A man attempted to push me and my bike into the canal at the Slateford aqueduct this morning at about 8-10am.
WARNING: This man was out to deliberately cause trouble to a cyclist. It is likely he will try this again. Description: stocky build/rounded man in his 50/60s with spiky grey hair. Scottish or UK nationality. Light coloured tweed flat cap. Cream woolly jumper, blue jeans, black workies boots and carrying a black telescopic walking stick. If you see him PLEASE AVOID.
Also if you witnessed this incident (Mon 30th Mar, 8-10am) please PM me.
I started to cycle across heading West. After about 20 yards I came across a pedestrian so I stopped in plenty of time but remained mounted to judge what passing technique to use. He stopped and stood resolutely in the middle of the towpath. He then started ranting about by-laws and asked me to dismount, which I did. He insisted that I should've dismounted 'without being asked'. I told him that I'd stopped to let him past 'without being asked.'
I stood by the railing with my bike canal side and invited him to pass. He did not and stood blocking my way, continuing to rant. Stating over and over that dismounting is 'for the safety of pedestrians...'. I tried not to react and avoid saying anything further. Unfortunately I did not continue to handle it well and an argument ensued. At that point he pulled out a voice recorder and started recording - this made me think he was clearly 'out to cause trouble'. I put it to him that he clearly had an issue with cyclists.
Meanwhile other cyclists and pedestrians were passing the two of us, but he still would not pass me.
Eventually he passed but as he did, he grabbed my bike and tried to throw it in the canal, along with me. Fortunately I had a strong grip on both the bike & railing and he did not succeed and gave up after awhile, walking away. By then I was shouting 'call the police, call the police, I am being assaulted.'
Despite there being around 4 or 5 people nearby, nobody called the police and nobody stopped to help, save for one young woman who kindly asked if I was OK. I was too flustered by then to think of collecting names & addresses as witnesses and everyone seemed to be scarpering off to work anyway.
So I called the police myself. I told them to send a car to the end of the canal to head the guy off, but the reaction of the telephone police dude was far from reassuring that they would do anything to catch him. They were more interested in getting a statement from me than actually catching anybody. So I waited for them to come and take a statement. They took an hour to arrive while I waited in the wind, freezing cold and slightly shaken.
I am sure this guy has a massive issue with cyclists and will take it upon himself to enforce the 'law' on the aqueduct. Please look out for him.
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