Forum Topic

Run over by a bicycle

My daughter was running and was  - run down from behind by a bicycle  - and I mean to the ground with scratches and bruises. He just took off - more of a hit and run.   She Is traumatized and in pain. He wore blue reflective sunglasses and a grey helmet - mid twenties white and rude.  Bedford Rd & Marlborough Crescent. We filed a police report. 

John Dorn ● 2348d30 Comments

Hope she feels better soon and they are able to trace the offender.

Janice Evans ● 2348d

On pavement or on road?

Peter Evans ● 2348d

The cyclist should have stopped regardless. John's daughter may have contributed to the situation - we can't tell given the limited information, but whether it was on the pavement or the road, the cyclist still should have stopped, unless there were some really, really compelling reasons for them not to have done so.

Andrew Jones ● 2348d

So, to be clear, we can blame a pedestrian but we can never, ever blame a cyclist?FYI, there are no "really, really compelling reasons" to flee. That sounds like a defence of the behavior.

David Lesniak ● 2347d

No, I didn't say that and from my perspective you are twisting my words.I believe I said that the cyclist should have stopped and didn't.I didn't rule out that there was a possibility that the pedestrian could have contributed to the incident, because the information provided was sparse, and that I feel that is reasonable.I thought about that last sentence before posting it- I doubt that there were compelling reasons to flee in this case but I didn't jump to conclusions and so didn't discount the fact that there might be. If I was being chased by someone I thought was going to harm me, and hit a pedestrian while getting away from them, then No, I wouldn't stop. I would contact the Police afterwards, but I wouldn't stop at the time. And yes, I agree it's an extremely unlikely scenario. So to be clear, I'm not defending the behavior, I'm just not dismissing the possibility that everything is not exactly as it appears.

Andrew Jones ● 2347d

You are bang on the money with your observation, David. A large % of cyclists seem to think we all exist to give way to them, even on the footpath (it's for feet not wheels, btw) and that they can never be held to account.The Highway Code states that ALL users of vehicles should give way to pedestrians at all times,even those on two or four wheels who seem to think their sense of entitlement has no bounds.

Keith Iddon ● 2347d

"So to be clear, I'm not defending the behavior, I'm just not dismissing the possibility that everything is not exactly as it appears"I agree with your point, Andrew. Typically, though, this same logic can never be applied to a cyclist should they be injured. Their behavior is above reproach and we've heard it again and again and again. To Keith's point, the Highway Code also clearly says cyclists are not allowed to cycle on the footpath.

David Lesniak ● 2347d

he Highway Code also clearly says cyclists are not allowed to cycle on the footpath.Well thats not always the case,  there are pavements which look like they are only footpaths but are shared actually shared access.  I once got screamed at by a lady for being on the pavement when I had to calmly explain to her it was a shared.An example of this is the path along the A316 and also the paths along Hyde park near Queens Gate.

Matthew Swain ● 2347d

Something which may or may not be relevant to this accident. Every day I cycle round Dukes Meadows on the roadway and every day I come across pedestrians who are walking in the road with their backs to the traffic on the left hand side of the road. As a Girl Guide, I was taught that when walking in the road you should always face oncoming traffic and walk on the right.

Susan Jennifer Thackray ● 2347d

But the Highway Code states that all vehicles must give way to pedestrians, not expect them to get out of the way.

Keith Iddon ● 2347d

Which bit of the highway code?Are you are referring to Rule 170? the wording of that is "watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning. If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way"or is there another part of the highway code you were thinking of.

Andrew Jones ● 2347d

I know you deliberately said the opposite (and didn’t mean what you said!) but I’d agree with you that if a cyclist is injured their behaviour might be in part (or even wholly) responsible. The same could apply to a pedestrian Injured on a zebra crossing.

Andrew Jones ● 2347d

Outrageous. If they are going to walk on the road they should pay for it (they do) like the rest of us. Why should they walk for free etc etc.Sounds ridiculous doesn't it?

Tony Smart ● 2347d

Mr Dorn, welcome to CW4. As this thread demonstrates, there is a strong anti-cyclist feeling on the site. In the interests of fairness, could you please provide more information on your daughter's unfortunate accident - in particular, was she on the pavement or in the road at the time ?

Richard Greenhough ● 2346d

Why should he provide more info?  He has simply reported a crime so that everyone is aware. He made it perfectly clear that he has filed a police report. The matter isn't up to debate.

Steve Taylor ● 2346d

Wasn't posting it here inviting debate? This IS a discussion forum.

Paul Scullion ● 2346d

John’s not a regular poster as far as I know, and provided a description of the cyclist. It might have been an invitation to debate, it could have been an invitation to anyone who knows who this cyclist is to have a word with them and tell them to behave better next time.

Andrew Jones ● 2346d

If the old bill find him, I hope they would have more than a word..how about charging him with causing injury and leaving the scene of an accident/ I doubt they would though,too much trouble for them I would think.

Keith Iddon ● 2346d

"John’s not a regular poster as far as I know, and provided a description of the cyclist."Precisely. And given that he posted two days ago I don't think he intended to debate the fact that his daughter was hit by a criminal. He was kindly posting the information so that others can be aware of such criminal behaviour in the area.

Steve Taylor ● 2346d

A friend of mine was walking down Church St. Isleworth - (shut to traffic by Hounslow) yesterday when two cyclists  approached her without observing social distancing, so she took a couple of steps back before talking to them - only to be met with a torrent of abuse ending with 'hope you f****ng die'. Classy eh? Problem is since there's no traffic the cyclists have speeded up....................

Vanessa Smith ● 2346d

"so she took a couple of steps back before talking to them - only to be met with a torrent of abuse ending with 'hope you f****ng die'."Yes it will be interesting when they open Richmond Park to cyclists again but they have promised to monitor the abusive morons very carefully.

Steve Taylor ● 2346d

So do you wear blue reflective sunglasses and a grey helmet, Steve ? The rest of the description sounds like you.

Richard Greenhough ● 2346d

Someone on another local forum has just posed the question wondering if all these enthusiastic cyclists will be as enthused when it's pouring with rain for days on end and they're freezing their nuts off? Good point.

Vanessa Smith ● 2346d

So original. The gift that cyclophobes give us enthusiasts is their predictability. There are never any surprises to deal with.

Paul Campbell ● 2346d

all these enthusiastic cyclists will be as enthused when it's pouring with rain for days on end and they're freezing their nuts off? Good point.The answer is yes Vanessa,  all you need to do is venture on the Embankment cycle lane in pouring rain and see the sheer amount of cyclists using it,  after all nothing that waterproof jacket cant solve.

Matthew Swain ● 2346d

“ all you need to do is venture on the Embankment cycle lane in pouring rain and see the sheer amount of cyclists using it,”Nonsense. In your wet dreams perhaps!

Steve Taylor ● 2346d

Another useful contribution I see....welcome back Taylor

Matthew Swain ● 2346d

“ and a grey helmet, ”Why on earth would I wear a helmet, Dickie? I cycle sensibly but also like to live dangerously. I am not a Lycra bum whimp.

Steve Taylor ● 2346d

Cycling without a helmet, probably had a few bangs on head....could explain a lot.

Richard Greenhough ● 2346d

Mmm. Yes I do need to come on here every now and again to put all the B)£)s£((,ers  in their place.

Steve Taylor ● 2346d