Pushed into Canal this afternoon

dilemna

Franknstein wrote:

........it was only 1m deep or so.

Sorry to read of the assault on you.

Only 1m deep. Where was the rest of the water? Most canals are 5-6 foot deep.
You were lucky not to land on something such as an old trolley, fridge or wash machine.

I would avoid the area in future.

pintoo

My sympathies. London's getting way too aggro for no reason. The anti-cyclist thing is ridiculous.

I was assaulted (in a very minor way) the other day by a van driver. He nearly took me out twice, driving way too close, then when I told him, he got out of the car to threaten to take me out. His ire was directed at my being a poncey cyclist on a poncey little bike and "foreign." Ah, BNP - thank you for stirring that crap back up again

I have to admit, nothing gets me more riled than racism but I would rather not stoop to violence. He said he would "f***ing love to bang [me] out".

Because I told him he should move to the right when over-taking. Oh, and he only overtook me to immediately turn left, without indicating. Or using his mirrors.

I didn't report it. I guess most of these incidents don't get reported. Is it even worth it?

mrsimes

Sorry to hear of your ordeal.

It's been said on other cycle forums but it's a good idea to carry a self defence device just for piece of mind and situations like this.

There are a couple of good products:
Stoppa Red MK3 Self Defence Spray which can be conveniently carried in a holster on your belt, or SureGuard Cordless Attack Alarm which can also be clipped to a belt and activated single handedly.

Hope this is helpful.

Si

prj45

pintoo wrote:

I didn't report it. I guess most of these incidents don't get reported. Is it even worth it?

Yes, becuase he might've had previous, and he might do worst to sombody else next.

prj45

mrsimes wrote:

It's been said on other cycle forums but it's a good idea to carry a self defence device just for piece of mind and situations like this.

The alarm I'd recommend, but I reckon using the spray (or having it on you) could leave you open to all sorts of trouble.

dilemna

pintoo wrote:

My sympathies. London's getting way too aggro for no reason. The anti-cyclist thing is ridiculous.

I was assaulted (in a very minor way) the other day by a van driver. He nearly took me out twice, driving way too close, then when I told him, he got out of the car to threaten to take me out. His ire was directed at my being a poncey cyclist on a poncey little bike and "foreign." Ah, BNP - thank you for stirring that crap back up again

I have to admit, nothing gets me more riled than racism but I would rather not stoop to violence. He said he would "f***ing love to bang [me] out".

Because I told him he should move to the right when over-taking. Oh, and he only overtook me to immediately turn left, without indicating. Or using his mirrors.

I didn't report it. I guess most of these incidents don't get reported. Is it even worth it?

Snap! Exactly the same thing happened to me on saturday except the van driver turned right into a side road about 50 yards up the road and there was no racial element.

Why is it always the wankers who turn off or pull in 50 yrds ahead that cut you up and try to knock you off? I despair. In my incident the wanker WVM had his slob of a girlfriend Waynetta with him who from sitting placidly then joined in abusing me. I invited the knuckle dragger to get on my bike I drive his van at him just as he had driven it at me. Unsurpisingly he declined and then buggered off. I never report stuff like this. I used to but the police NEVER do anything and frankly there are so many that I have better ways to enjoy myself .

dilemna

prj45 wrote:

mrsimes wrote:

It's been said on other cycle forums but it's a good idea to carry a self defence device just for piece of mind and situations like this.

The alarm I'd recommend, but I reckon using the spray (or having it on you) could leave you open to all sorts of trouble.

Yeah but think of the satisfaction when they got some of it in their face. Presumably you wouldn't hang around either and they would be unlikely to report it. Win win all round. It would only be a temporary discomfort to them enough for you to get away. They would think twice about taking advantage of a cyclist again. In 99.9% of these types of incident you are on your own as witnesses look the other way and the police do bugger all in my experience. Quite often it is you or them and police if they are involved are part of the problem not the solution. In the US some cyclists carry bear spray. From what I have read it is very effective - on bears .