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@Arducius
Some months ago I was cycling home from the train station in Oxford. There is a queue of traffic leading up to a junction with lights. As I approach the rear of the queue I take a look over my shoulder to make sure the way is clear before pulling out to join the traffic flow, and then filter down the right hand side. The road becomes two lanes further up and I want to be in the right hand lane to make a right turn at the lights.
It's a single lane but there is nothing coming in the other direction so I took a wide berth past the waiting cars. I start to hear an engine revving behind me and decide to ignore it, there isn't space for them to pass safely and it's still a single lane (they are overtaking the queue) and there is traffic coming in the other direction.
There is a break in the traffic from ahead so this guy makes his move after revving behind me for about 10 seconds, blasts his horn at me and slams his foot on the accelerator. He sails past, I give him the finger. "Just another twat in a 4x4" I think, and assume that's it for today's quota of twats.
Not so! He has seen my friendly finger wave and is less than pleased. As he gets to the green light he slams on his brakes and jumps out of the car, then comes storming down the road towards me.
Knowing I was fully in the right I stopped to have a chat. In the middle of the road. Holding up all the traffic.
He seems to think I'm in the wrong because I was cycling in the middle of the road. We have a bit of a discussion, he has already lost his temper but I am aware that we are surrounded by people and he is causing a scene so remain calm and explain why I was in the road "BECAUSE I AM TURNING RIGHT HERE!" ok, so I didn't remain quite so calm at that point.
He hits me. I can barely believe it. I am raging inside but managed to keep a clear head. That's assault, I haven't done anything wrong. I'll accept an apology and for him to realise why I was in that position. He walks away.
How dare he? Driving like a complete cunt, hitting someone, and just walking away? In a moment of clarity I knew I needed his registration. Squinting at the back of his car (he had knocked my glasses off) I quickly put it in my phone, and double checked it with the driver of the car behind.
So I get the witness details, what's left of my glasses (they ended up under the wheels of a car), and start walking home, quite shaken up.
Called the police as soon as I got home and reported it, they sent someone out that evening... long story short (well shorter). He gets fined £100 for hitting me, plus the cost of the glasses, plus community service, plus a police record.
Not really worth it just to shave a few seconds off your journey home is it? But definately worth reporting these incidents, maybe he will think twice next time.