WPC Katie Frankish contacted me today to confirm she will speak to this man and advise him that his actions have been noted and that cyclists are entitled to use this route. WPC Frankish was very helpful and understanding of the issues surrounding that route and if anyone encounters this man again and faces the same sort of behaviour I'd recommend that you contact the police as his details have been logged and if further incidents occur they may consider a more serious response.
I have submitted an account of the incident by e-mail to West Mercia Police for the attention of WPC Katie Frankish. Hopefully the chap will be told to moderate his behaviour.
Absolutely agree that this guy needs reporting. I personally divert down the cycle route as often as possible just to make it clear that we have a right of way established over the years so use. Anyway well done for sticking up for cyclists
I have also had a dealing with this chap Richard Cranium would appear to be his name. He drove at me head on geticulating when riding towards the new cycle path. He needs to be reported. Get in touch if you need back up if you report him to the police.
Thanks for the comments - I'll try and contact the WPC you've mentioned and have a chat to see if she thinks it is worth her following up.
It was one of those occasions when you think "he's not getting away with that" but when you see 4 or 5 other guys emerge from a van and all approach you aggressively you think "oh s...t!"... I wish I'd thought of the one liner Sean, but I suspect i'd be facing some corrective surgery if I had!
Clearly my delaying him by 5 or 10 seconds was just too much to bear...
sorry to hear about this afternoons confrontation , this resident is definatley in the wrong and should be reported for his inappropriate actions most police will take this report as serious, the problem is you have to spend your time filing a statement . well done for standing your ground i was obviously scary at the time and by the way i think his reg plate should read R 5OUL not L 5OUL . also you were picked for a spot prize at todays open its a pity you left early.
The police have asked for things like this to be reported as they take such behaviour seriously. Try and contact WPC Katie Frankish as I know she is the local bobby and has paid these locals a visit in the past.
Be aware of a "gentleman" who drives a dark Jaguar sports car registration number L5 OUL an appears to reside at Barneshall Avenue. I was cycling from the Bath Road end of the cycle route through Barneshall Avenue when this man came behind me in his car and sounded his horn aggressively and gestured me to get out of the way. I turned into the cut through on the right and the car slowed down for the man to lean out and tell me to keep out of the way of residents in purest "Anglo Saxon" invective.
I decided to follow him to explain that the route is part of the national cycle network and that it is a single carriage way which means it is not safe to overtake cyclists and that his behaviour was not acceptable - in particular as cyclists are only on that road for 50 or so yards and could hardly be accused of delaying his journey to any significant extent.
As I reached his drive he stormed out of his car accompanied by 4 or 5 other men who emerged from a white van which had also pulled into his drive. I did not threaten or insult this man but tried to explain that cyclists are permitted to ride on that road - he immediately threatened to "kick my head in" and make other such similar threats, again using best Anglo Saxon. I was surrounded by him and the 4 or 5 others and felt very threatened. I reiterated that cyclists are permiitted to ride on that road and he said non-resients are meant to dismount, pointing out there are signs to that effect. I explained those signs were put up by residents and had no legal standing, again I was subjected to various threats that if he saw me again he'd "knock my head off". I said that I'd continue to use the route as I'm permitted to do. I did alert him to the fact that I had his reg number and would report him to the police (in fact I haven't as experience suggests this simply wastes one's own time and the police as nothing ever comes of it).
However, other club members should be aware of this man and his volatile nature as I fear he could carry through his threats.
