Photomap

A driver asserts his authority over the road.

In spite of broad daylight, witnesses, FoI requests, and support from the Cycle Campaign plus the local MP, the Cambridge City police don't think that running cyclists down from behind in broad daylight is a crime, unless the driver actually draws blood.

The scumbag tried to get out of civil liability too, but his insurance company were smart enough to settle my claim without court action, once I forced the police to tell me who they were. Needless to say my bike cost more to repair than the driver's car was worth.

My advice to those of us who are at risk of being taken down like this:
- Be calm and reasonable (I was).
- Get as many witnesses as you can, immediately.
- Take photographs.
- Use a point-of-view video camera.
- I managed to stay upright as the driver ploughed my bike into the ground. I was clipped in which may have helped - I pretty much sat down onto his bonnet. You won't have much time anyway, but you presumably do not want to try to turn left or right, you don't want them to take you sideways or you'd be under the wheels.

If I ever have the misfortune to see anyone do this to any other cyclist I'd stand with you against these people. It's pretty lonely out there as the police will refuse to come out unless you're bleeding. There's no "assumption of responsibility" here, and in Cambridge the law is not on the side of the legal cyclist.