Bicycle road rage attack exposes double standards

Figures released this week suggest Britain is an increasingly peaceful society, but assault by a complete stranger is still occurs with alarming regularity, especially on the road.

Friction between cyclists and motorists has occurred since cars first took to the roads and now a growing number attach cameras to their bikes and helmets to record evidence if they are hit by a car or, as in this case brought to light by bikebiz.com, its driver.

The story centres around helmet cam footage that captures the moment a cyclist is assaulted for no good reason by a van driver.

The film is testament to how cyclists can find themselves at the mercy of thugs, our judicial system’s lethargy over road safety and the lackadaisical attitude of the police towards a minority group. Most powerfully of all is the story’s illustration of how video evidence can help jog people’s memories; the driver involved had initially claimed that the cyclist had kicked his van. Full story at Bikebiz.com

Perhaps the most worrying aspect of the story is how it highlights apparent double standards where physical assault is concerned. If you walked into your local shopping centre later today, stopped in front of a CCTV camera and punched the person next to you in the face, it would be unusual for you not to find yourself tomorrow standing in front a magistrate, but that does not appear to be the case where road rage incidents are concerned.

Let us fight your corner

Cycle insurance from the ETA includes the support of a specialist legal team that can safeguard your rights if you need help. As you would expect, every policy also includes new-for-old replacement if your bike is stolen (with no de-valuation over time), cover against vandalism and accidental damage. You will also benefit from £5m third party cover, Cycle Rescue and more…

{{cta-cycling}}