Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Story of a local bike crash!
This is rather a long story but I think it will be of interest to fellow cyclists and pedestrians too.
Story of a local bike crash:
- I was happily cycling home late on a sunny afternoon on Friday 19 April using a route that will probably be familiar to local cyclists. That is - north from Highbury/ Clissold Park, Riversdale Road and along quiet Finsbury Park Road to cross Seven Sisters Road into Finsbury Park.
- I crossed Seven Sisters Road as the cycle crossing lights switched to green and I had almost reached the other (northern) side of Seven Sisters Road when I was hit hard on my left. I was knocked off my bike, landed hard on my bottom and ended up on my back in the kerb with my head on the footway just outside of the Finsbury Park gates.
- I lay inert in pain and shock while helpful passers-by and witnesses stopped to help. A first-aider by the name of Saba (thank you Saba) insisted that I should not be moved and called an ambulance. Two community support policemen (CSOs) were quickly on the scene and talked with witnesses and bystanders.
- Surprise, surprise - it was clear that I had been hit by another cyclist riding east along Seven Sisters Road, riding hard out from a gap between stationary traffic and jumping the red light. It was his head that had hit me hard on my shoulder knocking me clear of my bike. I think he was in the air clear of his own bike at the instant of impact. He said he was sorry, admitted fault and I told him he was a bloody fool. His bike was leaning against the post by my head – I observed that it was a courier-type minimal bike.
- People stayed around to help and one locked-up my bike (thank you Grigor) to be retrieved later while I lay immobile for about 40 minutes for an ambulance. By this time a ‘proper’ police officer was on the scene, talking to the CSOs and the other cyclist.
- I was taken to the Whittington A&E where it was first thought that the only thing wrong might have been shock and a dislocated shoulder, and attempts were made to re-locate it. Then an x-ray showed a smashed collar bone and severed ligaments that required surgery,
- Two days later I went in for surgery and a 10 cm titanium plate with seven screws, two titanium buttons and plastic tie–lines were fitted in my shoulder – to be there for ever.
- Out of hospital and ten days later I contacted the police to find out more about the crash, fully expecting that there would be details of witnesses and an intention to prosecute the red-light-jumper.
- To my dismay, nothing! There was a report than an incident had occurred but they were waiting on the PC involved to make his report. It turned out that he was not a local bobby but part of a central London safer transport team.
- Over the next two weeks the gaps in the story became clear. The police had taken no record of any witnesses and could not trace the shoulder tag numbers of the CSOs who could and should have taken details of witnesses. No evidence had been sought from the third-party who had caused the accident and the police had closed the file. At no time was I asked to give my account of the incident.
- I spent ages on the phone and tramping the streets of Finsbury Park trying to find out who the CSOs were in the hope they had recorded witness statements – all in vain. I had hoped that the other cyclist might have insurance and I might be able to claim damages. Eventually, the police gave me the name (and incomplete address!) of the other cyclist – I wont give his real name, let me just call him Vlad the Impaler! (Contact me if you want to know more about Vlad.)
- I had Vlad looked up on Facebook and there he was – enthusiastic rider of a newly acquired fixed-wheel bike that he proudly described as “his destroyer”. And it has no brakes at all, which is in itself unlawful!
- I tried to interest the police in this new ‘evidence’, but there was no interest in taking it further.
- I decided to track down Vlad and confront him – his Facebook page referred to his place of work in Upper Street Islington and that is where I found him on 23 May. Vlad readily admitted responsibility (for wrecking my life for months!) and when I asked him what the hell he thought he was doing in riding fast over a red-light, his response was to shrug his young shoulders, smile and say: “That’s me, that’s the way I am – that’s what I do!”
- I sought out Vlad again on 12 June – still smiling he told me that he ceased to ride fast and had slowed down, although his bike (the Destroyer) still has no brakes. I wondered - had he really reformed and again looked at his Facebook, which had an entry for 5 June bragging about averaging 40 kph on a ride from Tottenham to Kings Cross! So much for mending his ways.
- On 4 June I submitted a formal complaint to the Haringey Borough Commander of Police – my five point complaint is that the Met Police mismanaged the whole process of reporting and acting on my crash. I made the point that they seemed to regard cyclist-on-cyclist crashes as trivial, and that had a pedestrian or motor vehicle been involved they would have taken it all more seriously.
- My shoulder should be strong enough for me to return to cycling by mid July – three months after the crash and I have just been able to resume driving.
- My messages to fellow cyclists (and pedestrians too) are:
- beware riders of “little-fixies” with no or minimal brakes, they could do you serious damage and think it’s all part of their culture
- have no confidence in the police, who seem to regard cyclists as willing victims
- if you are involved in a crash, injured as you might be, try to get details of witnesses and be prepared to take your own legal action
- don’t rely on lawyers who offer to act on a “no-fee-no-win” basis (such as the one on the LCC lists) – they quickly lose interest when the culprit has no assets and there is no money in it for them.
Hopefully none of this will ever be relevant to you.
Colin
15 June 2013
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
-
Hope you recover fully ASAP Colin.
I look forward to your reporting later, that the police have followed this up and have prosecuted.
This cyclist and his no-brakes bike are a continuing menace to other road users, including pedestrians. He could have killed a child crossing at the same time.
I heard on the grapevine that the police do not take seriously the offence of running red lights - when it involves mere cyclists. The reason, is that any policeman charging such a cyclist would be laughed by his colleagues down at the station. (Was that the best you could do? How about real crime?).
The injuries sustained could have happened in a shunt involving motor vehicles - and then the police might have displayed interest. What level of injury, in a cyclist-on-cyclist collision, needs there to be, before the police become interested? Death?
Colin's story is a good example of why this offence ought to be taken seriously by the police.
-
Permalink Reply by Gerry Platt on
-
I would add one more thing:
- Get your own insurance (as comes with LCC or CTC membership). This also includes legal support so you don't have to rely on 'no-win no-fee' deals.
-
Permalink Reply by Colin Marr on
-
Gerry,
I am a member of the LCC and have been for many years, and the Haringey group too. LCC membership provides third-party cover only – if Vlad the Impaler had been a LCC member then I could have claimed damages from his/LCC’s insurance, but he wasn’t. In my situation the limit of the LCC’s interest was to refer me to their recommended legal firm, Levenes, who act just like any other no-win-no-fee company. Levenes' advice was – unless the person at fault has insurance cover (even home insurance will do), or assets to claim against, then there is no point in pursuing him.
This is not a criticism of the LCC, for which I am a staunch supporter, it’s just a matter of fact – that’s the basis of my final bullet point. If you think I am wrong, please put me right!
Colin
-
-
I can't put you right Colin, It seems that you've put me right. I'll check the small print in my LCC & CTC memberships.
-
Permalink Reply by Hugh on
-
Thanks for sharing this story, Colin. Very sorry to hear what you've been through. It seems like there's been a clear dereliction of duty here and I hope you're able to find some form of redress.
(With my admin hat on, I'm keen to ensure that your description of the alleged offender is vague enough that he is not identifiable. I have Googled him and searched on Facebook and cannot myself trace him. However, if you feel your current description may make him identifiable, I'd be really grateful if you could further anonymise it. Thanks)
-
-
Hugh,
I understand your concern, that is why I referred to him as ‘Vlad the Impaler’, who you will know was a 15th Century Prince of Wallachia. As such I doubt if he a subscriber to HoL or has a Facebook page in this name! I doubt if anyone could trace the culprit from the information I have given.
Colin
-
-
Yup, I thought as much, but checked in case it was a name he'd adopted and used on social media. I gotta be careful.
-
Permalink Reply by Birdy_Too on
-
A personal pet hate of mine whilst I cycle are red light jumpers but many cyclists see fit to do what they want. I have seen many collisions with pedestrians, vehicles and other cyclists from hooligan cyclists. The worst being a Lycra Lout knocking a three year old over on the pedestrian crossing at Newington Green. This fatty tried to peddle after him on my bike, but he just looked behind and zipped off not giving a damn.
Having said that from my personal experience the number of cyclists adhering to traffic lights seems to be getting better. I am appalled that the police didn't take this further.
Thanks for sharing your story Colin and don't let the minority of two wheeled yobs get you down and give the majority of us decent law abiding cyclists a bad name.
-
Permalink Reply by Protheroe O'Shea on
-
I constantly see cyclists with head cams jumping red lights. Only yesterday my son was almost wiped out by a cyclist bombing it along the pavement at the top of my street. She was kind enough to apologise. Colin I am sorry you have had such a tough time of it. The police should be ashamed of themselves for not doing more.
-
Permalink Reply by HoL Site Admin on
-
Dugan Warn: Thanks very much Colin. Really sorry you went through this and the police and general system's incompetence. I am a cyclist and will take more care in future... My experience is that the idiots of the road these days are other cyclists - and pedestrians for that matter. Dunno why, wonders never cease. And bikes with no brakes? I didn't know they existed- they should def be illegal, what right has anyone to push an unstoppable weapon about?!
-
-
I cannot agree that "the idiots of the road these days are other cyclists - and pedestrians for that matter". I think that there are "idiot" pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, cabbies, bus drivers etc etc. The majority of all these categories are not idiots & no one category really stands out as worse than any other when it comes to carelessness in my opinion.
As for the police, a few months back I was having a coffee by a junction near the Barbican & there was a policeman across the road stopping cyclists who had jumped the lights. In the same 20 mins I saw far more motorists stopping after the lights had turned red, in the advanced stop 'box' for cyclists; non of them were booked. It makes me wonder how the police decide their priorities?
-
-
It sounds to me that the assailant was a fixed-gear/wheel devotee.
The 'fixie' scene [here] has passed me by.
© 2024 Created by Hugh.
Powered by
