What's with the spiitting ??

Westbrom

I have just started cycling and have been trying to build up some time in the saddle. Intention is to get fit while enjoying the great cycling experience. I must say I have caught the bug and i love it.

However on my way home yesterdayI was unlucky enough to get gobbed on by some tossers in a red golf as it went past. They thought it was really funny until i caught up with them at a set of lights. When faced with an angry cyclist all I got was them staring straight ahaed trying to pretend this guy ranting outside their car wasnt there. I tried doors and they were locked. Not really sure what I would have done if they had opened to be honest.!!!

Was not until they pulled away a safe distance that they opened the window again and started more abuse. Cowards!

Must say I was, and indeed still am, angry at this. I got the registration number of the car and wonder if I should call the police or something i case this is something that can be done about it. I imagine not though so i really I should forget about it and move on and just enjoy cycling shouldn't I?

Is this a common thing? and can someone please somehow expalin to me why people would spit on a complete stranger like this? They would not do it walking down a street so why on a cyclist?

Note how I managed to avoid using any sweary words on this post. It was very difficult I can tell you.

chronyx

Spitting is classed as assault.

I would probably have ended up kicking the crap out of their car - well done for keeping the Neanderthal within at bay

BentMikey

I might have tried to wipe my arse with his car in that situation!!!

TheBoyBilly

As chronyx said, this is an assault. You may not get anywhere by reporting this now but future incidents of this behaviour should result in at least a caution. You don't have to put up with this.

always_tyred

I have found that drivers aren't as innured to people invading their personal space as we are.

Rapping knuckles on the roof/wing/boot of a car sounds a LOT worse inside the car. I have found that this will often either cause the driver to get out to look/shout at you (which is okay, because you are on an escape vehicle) or shout at the passenger who has just put his precious paintwork at risk.

I find the drum intro to "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" pretty satisfying on a car roof.

Westbrom

I must admit I felt like rapping my knuckles on those guys noses and see what tune that would have sounded like.

I think will report it as if they do it all the time and no ones reports it then they will continue doing it.

I just dont get some people!

Gussio

Were you wearing a West Brom shirt? Recommend switching allegiance and donning Stoke kit, thereby garnering respect from passing motorists rather than abuse 8)

Gambatte

I’d report it.

OK, you’re probably right in that the end official report will be zero.

However,
1. its one more record of ‘assault on cyclist’
2. A lot of these tw@s still live at home with mummy, probably out in mummys car or its insured in mummys name.
Little Wayne doesn’t want mummy upset by plod coming to her door to have a chat……

I’m still waiting for the 1st of these brain dead cap stands to try one of these ‘drive by’ incidents with a cycle copper without realising :twisted:

mtbcommuter

I'd agree with Gambatte, even though the driver probably "won't remember" who his passengers were and it'll be unlikely that the spitter will be traced. The cop should issue the driver with a warning notice for using his car in an anti social manner. If he gets two of these in twelve months the car is seized.......how happy will mummy be then ???

spen666

Gambatte wrote:

I’d report it.

waste of time really

OK, you’re probably right in that the end official report will be zero.

will be zero from the start- you are merely wasting your time at the station filling in paperwork

However,
1. its one more record of ‘assault on cyclist’

sadly- no one records these- there are no figures officially produced to confirm these cases ever happen

2. A lot of these tw@s still live at home with mummy, probably out in mummys car or its insured in mummys name.
Little Wayne doesn’t want mummy upset by plod coming to her door to have a chat……

Plod won't be going anywhere near their home ( even if you have the number of the car) its not something that is seen as even a low priority- it is a sheet of paer in a police file and offence could never be proven, unless you got the spit and it can be DNA tested!

I’m still waiting for the 1st of these brain dead cap stands to try one of these ‘drive by’ incidents with a cycle copper without realising :twisted:

spen666

TheBoyBilly wrote:

As chronyx said, this is an assault. You may not get anywhere by reporting this now but future incidents of this behaviour should result in at least a caution. You don't have to put up with this.

Only caution likely to be given to police is for wasting police time :oops:

A caution cannot be issued if there is not sufficient evidence to prove ( in a court of law- a criminal court) that the alleged assailant did indeed assault the alleged victim.

Where A says it didn't happen and V says it did, in the absence of other evidence, you are never going to be able to get a conviction - and hence the criteria for being able to make out the grounds to issue a caution are not made out

Gambatte

1 I’ve reported to police and been told come in fill in the report and if traceable soemone’ll go out and have a word.

2 I know of an incident same as this except to a pedestrian instead of a cyclist where plod did go out. Its one of the reasons I would report it as my workmate banned his son from borrowing the car.

My own ‘egging’ incident was one of a couple put to a driver, which ended up with him pleading guilty to dangerous driving.

The spitting may be one more thing to add to a string of complaints, and if you don’t complain then it definitely didn’t happen.

Gambatte

The other side to this is that if suddenly everyone takes your advice and no one reports these crimes as ‘nothings going to get done’, you’re right, nothing gets done and reported crime figures go down.

I can just see the accountants response.

“Oh look, Policing is really good – lets make budgetary savings”…….

Everyone works to stats these days (well 99.9%)

You pay Council Tax? Report it, end of the day, coppers are public servants.

How can you be wasting police time by reporting an assault?

To quote the Police response to being questioned about Magnatoms videos “We’d ask you notified the Police in the 1st instance”.

Give it a bit of time and some body like CTC will be going to plod under freedom of information and asking “How many reported assaults on cyclists last year? How many prosecuted?”

GEPC

I have been spat at once by some prick in a white van and I have also had a chav in a hothatch try to run me off the road and threaten me. I didn't manage to catch up with the white van but the idiot in the green hatch back parks his car in the same place most days and I cycle past it most evenings. Evey time I see it I consider arranging an accident for his wing mirrors but so far have decided to keep the moral high ground. If anyone here feels more militant about these sort of things then its usually parked on the South Lambeth road before you get to Stockwell. It reg has POJ in it and its driven by an objectional ratty looking bloke.

Not that I advocate taking the law into my own hands. Would rather we could all just get on and share the road, but its hard not to get pissed off when someone actually threatens you with violence.

Gambatte

GEPC wrote:

I have been spat at once by some prick in a white van and I have also had a chav in a hothatch try to run me off the road and threaten me. I didn't manage to catch up with the white van but the idiot in the green hatch back parks his car in the same place most days and I cycle past it most evenings. Evey time I see it I consider arranging an accident for his wing mirrors but so far have decided to keep the moral high ground. If anyone here feels more militant about these sort of things then its usually parked on the South Lambeth road before you get to Stockwell. It reg has POJ in it and its driven by an objectional ratty looking bloke.

Not that I advocate taking the law into my own hands. Would rather we could all just get on and share the road, but its hard not to get pissed off when someone actually threatens you with violence.

I've considered fabricating some caltrops..... :twisted:

Brains

GEPC wrote:

I have been spat at once by some prick in a white van and I have also had a chav in a hothatch try to run me off the road and threaten me. I didn't manage to catch up with the white van but the idiot in the green hatch back parks his car in the same place most days and I cycle past it most evenings. Evey time I see it I consider arranging an accident for his wing mirrors but so far have decided to keep the moral high ground. If anyone here feels more militant about these sort of things then its usually parked on the South Lambeth road before you get to Stockwell. It reg has POJ in it and its driven by an objectional ratty looking bloke.

Not that I advocate taking the law into my own hands. Would rather we could all just get on and share the road, but its hard not to get pissed off when someone actually threatens you with violence.

The solution is to slightly deflate right rear tyre, just enough to make it visible and noticable when driven.

He will then pump the tyre back up

You slightly deflate it again

He then knows he has a slow puncture and takes it to the repair shop, no fault found.

You deflate again (and again)

He goes back to the shop and is eventually forced to buy a brand new tyre, at which point you stop (unless you want to start on another tyre ...)

mrchrispy

report it ffs, i hate people that comlpain that the police don't do anything and never report things. they tend to look at things that are getting reported so with out bringing it to their attention they are obviously not going to do anythnig.

GEPC

Brains wrote:

GEPC wrote:

I have been spat at once by some prick in a white van and I have also had a chav in a hothatch try to run me off the road and threaten me. I didn't manage to catch up with the white van but the idiot in the green hatch back parks his car in the same place most days and I cycle past it most evenings. Evey time I see it I consider arranging an accident for his wing mirrors but so far have decided to keep the moral high ground. If anyone here feels more militant about these sort of things then its usually parked on the South Lambeth road before you get to Stockwell. It reg has POJ in it and its driven by an objectional ratty looking bloke.

Not that I advocate taking the law into my own hands. Would rather we could all just get on and share the road, but its hard not to get pissed off when someone actually threatens you with violence.

The solution is to slightly deflate right rear tyre, just enough to make it visible and noticable when driven.

He will then pump the tyre back up

You slightly deflate it again

He then knows he has a slow puncture and takes it to the repair shop, no fault found.

You deflate again (and again)

He goes back to the shop and is eventually forced to buy a brand new tyre, at which point you stop (unless you want to start on another tyre ...)

Two interesting suggestions. I like the idea of making the bastard have to pay for something he doesn't actually need and I particuarly like the fact that this game could go on almost indefinitly. On the down side it requires a lot of effort on my side and it increases the chances of him catching me doing it.

Gambatte your suggestion of Caltraps is good. I had to look them up on wikipedia but I see what you mean. Highly effective!

I am thinking maybe some extendable hub spikes in the Ben Hur style might be an interesting addition. It will add a bit of weight but if I could get some Titanium ones....I will see if they sell them on Wiggle!

dirk_van_gently

Report it for sure. I was spat at by a WVMs passenger a couple of weeks ago, not really very bright in a sign written van. I reported it to the company and action was taken, although not strongly enough in my opinion.

If I was in the luxurious position of passing the Green Hatchback everyday, I would consider a small can of Nitromors paint stripper, with a couple of pinholes in the can, placed strategically on the roof of said car. Takes it down to the metal !!! :P
Oh alright I probably wouldn't, but it's the thought that counts :P

cee

Dirk Van Gently wrote:

Report it for sure. I was spat at by a WVMs passenger a couple of weeks ago, not really very bright in a sign written van. I reported it to the company and action was taken, although not strongly enough in my opinion.

If I was in the luxurious position of passing the Green Hatchback everyday, I would consider a small can of Nitromors paint stripper, with a couple of pinholes in the can, placed strategically on the roof of said car. Takes it down to the metal !!! :P
Oh alright I probably wouldn't, but it's the thought that counts :P

or for those of us who commute on our mtb's with hydro disc brakes, a little 'slip' with some dot brake fluid should do the same thing!

I would avoid deflating the tires though, because I would wager that if he reports that to the police, then you would be for the high jump!.. something about endangering the public or somesuch nonsense!

Don't retaliate......you could end up in more trouble than him (that would suck for sure), but report it to the police....even if nothing comes of it, if you don['t tell them, then DEFO nothing will come of it huh!

Surf-Matt

Someone does anything like that to me - they lose their wing mirrors.

The Police will do nothing. You have their reg number, they don't have yours.
Just make sure no cops are looking

cntl

Chinese saying:

"If you are going to pursue revenge, you'd better dig two graves".

Westbrom

Decided ill be popping into local police station tomorrow and reporting it.

It most probably wont go anywhere but I should do it.

Main reason is not revenge. Its cos these muppets might have done to others an someone might be looking for another witness to come forward. after all its most probably my word against theirs.

I worry that they might also do it again on others and some one has to be accountable.

Il let you know the response from the police.

nwallace

Easier if you still have fresh spittle on you for swabbing.
I would also consider requesting a Tuberculosis test.

Westbrom

Well I reported it.

Response was as expected. "Nothing much we can do but ill keep the details."

Didnt want to make statement but left full details in case needed as other witness for future cases. Feel good about that. Thanks for all the comments guys.

ride_whenever

Spare waterbottle full of dot fluid for your 'brakes...'

works just as well as nitromores... If a car cuts you up in traffic, quick dash'll strip whatever it touches, job done.

BentMikey

I would defo not recommend taking the law into your own hands, because you might suffer badly for it. Who remembers the chap who came on here or C+ who'd knocked someone's wing mirror off, got followed by them, and arrested by the police. Big time in court, and lots of expense, as well as a record.