TheSaint Posted March 29, 2011 Share Motorist punched me, says cyclist March 29 2011 at 01:30pmBy Bronwynne JoosteIOL new smar 29 ca wheeldon done INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS Andrew Wheeldon, director of the Bicycle Empowerment Network, says a motorist assaulted him while he was cycling near Claremont. Picture: Matthew Jordaan A Cape Town cyclist has laid an assault charge against a motorist after a road rage incident in which the motorist allegedly punched him. Andrew Wheeldon, the director of the Bicycle Empowerment Network, said he was cycling towards the corner of Rosmead Avenue and Lansdowne Road, near Claremont, when the incident took place on Sunday afternoon. Wheeldon said he was cycling along when a motorist jumped a stop street. “It was a thoroughfare for me, so I just shook my head. Then he drove for about 10m (ahead of me), when he suddenly braked and reversed.” Wheeldon said as he passed the vehicle, the driver flung his door open, narrowly missing him. The driver overtook him and again slammed on his brakes. “This happened around three times, and I would just drive around him.” At the Rosmead and Lansdowne intersection, Wheeldon stopped at a red robot, while the motorist drove onto the adjacent slipway. “I saw him stopping his car in the middle of the road, getting out and walking towards me. I could have jumped the robot, but I wasn’t going to endanger anyone’s lives.” “He came up to me and was very aggressive. “He asked me whether I thought I was hero. I said no, I had shaken my head because he jumped a stop street.” Following a verbal exchange, Wheeldon said the man hit him. “He swung a punch, which connected with my jaw and I told him: ‘That’s assault.’ “He then asked: ‘What are you going to be do about it, hero?’ I told him I would be laying a charge with the police.” Wheeldon then cycled to the Claremont police station, with the motorist driving close behind him. “Then when I turned around, he had disappeared.” Another motorist, who had witnessed the incident, took pictures of the last part of the altercation and captured the motorist’s number plate. This information has been handed to police. Police spokeswoman Captain Angie Latchman confirmed that police were investigating a case of assault. Wheeldon said the Bicycle Empowerment Network had noted a large number of similar incidents. “On a weekly basis, we hear of cyclists being harassed by motorists,” he said. “It usually starts with a traffic infringement on the part of the motorist and then, in some cases, the cyclist will lift his hands or show some kind of sign.” Wheeldon, who has been cycling for just over 30 years, said motorists should bear in mind that there was not an “equitable relationship” between themselves and cyclists. “Motorists should not use their cars as weapons. If I fall into you, at worst I could scratch your car, at worst, I could die.” His advice to cyclists is not to provoke motorists and to remove themselves from a potentially violent situation. Stephen Hayward, the chairman of the Pedal Power Association, said both motorists and cyclists should obey the traffic laws. “Motorists and cyclists need to respect each other and the rules of the road. If this happens and everyone behaves, we won’t have altercations.” Hayward said cyclists who felt they were being harassed should go to the nearest police station and avoid confrontation. - Cape Argus bronwynne.jooste@inl.co.za Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big J-WP Posted March 29, 2011 Share HA HA thats actually quite funny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Dale Posted March 29, 2011 Share HA HA thats actually quite funnyNot many will pick a wrestle match with you, Big J... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccc2 Posted March 29, 2011 Share HA HA thats actually quite funny why ????https://cdn.bikehub.co.za/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klaus Posted March 29, 2011 Share Similar incident happened to me many moons ago. I learn't two things from the ordeal: 1) There are some real pratts out there who need to join the mondern age 2) To remove my roads shoes in such incidents - a) to assist with me staying upright and not dancing around like a ballerina b ) to issue the relevant pratt with a distiguishable cleat impression on his forehead (help for indentification purposes later on!) Best is to ride on but sometimes the shoe option is the only option ! Edited March 29, 2011 by Klaus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Bornman Posted March 29, 2011 Share No funny at all. Andrew is a mild-mannered guy, an experienced cyclists and someone who works with cyclists' issues all day. I don't think assault of any type is funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big J-WP Posted March 29, 2011 Share Do you guys honestly think that its Funny, Funny that it was not me would of kicked the **** out of the okes car. Maybe not funny for the cyclist that is I suppose. To quick on the draw there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big J-WP Posted March 29, 2011 Share Mmmm thats new, sh!t, thats better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mechanick Posted March 29, 2011 Share Give me the number plate number and I'll see what I can do - A few scratches and dents should be enough to remind him that he needs to obey the law! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bat-ass Posted March 29, 2011 Share Myself, i prefer to prempt what these morrons are going to do (they are pretty predictable)... and dont shake your head at them if you can help it,,, it definately waves a red flag at a guy having a bad day!!! But these situations can happen to anyone and i had the misfortune of being involved in one while riding with a mate who has had more bar fights then anyone i know.... It wasnt great... the driver got a serious hiding from my mate, but still today, when i ride in that area, i worry about that morron recognising me and doing something stupid... i wish we had just let it go that day.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buell Posted March 30, 2011 Share I always find it frustrating dealing with these types of motorists or people, you riding your bike and not having your fighting/survival guard on they suddenly start attacking you verbally or physically and you kind of on the back foot already as they have surprised you, just because they lack social maturity or because they have frustrated lives they start taking it out on you hunting you down like a coward and its usually over a small trivial thing where they totally misunderstood what you the cyclist were trying to say, all I can say is there are to many hair triggers out there waiting to explode and F@*$k them they must come roll on the mats and see how tough they are then, would be keen to put them in a neck crank, I suppose that is why so many of us cycle with pepper spray...Not a nice experience and I can tell you Andrew will mull over this for time to come, I know I have experienced this. Hope they catch the guy and he has to do commuinity service to pay back society..hope his looking over his shoulder nervously waiting for the police to rock up etcGlad someone saw it and had number plates recorded Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddy Gordo Posted March 30, 2011 Share Yes indeed, I agree, there are too many hair triggers out there, at the same time most of them think they can fight you because you ride a bike. Just access the situation, most times it is wise to just ride away, othertimes well, if someone had tried to hit me.............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeTurbo Posted March 30, 2011 Share I wonder if I could exercise as much self-restraint in a situation like that; I think I would have hit back. However, Andrew has maintained a moral high ground and well done to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaLoCo Posted March 30, 2011 Share Similar incident happened to me many moons ago. I learn't two things from the ordeal: 1) There are some real pratts out there who need to join the mondern age 2) To remove my roads shoes in such incidents - a) to assist with me staying upright and not dancing around like a ballerina b ) to issue the relevant pratt with a distiguishable cleat impression on his forehead (help for indentification purposes later on!) Best is to ride on but sometimes the shoe option is the only option ! This is why I cycle with mtb shoes on my roadie...I don't enjoy the ballerina walk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaymondC Posted March 30, 2011 Share One day that motorist is gonna pick a fight with the wrong cyclist just cause you on a bike doesnt make you a fairy... I try avoiding situations like this myself it just leaves a bitter taste in your mouth really.Moving away from the Southern Subs in Cape town I'm happier out in the North theres alot less road rage, weird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Napalm Posted March 30, 2011 Share Andrew showed restraint that I would definitely wouldn't have shown. Just a tip; always go for the ankles and knees first, that way the bastards can't run away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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