That woman who boasted about hitting a cyclist has been done. Good!

Whoops, loose lips and all that.:bonk:
 
Justice was served in the end.
 
I don't understand why she didn't get a ban for driving away from the scene of an accident :bang:
 
LCPete said:
I don't understand why she didn't get a ban for driving away from the scene of an accident :bang:
Click to expand...

Or the fact that she planned on knocking the cyclist off.

Obviously premeditated in my eyes.
 
JamesBryan said:
Or the fact that she planned on knocking the cyclist off.
Click to expand...

Where have you got that from?

She was cleared of driving without due care and attention so the magistrates didn't feel that there was enough evidence that her standard of driving had "departed from that of a reasonable, prudent and competent driver". Obviously her major mistake was to tweet about it in such an inflammatory way - something which she quickly realised was wrong. The tweet was certainly wrong but the subsequent moral outrage, online threats and being dismissed from her job at a firm of accountants were out of all proportion to the offence.
 
Fear not.....these accidents will all stop when i become Prime Minster.....
An immediate ban on anything with 2 wheels and pedals will be issued......unless they have a licence, received after passing a test, and have liability insurance, have an mot for their cycle and sign an agreement that they admit to being a law to themselves and that they will give a happy smile back when receiving one or two finger gesturers from a passing motorist.
 
"She said: "The tweet was spur of the moment. It was ridiculous and stupid and I apologise to all cyclists."

If it was a "spur of the moment" thing does that mean she was Tweeting when she was driving??
 
What surprised me about the interview in the link above is there was no concern that an accident had happened (I'm sure her solicitor could have briefed her on a form of words that would not admit any responsibility), the only regret was that the Tweet has caused her a problem and the case being made is we should all be sorry that she received flak from Tweeting - "Definitely knocked a cyclist off his bike earlier. I have right of way - he doesn't even pay road tax! #Bloodycyclists."

I don't buy the line, "If I'd known it would have got this far ....". Is there anyone in the country who does not realise what can happen to comments made on social media?

I'm not sticking up just for cyclists - there plenty who are a danger on the road.

However, what we do know is an accident happened between a car and cyclist which resulted in some, it appears, minor injuries to the cyclist and the car driver did not stop at the scene.


Dave
 
I often cycle to work and am still shocked by some of the driving on the roads. Having said that, I'm really angry with the number of cyclists on the road, especially since the clocks changed, cycling with no lights (or ones worse than the torch on your phone!) and maybe, if you're lucky, wear a high vis jacket because then obviously everyone can see them...right?o_O I'm so annoyed with these people giving other cyclists a bad name. I actually think lights should be compulsory on all bikes, whether they cycle at night or not. The number of times I use my lights even just because the sun is low in the sky. That way, lights for bikes will get better and cheaper. Look at cars, 'day time running lamps' are becoming compulsory for all new models, as they have been on Volvo's for years. Why should cycles or any other vehicles which use the road be any different?

As for drivers. You don't own the roads so don't think that little disc in your window (and the one on my car on my driveway before you start!) entitles you to drive like a :schtum:
 
Spuff said:
Where have you got that from?

She was cleared of driving without due care and attention so the magistrates didn't feel that there was enough evidence that her standard of driving had "departed from that of a reasonable, prudent and competent driver". Obviously her major mistake was to tweet about it in such an inflammatory way - something which she quickly realised was wrong. The tweet was certainly wrong but the subsequent moral outrage, online threats and being dismissed from her job at a firm of accountants were out of all proportion to the offence.
Click to expand...

Quite... and having seen the attitude of most cyclists in Cambridge, they deserve little or no sympathy. Only the other day a lorry was indicating left and starting to turn, then a bike shot up the side and was almost hit. 100% the cyclists fault but its always the driver that gets the blame.
 
Martyn D said:
Fear not.....these accidents will all stop when i become Prime Minster.....
An immediate ban on anything with 2 wheels and pedals will be issued......unless they have a licence, received after passing a test, and have liability insurance, have an mot for their cycle and sign an agreement that they admit to being a law to themselves and that they will give a happy smile back when receiving one or two finger gesturers from a passing motorist.
Click to expand...

and also have the ability to ring the bicycle bell whilst keeping both hands on the handle bars.
 
simonbarker said:
Can't say I have much sympathy for many cyclists, as a pedestrian I've had far more close calls with them than car drivers.
Click to expand...


I used to agree with you completely. I think many (particularly London) cyclists need a big dose of reality. I've been hit on pavements, watched them jump pedestrian crossings knock children out of the way...etc etc etc. Its ignorant. At the same time, unfortunately I witnessed and was first in the scene a hit and run on a cyclist (thankfully she's now fully recovered) over the summer. I've now revised my opinion to two wrongs don't make a right.
 
There is nothing to say this cyclist was in the wrong so why wouldn't you sympathise with him. What we do know for certain is that she knocked him off his bike, neither stopped at the scene or reported the accident and gloated about it later. Not particularly happy at the hate mail/death threats she received but if she was my employee then I'm not too sure she is the sort I would want working for me.

Steve
 
Spuff said:
Where have you got that from?
Obviously her major mistake was to tweet about it in such an inflammatory way - something which she quickly realised was wrong.
Click to expand...
You feel that was her major mistake :shrug:

Steve
 
Spuff said:
Where have you got that from?

She was cleared of driving without due care and attention so the magistrates didn't feel that there was enough evidence that her standard of driving had "departed from that of a reasonable, prudent and competent driver". Obviously her major mistake was to tweet about it in such an inflammatory way - something which she quickly realised was wrong. The tweet was certainly wrong but the subsequent moral outrage, online threats and being dismissed from her job at a firm of accountants were out of all proportion to the offence.
Click to expand...

I meant because the fact she was boasting about hitting the cyclist, she must have thought about hitting him, otherwise she would have avoided him.
 
jakeblu said:
There is nothing to say this cyclist was in the wrong so why wouldn't you sympathise with him. What we do know for certain is that she knocked him off his bike, neither stopped at the scene or reported the accident and gloated about it later. Not particularly happy at the hate mail/death threats she received but if she was my employee then I'm not too sure she is the sort I would want working for me.

Steve
Click to expand...
Because people see a thread about cyclists and automatically don the tar and brush. Even when the thread is about a motorist that knocked a cyclist down and their post is completely irrelevant.
 
neil_g said:
Because people see a thread about cyclists and automatically don the tar and brush. Even when the thread is about a motorist that knocked a cyclist down and their post is completely irrelevant.
Click to expand...
Yes I have noticed that, BTW I don't cycle (Im too lazy :D)
 
Respect other road users in the way you want to be treated with respect from them. Roads in major cities are dangerous why some cyclists speed and undertake other vehicles is very surprising, there is no need as they will reach there destination usually before motorists anyway. And cyclists wear bright yellow jackets, as I do.:thumbs:
 
The thing for me is....there are many accidents on the roads between cars, every day of every week of every year, the minute theres an accident between a car and a bike the cyclist jump out from behind their helmets shouting and screaming how dangerous car drivers are, yes there are some dangerous drivers out there as there are cyclists but when riding a bike, i used to but the knees are to knackered now, i used to be alert to the fact that if i was hit i'm more fragile than a metal car so keep eyes and ears wide open and not cycle with an air of "i'm on a bike you MUST look out for me" while they are cutting in and out of a queue, cycling up the inside of you while you're indicating to turn left, ignore anything that appears in front of them that resembles a red light or appears to look like a road junction.
I'll await a cyclist to pop out of their bubble and join in with this thread while throwing their dummy at my computer screen :)
 
Martyn D said:
The thing for me is....there are many accidents on the roads between cars, every day of every week of every year, the minute theres an accident between a car and a bike the cyclist jump out from behind their helmets shouting and screaming how dangerous car drivers are, yes there are some dangerous drivers out there as there are cyclists but when riding a bike, i used to but the knees are to knackered now, i used to be alert to the fact that if i was hit i'm more fragile than a metal car so keep eyes and ears wide open and not cycle with an air of "i'm on a bike you MUST look out for me" while they are cutting in and out of a queue, cycling up the inside of you while you're indicating to turn left, ignore anything that appears in front of them that resembles a red light or appears to look like a road junction.
I'll await a cyclist to pop out of their bubble and join in with this thread while throwing their dummy at my computer screen :)
Click to expand...


I could have written that - all of it. A lot of sense in there!
 
Martyn D said:
The thing for me is....there are many accidents on the roads between cars, every day of every week of every year, the minute theres an accident between a car and a bike the cyclist jump out from behind their helmets shouting and screaming how dangerous car drivers are, yes there are some dangerous drivers out there as there are cyclists but when riding a bike, i used to but the knees are to knackered now, i used to be alert to the fact that if i was hit i'm more fragile than a metal car so keep eyes and ears wide open and not cycle with an air of "i'm on a bike you MUST look out for me" while they are cutting in and out of a queue, cycling up the inside of you while you're indicating to turn left, ignore anything that appears in front of them that resembles a red light or appears to look like a road junction.
I'll await a cyclist to pop out of their bubble and join in with this thread while throwing their dummy at my computer screen :)
Click to expand...
Sigh. No one is debating that there aren't morons on/in both forms of transport. But dragging the old slanging match is completely irrelevant here, she knocked the cyclist off through her own fault, drove off and bragged about it after.
 
neil_g said:
Sigh. No one is debating that there aren't morons on/in both forms of transport. But dragging the old slanging match is completely irrelevant here, she knocked the cyclist off through her own fault, drove off and bragged about it after.
Click to expand...

Not a bad aim but a bit more practise needed :)

But anyway....that is exactly the point, every day motorists have accidents and no doubt a lot drive off but no-one even bothers about it...its boring news, who cares....but when its a cyclists its a major disaster!
 
Last edited:
Martyn D said:
Not a bad aim but a bit more practise needed :)

But anyway....that is exactly the point, every day motorists have accidents and no doubt a lot drive off but no-one even bothers about it...its boring news, who cares....but when its a cyclists its a major disaster!
Click to expand...
Sigh (again). I'm out, you have your little cars vs cycles hijack and get it out of your system.
 
neil_g said:
Sigh (again). I'm out, you have your little cars vs cycles hijack and get it out of your system.
Click to expand...

Bit better aim :)
Anyway....its nothing to do with motorists v cyclists....its just about "some" cyclists being drama queens and spoiling it for the 1% who are law abiding cycle riders ;)
 
boyfalldown said:
I used to agree with you completely. I think many (particularly London) cyclists need a big dose of reality. I've been hit on pavements, watched them jump pedestrian crossings knock children out of the way...etc etc etc. Its ignorant. At the same time, unfortunately I witnessed and was first in the scene a hit and run on a cyclist (thankfully she's now fully recovered) over the summer. I've now revised my opinion to two wrongs don't make a right.
Click to expand...

Well my comment was simply responding to the first post saying most motorists get away with it when I see far more cyclists getting away with 'it' (I'm in London so I'm lucky enough to see a lot of them). It really doesn't matter what method of transport you're using, if you're not going to show proper care towards others.
 
Last edited:
jakeblu said:
You feel that was her major mistake :shrug:

Steve
Click to expand...
JamesBryan said:
I meant because the fact she was boasting about hitting the cyclist, she must have thought about hitting him, otherwise she would have avoided him.
Click to expand...

In all the interviews she denied she hit the cyclist - rather that it was him that came round the bend and hit her, so the cyclist's word against hers. I haven't seen the court transcript but I can only assume the magistrates would have convicted her of driving without due care if her driving fell below standards as defined. Her mistake, for which she was charged, was not reporting the collision, but again (according to her interview - not the boastful tweet) the cyclist was upright and on his way (and as far as I am aware never felt the need to report it either). So yes, her major mistake was tweeting what she did but whilst it was stupid it shouldn't be reflected in any punishment she receives.

As an aside, I am actually pro-cyclist and am amazed at the risks some car drivers take when faced with someone delaying their journey for a few seconds. I wish there was a better way for all road users (and pedestrians) to be able to share road space and co-exist safely, particularly in urban areas and particularly following the many tragic deaths in London at present.
 
Martyn D said:
Bit better aim :)
Anyway....its nothing to do with motorists v cyclists....its just about "some" cyclists being drama queens and spoiling it for the 1% who are law abiding cycle riders ;)
Click to expand...
In that case we're roughly on the same page (although still slightly irrelevant in a thread where the motorist was 100% at fault). You point needs better presenting though ;)

Related article and actually hits the nail square - http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/4298701
 
Last edited:
she was stupid. End of. Personally I'd have given her more, however fines are means tested and guidelines set. However I have nearly knocked cyclists off to an often seen habit of ignoring red lights and other road markings, and the propensity of wearing dark clothes at night with no lights. Good and bad of all sorts of road users.
 
neil_g said:
Because people see a thread about cyclists and automatically don the tar and brush. Even when the thread is about a motorist that knocked a cyclist down and their post is completely irrelevant.
Click to expand...

She was cleared of knocking him off no?
 
She did not knock him off the bike, in his words ... He told the court there had been "quite a loud crunch" but admitted he had not come off his bike.

As a car driver I do watch out for cyclists, and give them time and room, they are a bit more vulnerable than I am. That little bit of time following them down the road at 15mph until it is clear to pass them is soon made up in a car.
 
I wasn't go to say anything when i saw this post as there is good and bad on both sides here. Last night i nearly killed a cyclist they came out of there work place a very busy spot as all the workers were leaving there shift over, it was dark and raining and they were in black they came from the factory didn't stop and look but came straight out in front of me i moved over as quick as possible and then back to miss on coming traffic thanks to the drive who saw what had happened and gave me room. Had I hit the cyclist i can see where the blame would gone.

Now since 2011 all new cars have had to have fitted day time running lights. I think its time for cyclists to have day glow cloths and to have there lights on day and night. then they have a better chance of being seen. Also read the highway code
 
Who knows whose fault it was? The "lady" in question lost the right to put her point of view when she fled the scene of an accident.

From that point on I'd trust the word of the cyclist rather than that of a convicted criminal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top