Cycling UK Forum

Sickening,makes you wonder how long before drivers in the UK can do things like that and get away with it.............wait a minute though isn't it happening here all the time.............?

The Daily Mail have finally got hold of the story: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1361769/Sickening-moment-car-ploughs-cyclists-Brazils-Critical-Mass-event-protest-motorists.html

By their usual standards it doesn't seem to be anti-cyclist. Some of the comments are pretty predicable though.

I think I met a close relative of this driver today. After driving aggresivley behind me, then shouting abuse and telling me to pull over so he could thump me he then turned right into the same road I needed turn into and a few hundred yards further on had pulled over got out of his car and grabbed me as I tried to cycle past and hit me on the helmet contuing to shout threats and abuse. I took a not e of his number and said I was going to report him for assault he replied that if I did that he now knew where to wait for me and would kill me. So I reported that to the police too - unfortunately the number I gave the police didn't match any on the database but they said they would try to track him down as they take threats to kill pretty serioulsy even if you don't mean it. They asked me as well what outcome I wanted form this and as I wasn't actually injured realised I wasn't too bothered so long as I didn't actually meet him again I was worried about what he might do in the future to the next person he takes a dislike to. Hopefully they will find him and give him a warning to make hime think twice next time.

It's worth carrying a can of WD40 to spray in the face of anyone like this who attacks you. After all, it's something you may need when cycling.

gilesjuk wrote:It's worth carrying a can of WD40 to spray in the face of anyone like this who attacks you. After all, it's something you may need when cycling.

Not on a Carbon drive bike like the Soho

WaterLab Rat wrote:

gilesjuk wrote:It's worth carrying a can of WD40 to spray in the face of anyone like this who attacks you. After all, it's something you may need when cycling.

Not on a Carbon drive bike like the Soho

I'm sure it has brake levers and cables?

But anyway, another possibility is a can of deodorant spray.

Or a D-lock.

We're talking self defence. Not striking first. If you fear for your safety then you shouldn't be prevented from fighting back.

Spraying something at someone will disable them temporarily, hitting them with an object carries the risk of causing permanent injury or death.

gilesjuk wrote: hitting them with an object carries the risk of causing permanent injury or death.

Only if it makes you wobble and fall off.

The driver in the Brazil incident, currently waiting trial on 17 counts of attempted murder, has given an interview: http://www.theurbancountry.com/2011/04/ ... rview.html

Can you still buy 'Rape alarms'? I am thinking of those small cannisters that emit a VERY LOUD and PIERCING sound. That should ward off an attacker, or at least render them senseless long enough for you to make an excape.