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Cyclist's lucky escape after being pushed over by car passenger

By Becky Barnes
March 06, 2013

A cyclist says he was lucky to escape with severe bruising after a shove from a car passenger sent him flying head-first over the handlebars.

The 49-year-old believes his helmet and winter clothes protected him from serious injuries after the incident in Drift Road, Winkfield.

The father-of-three, from Warfield, who did not wish to be named, was left bruised and grazed.

He said: “I am shocked and very angry. I find it difficult how some mindless idiots could possible believe that could be funny.

“Out of the corner of my eye I saw a vehicle less than a half a metre away from me.

“I felt something nudge my right shoulder and the next thing I know something nudging the side of me and I flew over the handlebars with my head hitting the road.”

He added: “If you want an endorsement to wear a helmet then I am it, as my helmet shows signs of hitting the road. The whole of my right side is grazed and bruised, but I was quite lucky because I was wearing winter clothing.

“If that had been in summer I would have definitely ended up in hospital.”

The dazed cyclist tried to look at the number plate, but the large silver saloon car, thought to be a Volvo, drove away.

He said: “There were four men in there and a passenger in the front seat definitely gave me a push or a shove.

“Two people were staring at me then the car sped away – it was all in the space of two seconds.

“I was so shocked – if you are going to do something like that it is pretty obvious what you could end up achieving. I know there are idiots about, but a practical joke is completely ridiculous.”

Police wish to speak to anyone who was driving on the stretch of road near Haws Hill Farm at around 3.45pm on Tuesday, February 19.

A police spokeswoman said: “A cyclist reported he had been knocked off his bicycle near the entrance to Haws Hill estate.

“The car travelled in the direction of Windsor.

“Whether he was knocked by a wing mirror or pushed, it is apparent the car was driving too close to him.

“He was definitely touched by something and it is classed as an assault.”

Witnesses can call police on 101.

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Most recent user comments 3 of 3

This is a terrible thing . I personally would not cycle on roads like drift road as it's like a drag racing strip

leglock, bracknell
06/03/2013 at 12:08

The behaviour of passengers in passing cars is a major problem for cyclists. I have suffered from cars drawing alongside me and then the passenger shouting very loudly into my ear. It may seem trivial and funny but when unexpected can cause a cyclist to lose control with posibly fatal consequences.

PoneRana, Wokingham
06/03/2013 at 11:12

This is disgusting - there is absolutely nothing we cyclists can do to stay safe from idiots like this aside from keeping off the roads. Or is it...?

Basingstoke canal one summers day, I passed a group of youths beneath one of the bridges. One of them pushed my shoulder and had it not have been for my years of single track experience I may have ended up swimming with the fishes.

I wouldn't call what happened to the victim here, or myself, a practical joke. It's assault, plain and simple. I just hope there was someone else around who witnessed this.