London Cyclist Battering by Audi(tm)

The guy who got punched was the one next to the car talking to the driver at the first set of lights.

As a cyclist I would have felt someone encroaching on the cyclebox whilst I was in it was aggressive. I would also suggest that the Audi intended to drive off like that and that's why they entered the cyclebox, rather than 'escaping'.
 
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Gepetto said:
Did you actually watch the video? "Appalling physically aggressive driving" ???

I must confess to not seeing that at all. :confused:
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1. The second he moved into the box leaving no room for the cyclists which where 3 abreast in a single lane is being very physically aggressive..

2. Setting off quickly when someone is physically in very close proximity to the car is also very aggressive, as the cyclist pointed out, he could have run over this foot..

Gepetto said:
Huh? The car was stationary when the cyclist got punched?

When the car edged to the left, and moved forward in the cycle box, I didn't hear any high revs, screeching of tyres, or see any cyclist being pushed out of the way. This is marked by the fact that you do hear the car rev when the driver tries to escape the situation when the lights change.
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Except he wasn't 'escaping' from the cyclist, he was originally stationary outside the box, he was clearly annoyed and decided to deliberately move his car forward into the box on the outside of 3 cyclists to make a point, knowing full well what he was doing..
 
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Demon said:
Except he wasn't 'escaping' from the cyclist, he was originally stationary outside the box, he was clearly annoyed and decided to deliberately move his car forward into the box on the outside of 3 cyclists to make a point, knowing full well what he was doing..
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As noted above, he clearly needed to be in the left hand lane at the next set of lights, a swap made somewhat difficult by the presence of a bus lane for most of the road, so he was probably simply concerned with not getting stuck behind a bunch of cyclists and then not being able to enter the correct lane at the next junction, hence pulling forward and to the side so he was better positioned to get in front of them as quickly as possible when the lights changed, without needing to pass them further down the road in likely more congested conditions (and potentially more dangerous).

The very fact everyone jumps straight to the assumption he was being aggressive, trying to make a point, was annoyed etc. etc. only goes to show the presumptive attitudes between motorists and cyclists go both ways and a few seconds spent attempting to be a bit more understanding before trying to mouth off and police the world could result in an entirely different experience for everyone on the roads.
 
FrenchTart said:
Markings that have been put there for safety are kind of different to just randomly choosing to drive slowly.
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no they aren't

There is a speed limit, not a target. You are perfectly entitled to drive at 25mph in a 30, just as you are perfectly entitled to 35 in a 60.

You'll cause others rage however and start tailgating you.

Parking right in front of a car at the lights will do the same. Its also worth noting that you're only supposed to ride a max of 2 abreast, or single file in crowded areas

https://www.gov.uk/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82/overview-59-to-71

Given the number of cyclists in that box, the only way they could have pulled off from the lights without forming a rolling road block in front of him, would be to wait for all the other cyclists to pull off, and then pull in neatly behind them and then make the car wait while all the cycles pedal past.

The other alternative would be for them to set off all at the same time - approx 3/4/5 abreast which isn't allowed either. So what did the cyclist think was going to happen when he put his bike there ?
 
Fr0dders said:
no they aren't

There is a speed limit, not a target. You are perfectly entitled to drive at 25mph in a 30, just as you are perfectly entitled to 35 in a 60.

You'll cause others rage however and start tailgating you.

Parking right in front of a car at the lights will do the same. Its also worth noting that you're only supposed to ride a max of 2 abreast, or single file in crowded areas

https://www.gov.uk/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82/overview-59-to-71

Given the number of cyclists in that box, the only way they could have pulled off from the lights without forming a rolling road block in front of him, would be to wait for all the other cyclists to pull off, and then pull in neatly behind them and then make the car wait while all the cycles pedal past.

The other alternative would be for them to set off all at the same time - approx 3/4/5 abreast which isn't allowed either. So what did the cyclist think was going to happen when he put his bike there ?
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If it's any consolation for your flawed logic, the ASLs aren't even particularly enforceable so drivers can go crazy and "accidentally drift" into them all they want.
 
FrenchTart said:
Nope, I was trying to come on to you..... babe :p
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They are enforceable. Met Police have been handing out FPNs left right and centre under Operation Safeway during October, November and December.

Again, for Kenai, the cyclist positioned himself correctly. All the cyclists went in the bus lane so the Audi could have gone past them anyway. Even if they had he could have stayed behind them and moved into the left lane any time he wanted. He would still be stationary at the next lights.

As I say, I ride up there every day and you'd need to be pretty inept not to be able to drive up the right lane and then pull into the left when needed. It was very poor driving by the Audi and there was absolutely no need.
 
Kenai said:
As noted above, he clearly needed to be in the left hand lane at the next set of lights, a swap made somewhat difficult by the presence of a bus lane for most of the road, so he was probably simply concerned with not getting stuck behind a bunch of cyclists and then not being able to enter the correct lane at the next junction, hence pulling forward and to the side so he was better positioned to get in front of them as quickly as possible when the lights changed, without needing to pass them further down the road in likely more congested conditions (and potentially more dangerous).

The very fact everyone jumps straight to the assumption he was being aggressive, trying to make a point, was annoyed etc. etc. only goes to show the presumptive attitudes between motorists and cyclists go both ways and a few seconds spent attempting to be a bit more understanding before trying to mouth off and police the world could result in an entirely different experience for everyone on the roads.
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In this case you don't need much assumption, the car driver was either aggressive or incompetent, take your pick.

In the first instance the only thing I heard clearly from the cyclist was him saying he had right of way in the box, no seating at that point, and that was a fair statement whether the driver was aggressive or incompetent, it only escalated when the driver speed off with the cyclist in very close proximity which was a very dangerous manoeuvre.

We can't actually hear what the car passengers or driver where saying to the cyclist or half of what the cyclist says in the first exchange, but you are assuming it was mouthing off, which does back up your point about people jumping to negative conclusions I guess.

I still haven't heard a good argument as to any legitimate reason that the car driver should have entered the box (other then excuses which all indicate an ignorant driver) that didn't legitimately sanction the cyclist putting out there highway code to him.
 
Terrible driving followed by too much rage by both parties. I cycle commute 30 miles per day, mix of country and city riding, and if I got that angry every time a car driver annoyed me I'd probably have a heart attack with stress.

It does make me laugh all the comments about being slowed down by cyclists. I can guarantee as a car driver you will be slowed down far more by cars than cycles....and you're part of the problem.
 
peterattheboro said:
Cyclists but **** being crowded by them and being stuck behind them when the lights change to green.

Thankfully I don't drive in London anymore.
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Like most road users, too impatient.

In London, I would have said that there is even more reason for cyclists to move into the ASL boxes, given the volume of traffic, so that they can get away first. Exactly what they are intended for. And no it's not so that they can stay out in front and hold traffic up, keeping motorists from their destination, it's so that they can feel and be safe.
 
[DOD]Asprilla;25742748 said:
They are enforceable. Met Police have been handing out FPNs left right and centre under Operation Safeway during October, November and December.
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They're giving out mixed messages then as I discussed them with an officer running Operation Grimaldi last night and he basically said that they are not handing out any kind of notices beyond training leaflets as there are still some issues about the legality of ASLs.
 
mad leftie militant cyclists form rolling roadblock
audi pulls out to RHS to ensure safe slow pass at junction
crazy militant youtube cyclist thinks hes bradley wiggins with no helmet/no clue chases car
cyclist does endo nearly damaging car in blatant road rage attack
PASSENGER gets out and gives cyclist a telling off.

simples.
 
FrenchTart said:
They're giving out mixed messages then as I discussed them with an officer running Operation Grimaldi last night and he basically said that they are not handing out any kind of notices beyond training leaflets as there are still some issues about the legality of ASLs.
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The Manchester police have been slated for OpGrim as they tried to claim stuff like the enforcement of cycle lanes was a council matter when it's not a decriminalised offence. Their q&a descended into farce as the officers present didn't know or understand the laws they were supposed to be enforcing.

There is no issue with enforcing ASLs just some forces don't want to.
 
Freefaller said:
Indeed a little clip round the ear at most - he obviously realised he was in the wrong as he turned around with his tail between his legs.
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Agreed. The Audi driver was being a bit of a pillock but the cyclist was a complete tool. I suspect he might be a little more circumspect about dishing out abuse in future.
 
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