velomobile assault

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   I've been getting up early to go out in the Quest while avoiding Oxford traffic. The roads around here resemble those in a third world country and dodging potholes in heavy traffic is not my idea of fun.This morning at about 0650 I was riding east on Cowley Rd and saw four youths, late teens or early twenties, on the other side of the street walking west and clowning about. They didn't appear significantly drunk, if at all. I thought "I'm glad they're on the other side". As I drew abeam them, one ran across the street with a doubled up heavy leather belt in his hand and took a swing at my head. He barely made contact with the right side of my head.
My options were limited. There is a police station about three blocks further on but I have no idea of the layout (it's a big building) and going there would have meant unclipping and getting out of the Quest and trying to find the duty desk while leaving the Quest outside. I have no doubt that I could have normally outridden them but I was just coming up on a significant hill and a sitting duck. There were no side streets to escape on. I had my phone but if I tried 999 it would have all been over by the time they got there.
Naturally, it's the only day I didn't bother to mount the GoPro.
As it turns out, I continued as fast as I could and went up the hill. They didn't pursue.
We moved from the US 19 months ago and joked that we were now less likely to get shot but more likely to be involved in an assault. Well, here we are.
I'm 68, 6'2" and 210lbs, not a small guy. I haven't been in a fight in 40 years. If it had been just one of them I would have popped out of the Quest like a peach pit (see limited options above), but there were four of them.
Reactions to the Quest thus far in Oxford have been nothing but positive. Very positive.
I'd be interested in comments regarding how I handled it and what I could have done otherwise. I plan on riding down to that police station later today to ask them the same question.

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nicktulloh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BHPC Member Joined: 14 February 2023 Location: Oxford Status: Offline Points: 43	Post Options Post Reply Quote nicktulloh Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: velomobile assault Posted: 07 May 2023 at 9:11am
	I've been getting up early to go out in the Quest while avoiding Oxford traffic. The roads around here resemble those in a third world country and dodging potholes in heavy traffic is not my idea of fun. This morning at about 0650 I was riding east on Cowley Rd and saw four youths, late teens or early twenties, on the other side of the street walking west and clowning about. They didn't appear significantly drunk, if at all. I thought "I'm glad they're on the other side". As I drew abeam them, one ran across the street with a doubled up heavy leather belt in his hand and took a swing at my head. He barely made contact with the right side of my head. My options were limited. There is a police station about three blocks further on but I have no idea of the layout (it's a big building) and going there would have meant unclipping and getting out of the Quest and trying to find the duty desk while leaving the Quest outside. I have no doubt that I could have normally outridden them but I was just coming up on a significant hill and a sitting duck. There were no side streets to escape on. I had my phone but if I tried 999 it would have all been over by the time they got there. Naturally, it's the only day I didn't bother to mount the GoPro. As it turns out, I continued as fast as I could and went up the hill. They didn't pursue. We moved from the US 19 months ago and joked that we were now less likely to get shot but more likely to be involved in an assault. Well, here we are. I'm 68, 6'2" and 210lbs, not a small guy. I haven't been in a fight in 40 years. If it had been just one of them I would have popped out of the Quest like a peach pit (see limited options above), but there were four of them. Reactions to the Quest thus far in Oxford have been nothing but positive. Very positive. I'd be interested in comments regarding how I handled it and what I could have done otherwise. I plan on riding down to that police station later today to ask them the same question.

nicktulloh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BHPC Member Joined: 14 February 2023 Location: Oxford Status: Offline Points: 43	Post Options Post Reply Quote nicktulloh Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 May 2023 at 4:04pm
	I just got back from the Cowley Police Station. The incident occurred a couple of blocks west of that station and I considered riding straight there. It's a good thing I didn't because the Station is closed to public access (seriously?). I then rode down to the central Oxford Police Station and had a discussion with the desk sergeant about the incident. He explained a few things - one being that I am under no obligation to retreat. I am not allowed to pursue if the incident is functionally over. Any response on my part has to be proportionate. Dialing 999 would probably not have helped because it happened at shift change (0700). Mid-level violence like this is unusual where I've lived for the last 15 years because the target of the violence is quite likely to be armed. Then again, the police stations there are open to the public (again - wtf?).
	Nick

melle Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BHPC Member Joined: 07 February 2023 Location: Bath Status: Offline Points: 198	Post Options Post Reply Quote melle Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 May 2023 at 7:39pm
	So sorry to hear that, but I'm afraid you running in to them was a matter of bad luck, there's dickheads everywhere unfortunately. Not sure what I would have done. Call Tory HQ, they'll be happy to explain why police stations are closed most of the time (if they haven't been closed down completely). They can probably explain the potholes too! (Sorry for a rant from another baffled immigrant...)
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melle Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BHPC Member Joined: 07 February 2023 Location: Bath Status: Offline Points: 198	Post Options Post Reply Quote melle Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 May 2023 at 8:18pm
	PS: I didn't mean to say the world is full of dickheads, I meant that you might run in to the odd dickhead wherever you go.
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russellbridge Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BHPC Member Joined: 21 October 2013 Location: Manchester Status: Offline Points: 843	Post Options Post Reply Quote russellbridge Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 May 2023 at 9:01pm
	Nick I'm really sorry that happened to you - hopefully it's a very isolated incident. I suspect that you'll feel shaken by it for some time to come. I'm always very very careful around groups of young lads when I'm on a bike - I make sure I give them as wide a berth as a can (which you were doing). You can replay it over and over in your head, but as you say jumping out and starting a fight when there's 4 of them wouldn't have ended well. All encounters that I have had with the police in the last 20 years have been equally as frustrating and pointless FWIW. It's an interesting point you make on the likelihood of someone in the US being armed preventing mid-level violence. I'd still rather be in a country without guns however! There are dickheads everywhere though... Edited by russellbridge - 07 May 2023 at 9:01pm

nicktulloh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BHPC Member Joined: 14 February 2023 Location: Oxford Status: Offline Points: 43	Post Options Post Reply Quote nicktulloh Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 May 2023 at 7:44am
	Hey Russell, I don't really get shaken so I'm ok on that count. I'd bet the one guy that hit me wouldn't have done it without his mates (one - to back him up, two- to show off to). If he had, he'd be looking for his teeth. I'm with you on the guns issue. I had a collection and used them for competition and hunting. It's a hands down excellent trade off not being able to own them here versus the risks of a firearm-related death. I went out for a really nice ride this morning, as I do most days. The incident isn't going to change anything for me except that I'll probably toss my walking stick in the Quest. It does color my already tarnished opinion of Oxford, though. Hopefully Derby will be an improvement. Edited by nicktulloh - 08 May 2023 at 7:45am
	Nick

flyinerin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BHPC Member Joined: 17 June 2020 Status: Offline Points: 43	Post Options Post Reply Quote flyinerin Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 May 2023 at 9:39am
	Sorry to read of the assault Nick, that must have been extremely unpleasant. Glad it hasn't put you off getting out in the quest. It does make me wonder if this type of incident is an English phenomenon or something that can happen anywhere. I commute to work most days in the milan. Whilst most folks are politely curious, almost everyday I get someone making a rude gesture at me. I'm law abiding and always do my best to give drivers room to overtake yet still they gesticulate. I've cycled in Europe a few times and never experienced the same level of abuse.

MeamoFan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Visitor (new) Joined: 20 February 2021 Status: Offline Points: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote MeamoFan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 May 2023 at 10:43am
	I was at the The Cycle show at Alexandra palace a few weeks ago (all very diamond framed focused). The Met police were there warning of the dangers of Lorry (Truck) visibility. When I spoke to them I was practically told off for not having a camera and recording my rides. I was then told exactly how to upload the footage. I think cameras are the new policing strategy.

melle Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BHPC Member Joined: 07 February 2023 Location: Bath Status: Offline Points: 198	Post Options Post Reply Quote melle Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 May 2023 at 10:51am
	That's victim blaming surely, but cyclists recording misbehaving motorists is a cheaper "solution" than safe cycle paths and more bobbies I suppose.
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MeamoFan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Visitor (new) Joined: 20 February 2021 Status: Offline Points: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote MeamoFan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 May 2023 at 11:42am
	It does sound like victim blaming, I’m also conscious that I don’t feel I want to record everybody I see on my cycle ride. Most of the routes I cycle are away from traffic and pointing a camera in another on coming cyclists face feels a bit confrontational to me. On the other hand, the idea of some arrogant motorist in a massive SUV getting an £1800 fine and four points on their license for not leaving a reasonable gap feels quite pleasing. See BBC My sympathies go out to the original poster, I remember the comments I used to get just for having the audacity to ride a Brompton. Once from a Mum to her about 5 year old son!