London Fixed-gear and Single-speed SJS Cycles

I was riding down Tooley street yesterday at about 14.45 coming off London Bridge about to pass the London Bridge Station entrance (at the bottom of the incline). Experience has taught me that despite people waiting at the ped lights, folk will pretty much ignore the color on display and step out. As a result I now shout well in advance.

It looked like people were going to cross despite my green light so I slowed down my pedaling in advance and I shouted. They all looked right saw me and held back. I continue to pedal. Out of fucking nowhere this soft cunt has stepped out looking the wrong way sending me into the opposite lane causing me to go up about a foot off the ground and smash into a (thankfully stationery) truck. One of these cracks was my face, the other my hand.



On landing on the floor my initial instinct was blood all over my face but it was nose water. I lay on the floor badly winded for a min or two. Then I thought who is the bastard responsible for this? I look up and there are a lot of people just stood there looking at me. I ask who is responsible and nothing. I scrape myself up off the floor. WHO IS FUCKING RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS!?!? WHO DID IT? I shouted repeatedly. HAVE YOU ALL JUST SEEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND YOU'VE LET THE PERSON GO WHILE YOU ALL STAND THERE JUST LOOKING AT ME, YOU STUPID FUNKING IDIOTS???
Eventully one lady stepped forward and said "it was him"
"Who? Show me, take me to him"

I catch up with what turns out to be a German late teen. I Grabbed him by the lapels and rag him around demanding to know where he's going, why he hasn't stopped, what the fuck is wrong with him.
He's saying my teacher and pointing down the road. A few people try to get involved and one guy says if I don't let him go he'll call the police.
"please do, mate. And while you're at fuck off or you'll get some too"

I'm now seething.

I go back to where my bike is still in the road and the in the truck driver (Eastern European) comes over and starts having a go at me demanding to know who is going to sort out his windscreen.
I said to him, "you saw everything, why are you asking me this? Go speak to the kid that caused it, you stupid fuck."

My bars aren't steering now so I'm even more pissed. I attempt to go lock up the bike when said driver starts grabbing my bike saying that I can't go anywhere.

"I'm locking MY bike up. Taking your fucking hands off."

He then gives me his ear piece telling me his boss want a chat. His boss then proceeds to have a go at me. I wanted to drop the ear piece down the cunting drain hole. The police turn up and I go, again, to lock my bike up then the female officer then starts grabbing me demanding to know where I'm going after I've told her I'm gonna lock it up. She gets a foul mouthed rant from me.

Eventually the lady that helped me earlier steps forward and asks why everyone is having a go at me when I was the victim, after all it's my face that is imprinted on the wind screen.
At this stage I was still spitting bit of glass out my mouth. Thankfully the paramedics came and offered me solace from this grim set of events.






I am and always have been a strong advocate of hitting pedestrians that step out on you in the situation that you have right of way. Reason being if you avoid them (as happened to me once) and crash they'll say it had nothing to do with them, not to mention the damage you could do to yourself because someone couldn't be arsed looking at all. The fact that I shouted in advance and almost everyone stepped back made this impossible to avoid because he was hidden behind everyone and was moving in the opposite direction meant he came from absolutely nowhere. Instinct made me do it.

The pigs reckoned there was no action that could have taken because he was German????? Maybe I'll go over there and cause chaos and tell them to fuck themselves cause I went to school in New Cross?
Who is liable for this because my one off headset is dead. My head tube may be fucked. Who is covering this?
Shrugs according to the the pigs. Anyone know where I can find this shrug person?

The driver neither the jaywalker once came to ask if I was ok. People seemed to want to offer protection to him over me. The Police attitude is 100% what I've become used to. But the public's overall uselessness? This has just reinforced my general hatred towards society. Had I been a svelte blonde would I have suffered this kind of treatment? AND SOME OF YOU WONDER WHY SOME OF MY PEOPLES HAVE "chip on their fucking shoulders?"

Shit, Festus, that's fucking awful. If the kid was with a school party the school is probably ultimately responsible: if you have their details it might be worth writing to them.

Fucking hell, how the hell did this cunt not get arrested?!
Shit, now I heard the full story I just can't believe the police have basically shrugged it off, did you get any witnesses details mate?

Once again the police prove just how fucking useless they are, and how well-founded my hatred of them is.
CUNTS.

What you need is some cycle training. PM me for details.
Seriously though that does both blow and suck. I knocked over an old Italian woman on Sloane St yesterday; I was filtering down the centre, as we are told we should, when she appeared from between a taxi and a lorry. Landed on her backside. Luckily she was well wrapped up so kind of bounced. She was very apologetic; sometimes it goes that way. Had I damaged my bike though I'd probably be in the same jam as yourself.

Festus that sucks man.
I was speaking to a barrister the other day and he was saying that in cases where the blamable party is not able to be found/ prosecuted, there is an road insurance thing or something which you can appeal and launch a suit against to get compensation.
i wish i could remember the name of the legislation.
i will try and remember it, and ask some friends who should know it well.

I just read over it again- to make sure that I'd read the details right, and i can definitely agree, police are cunts.
paramedics are awesome.
you did some serious damage to that windscreen, I hope you're ok man.

Wow sorry to hear this, you could try MIB but don't know if that covers cycles. Am amazed that you came to drinks last night as well.

Wow, that's awful! First of all, I'm glad you're okay. Beyond that - what a horrible situation and what a pain in the ass!

wow, glad to hear that you werent seriously hurt. Tourist behaviour, looking the way down a road as if they are still in their own country. jeez.

MG - hope your head is OK... never have I smashed a window with mine and I can't say I fancy the idea either.
My rant about the cops - I hit a 60 yo bint on a bike a couple of weeks ago when she signaled left, moved left, then moved back to where she'd come from without looking = me in her place with a bit of pace up. Police, ambo - she went to hospital. Next thing I know letter in the mail from the met fuzz saying we are investigating the incident and you'll hear from us soon... included with that was a colour leaflet titled 'traffic criminal justice operational command unit' (complete with a taped outline of a dead body on a road)...
Seriously?! Why are they sending me this shite - it wasn't my fault. I'm not a criminal and the only justice needed is that daft bitch should be at home with her tea and biscuits and not on a bike.

I blame David Hasselhoff.

Hope you'll be okay though Festus. That thing about being un-blond is true though.

Though the police normally want victims to look hurt and vulnerable, instead of angry and powerful.

I'm personally going to pay for your ballet lessons. Had only you looked dainty............

hope your wounds heal quick, Fes.

disgusting attitude from the cops as usual, is there any way you can contact the school this Teutonic teenage terror is from and demand some form of compensation for the damage?

MG, I can completely understand why you're pissed, and I'd have serious trouble to control myself as well, but maybe being so angry at the time gave the impression that you were the villain, therefore was a bit counter productive?

As for the lorry driver and his boss, why did you even talk to them? Best option there would be to just flat out refuse, say "let's wait until the cops arrive, ok?" and that'd be that.

Forgot the most important bit: May you heal up fast!

Thanks.

there were a number of witnesses that saw everything and (I hope) the police have all their details. I also have one woman's details also. I'm fine but just hate the fact that the basic tenant of compassion was gone.
"Are you ok?" would have sufficed in placating me. The fact that I had to play Columbo despite what happened deflated me.
If I hadn't had it in me to get up and find the prick he would have continued to his destination.

gonna speak to the LCC.

Sorry to hear what happened! Glad you are ok though

It's starting to seem to me that any accident involving the cyclist everyone assume's it must be the cyclists fault, be it car/truck/ped

I should mention that I do have crime reference numbers...I just want to know who is liable for this. Was thinking of speaking to the LCC.



Keltbray/the driver can break dance on this:

Nicht gut !
Tourists - London Dungeon - train commutors - motor traffic - pedestrian crossings all condensed down that stretch of Tooley Street =
Inevitable
Commiserations mate :(

wow - i'm so upset that in that situation, you were blamed for everything!!! unbelievable!

I too have used this line, it quickly puts people in there place as it establishes the facts that a) Your not sacred of the word Police and b) Puts the seed of doubt in the other persons mind that you actually might be in the right and could do with some fucking assistance.

Heal up fella, thats a tough wipe out to come back from in more ways than just physical.

That's why we need the law change that was proposed earlier this year. Cars and so on automatically at fault unless proven otherwise.

Yes LCC or try ...
http://www.rjw.co.uk/ctc/ctc-members...-accident-line

If you are LCC or CTC member then the damages that you caused, be it your fault or not, should be insured anyway, no?

Yes

So the stationary truck is at fault here? No. This proposed law is dumb.

Heal up soon MG, with hindsight you probably wanted to hit the ped but you're natural unavoidable instinct will always be to avoid 'em! I don't reckon you'll get any kind of compo for this, I hope the bike ain't too fucked..

Shit!
Looks painfull, hope you get well soon!
Stupid little fuck who walked into the bloody road!

I hate that crossing!
Hope you're ok Festus

Damn Festus, glad to hear you haven't got worse injuries.

festus, that sucks. hope you're ok and there is a way to get compensation. xx

as a small blond, i do have a problem with jaywalking peds. they seem to see me, think 'oh, she's small and a girl, therefore probably slow. i'll just nip out, lots of time, la la la'. and splat.

not saying you are, but i need to work on looking scarier.

That's your opinion ... I think a law like this would prevent people from always assuming the cyclist is at fault. From what I remember it works well in Germany. Maybe it would prevent people from taking risks when overtaking etc as well? Or it wouldn't be so easy for lorry drivers to say "I didn't see him"?
Just a thought!

Festus hope your on the mend. That is one shitty situation, and to be honest I think that if you were a blond lady from hamstead you would have had completely different reaction from everyone at the scene, and that I find really disgusting!

I've hit a pedestrian on that stretch of road, eccoing others, it is inevitable to happen when there is a high density of people at busy junction. I'm just glad you have come out the other side petty much intact, face-planting into a van could have ended a lot worse. And for that we are all grateful.

Dude!! Thats shit news but glad to hear that you dont have any lasting injuries. If you need anyone to have a look at your bike I'm at work on Monday, pop by and I'll have a look for you.

Sorry to hear about this shit mate. Glad you're ok at least!

Presumably a school trip would be well insured including 3rd party risks so there is a route there for recompense, albeit probably long winded and not worth the ag unless a substantial sum is involved.
Unfortunately the truck owners could in theory claim off you as you caused the damage to their vehicle. Hopefully this will not happen.

Glad you walked away from it though.

man, that is rubbish. hope you and your bike are not too badly messed up.

Yeah for someone who'd hit a truck with their face you looked rather dashing last night.

which reminds me my ctc is up for renewal.

sorry to hear about this festus. get well soon and i hope you get a happy ending.

They have a saying in Aus. If you think you're going to hit something speed up... Germans are softer than glass I think. Glad you OK.

heal up soon man.

Thanks all. I think I've chilled a little.

@ Hillbilly: that sounds great I just want confirmation that my head tube is ok and ready to be re-burred. Which branch are you in?

@ Pickle: Who you calling PETTY??

@Katie: You were out last night?

Gonna look into that school trip's insurance assuming the police have their details.

I think he works at the Brixton branch of Brixton Cycles, are you sure your head is ok?

Oh Fes, just read this - hope your bonce is as hard as it looks
what a bunch of utter cunts
Having lived on Tooley st for a large chunk of my life - the ped/tourist situation is scary. I avoid it these days.
Heal up soon, and big special hugs coming your way soon.

I am glad you are still in one piece Festus.

Shit! It could happen to any of us - every time I cycle to SE drinks I have to face these idiots crossing on the red light :-/

Hope you alright, Festus? I'm really feeling for ya, as I hate when you feel helpless even if you are in the right.

sorry to hear about this multi, hope you heal up soon.

Festus - claim against the kid and his teacher/school. Although the police won't do anything, you can. He will have liability travel insurance. I can recommend a lawyer if you want. Russell Jones & Walker have a specialist cyclist unit. I will PM details.

Glad you are not too badly hurt. Take care and avoid South London.

Festus.. mad header! Ever consider playing football?

I hope you get some justice (and cash) out of that kid and it goes a little way to calming you down post a fucking shit experience.