would never want to contact me, who he only knows as a tiny, tiny bit part of his horrific experience.

Even now all these years later I still feel connected to that man just as you feel a connection to the woman but the best thing you can do for her is stand back If needed that will make you the best possible witness for her. And well done again on being so brave and supportive.

Just going by the tone of voice of the person on the phone they didn't seem to think it was maybe as bad as it was.... And they said they 'might' contact me for more info. I really want reassurance that they're going to take this seriously

It's about par for the course if you cycle. It's why people who cycle can get so upset online when anyone trots out the "but you don't stop at red lights" BS. I've had people drive at me and haven't bothered reporting it, because on previous occasions when I have reported it, absolutely fuck all has been done about it

Many people on bikes run cameras and I wish I could afford to get one. However, even then police don't necessarily act. There's a huge amount of rage and entitlement out there and it gets directed at perceived out groups.

I'm glad you helped her out, OP. It's one way this level of hatred can be challenged.

Well done OP. Please do follow up if you can. The sort of behaviour you describe is incredibly dangerous and, as others have said, your evidence as a witness might be pivotal.

Those of you interested in the likelihood of prosecution and the consequences of convictions for careless or dangerous driving, might find these pieces interesting:

twitter.com/beztweets/status/664786617945743360

www.cyclinguk.org/campaigning/views-and-briefings/legal-framework-and-sentencing-policy

beyondthekerb.org.uk/what-the-law-told-us-this-week-no-1/

It's about par for the course if you cycle.

Sadly that's true: aggressive motorists, threats of violence, near escapes from doorings and punishment passes are regular occurrences if you ride a bike The Police aren't interested sadly.

They are almost always on the side of the motorist and even if they can be bothered to do anything to bring the person to book a person who attempts to kill or seriously injure you, they'll be treated with incredible leniency in court, they'll get a careless (rather than the more serious dangerous) driving charge.

Hell, you can actually kill someone with your car (just so long as they're on a bike) and get community service, as in this case

but you don't stop at red lights

Again, gets me livid. Because I always do, the bad behaviour of a minority of cyclists doesn't make the rest of us fair game. By the same token are HGV drivers at liberty to crash into any car at will, force them off the road and generally make life dangerous for them, as a wholly unconnected car failed to indicate at a roundabout three miles back?

Also the ' what was the cyclist thinking? why weren't they wearing hi-viz/retro reflective clothing, helmets etc.) Classic victim blaming. In the overwhelming majority of cases, it is simply a case of the driver not looking for cyclist, rather than not seeing them. I've been done up like the Vegas strip, cin hi-viz orange and yellow and plastered in reflective fabric and had two lights front and back and got the same 'sorry mate didn't see your there' responses after near misses. I have to fight the urge to say 'you're didn't see me because you didn't look dickhead'.

Everyone should have a dashcam.
Ours recorded a cyclist being hit by a lorry.
We sent the footage to him ( we had stopped to administer first aid, call ambulance etc) the haulage company were all set to deny responsibility but the footage was absolutely clear. They compensated him immediately.
We have front and rear cameras.
There are so many aggressive and dangerous drivers around. It makes sense.

I got knocked off my bike a few years ago and still have issues with my wrist from the fall. It still irks me that the driver got away scott free, not even a fine or points when if I was to go out a speed even by a few MPH, that's exactly what I'd get.

Please keep us updated OP.

I hope the driver suffers for what he's done. Awful.