Rammed by driver in Clapham Common

So I don't know where I should post this but I would like to share and vent here.

Yesterday during a long ride I was passing clapham common. I was cycling in the middle of the road where there is also a cycle path. I chose to keep to the road because the cycle path was congested and I was less than 100 yards from a right turn I needed to take.

A driver behind me started to agressively beep out of frustration that he couldn't speed so I remained central in the lane to assert myself. This obviously pissed him off so as I signalled right he accelerated, colliding with the back of me as I started to turn.

Despite slamming quite hard, I was fine and was on my feet right away. With adrenaline, shock and disbelief at what just happened, I proceeded to get him to pull over in a somewhat aggressive way. He tried to drive off but I continued to block him until he eventually turned into a road to 'pull over'. I believe he didnt realise it was a dead end due to a construction site.

He then tried to reverse out whilst pushing me with the back of his car. While this is happening, there are atleast 20 witnesses. None of whom came to help or be witness. A lot of arguing with the driver while I was on the phone to the police. A lot of unhelpful comments being thrown my way by college kids too young to understand kindness and compassion for someone who nearly went under the front of a car. Apparently if you say sorry it is ok to ram someone.

Eventually the guy drove off after realising that his argument that cameras would prove he was in the right was a pretty wild claim.

I waited 40 minutes for the police to show up who couldn't come in the end. While I was waiting I was being heckled by college kids which really helped. When I smiled back they soon got bored though. At some point, one came up to me and asked if I was ok. That one act of kindness was actually pretty cool and huge respect for that young man.

Fortunately I had an old workplace less than a 2 minute walk away so I went there and used the space to check the bike and realign every thing. There looked to be no damage so I straightened everything out and thought I had fixed the bike as far as I could tell.

I cycled for 20km with no issues. After popping in to see some friends, I made my way home. Then after flooring it at some green lights on camden road, my stem twisted, my front has locked up and I flipped over the bars, propelling myself vertically downwards in to tarmac where my left shoulder has taken the impact.

As I lay on the ground with cars driving around me and continuing on their way, one does pull over and 2 pedestrians stop to help me. They were a huge help and I thank them massively. I was in pretty bad shock but they made sure I was ok until I was safe and on my way to hospital. At this point I was almost certain I had a dislocated shoulder aswell as a cut to my knee. After a phone call to 999 they said they couldnt book an ambulance and then a very long call to 111 resulted in the same so I made my own way to a and e in an uber.

After xrays it turns out I have a broken collar bone right by the shoulder joint. Today they will decide if it needs a plate or just setting.

Anyways, I just wanted to share. I was pretty shaken up yesterday but today I'm just a bit sore and tired.

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fucking awful; sorry it happened to you. Hope the guy dies of cancer.

What a complete shit. Take care and heal well. Hopefully something will happen to the driver…

Sounds awful, WAC.

Try to get hold of footage yourself from local businesses or even doorbell cams. There’s a form online where you can submit a report and evidence but you need video.

Hope you’re not too shaken, heal up soon. I found the healing process of a collar bone not too bad. There’s a thread on here all about it.

Thanks guys, the kind words are really appreciated.

Yeah sorry man that’s totally shit. Heal up fast.

Prob a conversation for another thread but so many cycle lanes popping up that are well intentioned but aren’t actually cycle friendly, and to me it seems to make driver think cyclists are even less entitled to be on the road and is creating the wrong mentality. I’d much prefer riding with cars in wider lanes than many of these cycle lanes, especially the ones with bollards that effectively box you in.

Sorry again, another place. Report the guy to the police and put it behind you.

Fill out the report crime form on the Met Police website and they will visit you and make a statement, be as accurate and fair as you can, I wouldn't go into why you were in 'the middle of the road', you are fully entitled to be there and not be assaulted.

It's essential that you get camera footage from other passing drivers/cyclists/local shops/restaurants/pubs etc. If there's a bus lane then a passing bus might have captured it. You can also request traffic cam and local authority camera footage. But you have to be quick. Go back to the scene and look for cameras pointing in the direction. The police will not have time to do this for you.

If you get footage of him rear ending you then that's great. If not then the driver will still be summoned to a police station to give their own statement which won't result in anything but is a reminder to not be a dick, and still takes time out of their day.

MUST get witnesses at collisions like this. Absolutely essential, easier said than done when youve been hit of course, but otherwise its your word against theirs.

Heal up

Absolutely shite read. Fucking entitled murderous drivers fuck me off so much.

Bike paths that are useless only add to the rage that drivers feel when they see cyclists clogging up the lane, sorry, I mean riding primary.

It's all so shit.

Really sorry to read this. Hope you recover fast and are cycling again asap.

Report to police, go for repairs to the bike too.

Keep chasing the met as they will try and do fuck all.

Stay safe and hope no lasting injuries physical or mental.

This fucking sucks.

Hope you manage to get some sort of resolution with the police and the driver.

Also hope you heal up well, I’m nursing a busted collarbone at the moment so can tell you that it does suck, but not too much.

What a horror story. Hope your collar bone doesn't prevent you from gathering video clips.

How are we all supposed to share the planet when even the driver of a tiny car in a 20mph limit thinks it's OK to deliberately ram a bicycle? Maybe it's time to carry a spray can. Paint the windscreen so the driver can't go anywhere. When he gets out to argue, paint him as well. In the eyes. Then it's a fight, so the cops turn up rapidly. Might be best to put on a headset and dial 999 before the first spray. Give the control room a running commentary, starting with "he tried to kill me". Plead not guilty to any charges on the grounds of self defence. (He deliberately endangered your life by ramming you, so it's reasonable to fear he might ram you again or pull a knife. ) It goes to the crown court. Possible jail for the guy. Drivers need to be told that ramming a bike = intent to manslaughter or similar. There are so many of them who think it's OK to do this. And we're cycling around amongst these fuckers without any protection.

By the way, what was the bike damage which propelled you over the bars?

The position of the bars in the photo is the same as when the 2nd incident happened. I'm guessing the steerer could of been damaged or I was just careless with the torque? My guess is that the wheel turned while the bars remained facing forwards and gave me a sudden stop. The bike is in a shop local to the crash so will investigate when I manage to get back to it.

Thank you everyone for the advice and best wishes. I've noted everything and will definitely be making a report and going back to see what can be gathered. The person who called me to notify me that police couldn't attend was really helpful and she seemed to be pro cyclist. She gave me all relevant info etc and insisted I make a report online.

An update about the hospital, it will need surgery. A plate will be put in over the next couple of days when space is available. I'm resting well and staying positive. It could of been a hell of a lot worse but I will do what I can to try and prevent that guy from repeating his behaviour.

Thanks everyone!

I'm sorry to hear about yours too. I hope its healing well and you are able to get out on your bikes in no time.

I bought a trainer earlier in the year that hasn't been unpacked yet so I will get that set up when I can.

Sorry to hear, thats awful that someone would do that to you. Also awful that no bystander thinks that it might be suitable to intervene and help you! Grinds my gears…

Definitely report and persue. No one should get away with such an act. As mentioned above check in with businesses near the scene etc and get in contact with insurance/ a lawyer if necessary.

Cheers.

@wiresmith has delivered me a turbo already which I’m going to set up tomorrow so 1 week post break and I’m feeling like I could do turbo, hope that’s encouraging to you.

It is! Thank you.

And the response from you all has definitely been a comfort and is massively appreciated.

What a shitter! Please please please follow this up. I got twatted off by a black cab driver a couple of years ago . I had to get CCTV myself as well as chasing up witnesses, but once I’d started and done the hard work the police did take notice. He got 6 points, lost his cabby license and had a few grand fine. I got a new bike.

you can pay a tenner here and find out the insurance details of the driver. it shows as being insured and having an MOT

https://www.askmid.com/

I did this with a car once, and managed to get a pay out to replace a watch that got broken in a crash. Took loads of chasing the insurance company though

At least it’s taxed and tested

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What an appalling story.

One thing that I find really striking is that you needed help from two public services which we assume will be available in an emergency - the police and the ambulance service.

Neither were there.

And that's in the capital city, not some deprived rust belt dump!

On a brighter note, broken collar bones usually heal up pretty well and fairly quickly. The last time (when I was already old, although possibly not sensible) I was back on my bike in about five weeks.

Sounds awful! Best of luck with the cctv and the healing.

Heal up soon.

Make a claim in the county court against him for the cost of any damage caused.

A form v888 will get you his name and address (assuming the driver is the registered keeper).

You did really well to keep your head straight and get a photo of the guy, car and plate and to challenge him - hats off. In terms of getting him to face the music, I hope you can stay motivated and chase it through to a result. The bit were the police didn't turn up was a particularly disheartening part of the story, and it sucks that you have to drive things yourself to get anything done (middle-aged thread?) but stick at it! Best of luck

The chances are he was a local who makes the same journey regularly.

If the plod aren't interested, I'd be looking for a discreet retribution. Perhaps a bottle of brake fluid poured over the bonnet or an item shoved up the exhaust pipe. Or even a power drill in the tyres.

Something which hurts in the pocket rather than physically.