Archived Topic
Topic ID 2236
18/11/2006 by Biker
witness to assault on towpath
would the man that stopped to talk to me about the assault that took place this afternoon at around 2:45 (18 November) (man tried to shove me in river) just before Hardmead Lock please get in touch - i need you to collaborate what happened to the police - otherwise its his word against mine. Many thanks
0 replies
Archived Replies
Reply ID 30854
18/11/2006 by nora batty
That's really worrying, Biker. Me and the little Battys were cycling along part of the towpath and around Hartham at that time. I felt so safe. Just goes to show. Mind you, whist we were on the far football pitch a weird bloke strode across the field from the river bank and seemed to making a beeline for us but then headed off. I'd say he was in his late forties/early fifties, alone, burgundy jacket, scruffy, greying hair. It wasn't him, was it?
Reply ID 30855
18/11/2006 by Biker
Hi Nora Batty,No it wasnt him, believe it or not it was couple around their 50s, I rang my bell about 20 yards before I got to them to let them know I was there - they were coming towards me, then out of the blue she gave me verbal (and not very nice) and then the bloke just shoved my arm to push me in the river, thankfully I have good control with my bike but i dread to think what could have happened if I had ended up in the river with my bike on top of me.....
Reply ID 30856
18/11/2006 by Frankie
Biker
Have just copied this from Ware online,
(Would the man that witnessed me (lady in green jacket) being assaulted (narrowly being shoved in the river) near Hardmead Lock please get in touch, I need you to tell the police what happened. Many thanks. OOps forgot to say it was around 2:45 on Saturday 18 Novemberer)
Reply ID 30858
18/11/2006 by Scouter
See the Ware online post about this too.
Reply ID 30859
18/11/2006 by Biker
yes that was me - i copied it to ware on line too
Reply ID 30934
20/11/2006 by jez_p
Sounds like somebody being intolerant of others.
Officially I believe you need a permit to cycle on the towpath (despite the fact that it is signposted as a cycle route for most of the way)
Also cyclists are meant to give way to pedestrians and not just ring their bell before whizzing past (By the way this isn't a dig at biker)
Even if Biker is an inconsiderate cyclist (which I don't think you are) there is still no excuse for bad language or assault.
The river is there for everybody to enjoy and all users need to take into consideration the other users of the towpath.
Reply ID 30950
20/11/2006 by Leo Densian
The ringing of the bell should mean 'an audible warning of approach'. Unfortunately some people may interpret the sound as 'GET THE F*** OUT OF MY WAY NOW' which I guess may have happened on this occasion.
Hope the culprit is found Biker.
Reply ID 31116
22/11/2006 by Biker
He was found, but his interpretation was that "I rode into his hand while he was trying to protect his wife"! which is not what happened at all. I need the witness to speak to the police to say exactly how it was. Its his word against mine.
Reply ID 31132
22/11/2006 by steven
Good luck, hope you get a result. I too have been assaulted on the tow path, at the time I was stationary with both feet on the ground waiting for the path to clear before I cycled on, when I was pushed by an old lady in her mid fifties. I ignored her and rode on, but some others that saw it dealt with her. I get the impression some people believe they've more right to be there than anybody else, which is not that case.
quote:
Originally posted by jez_p
Officially I believe you need a permit to cycle on the towpath (despite the fact that it is signposted as a cycle route for most of the way)
All this entails is going to BW's website and printing off a PDF and signing your own name on it, so worth doing, even if it seems pointless.
10 replies