Green man/cycle: I was crossing the road (Grosvenor Place) from Wellington Arch to get into Hyde Park. Half way across, a white van accelerates, jumping the red light, and slams into the front left side of my bike, throwing me off the bike and to the right.
Surprisingly, the impact did not cause any pain, nor did the landing. The bike (steel frame) sustained no structural damage, just a few scratches to the saddle and handlebars. I landed on my right side and my head contacted the road but the helmet minimized any potential injury. Apart from a small bruise and a dodgy elbow that hurts when I straighten it, I am perfectly fine.
There were plenty of witnesses, including pedestrians and cyclists, who confirmed I was right to cross and the driver was not. I got up straight away and told the driver to step out. He protested his innocence, insisting the light was green for him, when it blatantly wasn't - all the other vehicles were waiting at the lights.
Meanwhile, the lights turned green and cars that were waiting were now beeping (his car was stopped in the middle of the road), which gave him the opportunity to drive off. I was in shock so didn't think once about getting his name and details. Two traffic officers were on the scene very quickly since they were stationed at Wellington Arch for the protests.
LL59 OXN is the one to look out for. It's a white Citroen Berlingo with a company logo on the side. This idiot shouldn't be driving.
It's my first accident in a year and a half, but it's not dented my confidence.
In fact, the same evening on the way to the police station, I got knocked off a second time after colliding with a pedestrian who wasn't looking when she crossed the road.
I've submitted a police report, including details of four witnesses (3 cyclists and 1 ped), who I thank for staying behind and helping me out. Is there anything else I can do to pursue the matter? Google Streetview doesn't show any CCTV cameras facing in the right direction - I'd like some objective confirmation that he jumped the red light...
Happened at 4.35pm on my way home from uni.
Green man/cycle: I was crossing the road (Grosvenor Place) from Wellington Arch to get into Hyde Park. Half way across, a white van accelerates, jumping the red light, and slams into the front left side of my bike, throwing me off the bike and to the right.
Surprisingly, the impact did not cause any pain, nor did the landing. The bike (steel frame) sustained no structural damage, just a few scratches to the saddle and handlebars. I landed on my right side and my head contacted the road but the helmet minimized any potential injury. Apart from a small bruise and a dodgy elbow that hurts when I straighten it, I am perfectly fine.
There were plenty of witnesses, including pedestrians and cyclists, who confirmed I was right to cross and the driver was not. I got up straight away and told the driver to step out. He protested his innocence, insisting the light was green for him, when it blatantly wasn't - all the other vehicles were waiting at the lights.
Meanwhile, the lights turned green and cars that were waiting were now beeping (his car was stopped in the middle of the road), which gave him the opportunity to drive off. I was in shock so didn't think once about getting his name and details. Two traffic officers were on the scene very quickly since they were stationed at Wellington Arch for the protests.
LL59 OXN is the one to look out for. It's a white Citroen Berlingo with a company logo on the side. This idiot shouldn't be driving.
It's my first accident in a year and a half, but it's not dented my confidence.
In fact, the same evening on the way to the police station, I got knocked off a second time after colliding with a pedestrian who wasn't looking when she crossed the road.
I've submitted a police report, including details of four witnesses (3 cyclists and 1 ped), who I thank for staying behind and helping me out. Is there anything else I can do to pursue the matter? Google Streetview doesn't show any CCTV cameras facing in the right direction - I'd like some objective confirmation that he jumped the red light...
Byron