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Anti-social character

(39 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by Morningsider
  • Latest reply from chdot
  • This topic is not resolved

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12

  1. Morningsider
    Member

    I was scooting down the cycle lane through Bruntsfield Links this morning when I hear someone shouting "Slow down you f****** speccy c***" (to be fair, I do wear glasses). I normally let these things go, but this really annoyed me as I was in a cycle lane and no-where near anyone else. So I go to remonstrate with the chap - turns out it is someone I have previously seen shouting abuse at cyclists in the Meadows for no good reason. Chap in his thirties, beanie hat, puffer jacket walking a small brown dog and accompanied by a girl of about 7.

    "What's the problem" I ask only to be met with more abuse and a rant about him having to take a risk crossing the cycle path. I point out he was no-where near the cycle path and ask if he couldn't see me (hi-viz jacket, trouser bands etc), more abuse and rant about it being a park. I tell him cyclists are entitled to be there. More abuse and jabbing of fingers - I tell him he is emabrrasing his daughter (a low blow possibly but she was clearly mortified and his language was terrible - I really feel sorry for her), more abuse and then he walks off.

    Various passers-by stop to ask if I'm okay, suggest calling the police and to agree the guy is a nutter. Did I do the right thing (I have seen the guy doing this before to cyclists far less robust than myself and I really hate bullies)? Has anyone else come across this guy?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    "Did I do the right thing"

    Almost certainly.

    You may be the first cyclist who has taken the trouble to talk to him.

    It's possible that he might think about the effect on his daughter - and she might feel able to say something now she has a better idea of the rights and reasonableness of cyclists...

    Did she hear the other passers-by?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. Morningsider
    Member

    I don't think she heard the other passers-by, she was standing quite far back and the other people only spoke once the guy had had headed off. I don't blame them - he was incredibly agressive. It would be a very brave young girl who confonted this guy about his behaviour.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. kaputnik
    Moderator

    "Did I do the right thing"

    Almost certainly.

    Agreed. And especially for going about it in such a civil and reasonable manner.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. mgj
    Member

    Which way was he headed? Doesnt sound like a Gillespies parent from the description

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. ruggtomcat
    Member

    yes, totally the right thing. thanks.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. SRD
    Moderator

    Doesnt sound like a Gillespies parent from the description

    Which bit?? Puffer jacket? beanie hat? profanity?

    More seriously, might be worth going along to a community council meeting or raising it with safer neighbourhoods, both of which have community police in attendance, and see if they have any knowledge of this and/or suggestions.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  8. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Doesnt sound like a Gillespies parent from the description

    Which bit?? Puffer jacket? beanie hat? profanity?

    Walking the child to school? :P

    Posted 13 years ago #

  9. mgj
    Member

    No, I walk my daughters to Gillespies regularly and I didnt recognise the description, but I come from the other direction. I'd certainly be concerned if given the level of non-provocation invovled and the response, this gentleman was anywhere near my daughters school.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  10. Dave
    Member

    It would be kind of ironic to raise it at the next local policing meeting (whatever they're called) - something to consider :)

    You have to admit you can see the point, though. Even though I don't agree that it should mean not cycling, the difference between any pavement and the routes through the Meadows is simply one of a bit of council paperwork and some paint (sometimes). It doesn't have any magical effect on the location, the people on it or the outcome of a collision.

    As a general point, if you wouldn't ride that quickly if it *wasn't* a cycle facility, weren't you going too fast?

    Just as painting some lines on the road doesn't magically mean you won't get crushed (the cycle lane at the top of George IV bridge), etc. etc.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  11. Morningsider
    Member

    The guy was heading away from the main cycle/walkway through the Links down one of the smaller "no cycling" paths towards the Golf Tavern. I have previously seen him on the shared use path alongside Melville Drive. No idea what (if any) school he was heading to.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  12. recombodna
    Member

    @ dave Yeah but it's a clearly marked cycle path. you look both ways before crossing the road, you should look both ways before crossing a cycle path........this guy sounds like a bit of a cyclepath to me. Ring ring!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  13. thebikechain
    Member

    we should arrange a 'meeting' with him by chance one morning after fuelling ourselves on cardamon buns and strong coffee and a few bowls of bravado!

    *sharpens pitch fork*

    Posted 13 years ago #

  14. Morningsider
    Member

    Dave - I was cycling down a clearly marked cycleway in a safe manner and at a controllable speed. The guy wasn't on the cycle way - he wasn't even on the footway next to it, he was heading down one of the connecting paths.

    I walk alongside roads where traffic does 60mph and don't feel the need to shout at the drivers, surely more "dangerous" than walking next to a cycle way.

    I appreciate that you feel strongly about helmets, cycle paths and related issues but that wasn't really the point of this post.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  15. Dave
    Member

    The point I was trying to make is that markings and designations are not physical entities that make the blindest bit of difference to the way moving things interact.

    Clearly I didn't see you ride and so won't accuse you of going too fast (this is why I framed it as a question), but I don't think it's relevant whether someone is actually close to you or not - I know I shoot daggers at boy racers blatting past the school entrance at 50mph even though I'm nowhere near them - and would do whether the speed limit was 50mph or not (because again, the legal designation is not related in any meaningful way with the action or its consequence).

    I find it somewhat ironic to be both in the wrong because I think it's OK to cycle on the Jawbone walk and in the wrong because I think pedestrians are entitled to expect cyclists not to "do a motorist" and treat some notionally segregated space as an expressway (notwithstanding that you may, or may not, have been going at whatever arbitrary speed that implies - subjective after all).

    I suppose if I summarised my point it would be that the way pedestrians feel about sharing space with bikes is not necessarily related to some white paint being splashed about, and while we can easily condemn one vocal man, he's probably the tip of a polite iceberg?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  16. Smudge
    Member

    I think to be fair, whether or not the request to slow down was justifiable (which is a seperate argument/discussion), we can probably agree that the method of delivery of the request was objectionable, offensive and unsuitable especially with children around?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  17. recombodna
    Member

    well said that man!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  18. Morningsider
    Member

    Thanks Smudge - I should add that I would be embarrased/horrified if I was terrifying pedestrians with supersonic speeds and general obnoxious behaviour and really try to avoid doing so. I do live in Morningside you know - what would the neighbours say!

    Edit - should say I don't have to try too hard not to reach supersonic speeds, quite the opposite really.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  19. splitshift
    Member

    right thing, of course. Time this country woke up to all the anti social behaviour thats out there. on the road I find that a well spoken, unshouting response can usually dumbfound most aggro merchants.
    remember one time when a chap in a flash german car was getting near to heart attack because I had parked in PC world carparck to allow my son to eat his macdonalds ( that itself should be reason to shout at me ! ), I was in the car not the lorry. I jumped out, approached his side of the car, not too close, not that stupid ! I very calmly explained that I had every right to be ther, but as quite obviously his need was much greater than mine,I would happily, if he waited a second, move my car. The man started crying ! head on the wheel, crying, so sorry I am an idiot was all he could manage to say. I reckon he had had a really bad day ! Perhaps not the best way to deal with that sort of stuff,probably should report it to the park authourity as our man may be well known to them. Be safe.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  20. wingpig
    Member

    Not sure who the correct authorities would be but if he's reported to someone then it's logged and if he ever escalates anything it'll hopefully help that he's down for a bit of previous. At least if his kid was looking mortified his quest to instil a hatred of cyclists in her might already have failed. Maybe he's asserting his right to bear dog; was it controlled or just roaming free?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  21. mgj
    Member

    OK, well I saw this guy this morning. He spotted me heading down the Links, and then, there can be no other word for it, jumped out in front of me and complained about my speed. I'd spotted him acting a bit odd, and I was slowing for the speed humps in any case. Started on the f'ing and c'ing straight away. I was just a bit confused. He was clearly up for a fight, waving his dog chain at me. From uniform and direction, I'd guess his daughter was going to be late for Tollcross PS. I'll report to the Park Ranger, Police and I'll mention it to the childrens reporter on Thursday.

    Cyclist behind me, who I know, said he'd had water thrown over him by this individual.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  22. Dave
    Member

    Where exactly was this (which path?) and at what time? I might start doing a detour on my commute.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  23. mgj
    Member

    Where the tree is and it says 'Meadow Park' on this link.

    Are you detouring towards or away?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  24. SRD
    Moderator

    Maybe we should all converge :)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  25. mgj
    Member

    http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&biw=1259&bih=654&q=bruntsfield%20links&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

    Posted 12 years ago #

  26. steveo
    Member

    Where exactly was this (which path?) and at what time? I might start doing a detour on my commute.

    " Where are you going?"

    "I'm going to pick a fight"

    /Braveheart. Such a rubbish film but so quotable.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  27. recombodna
    Member

    I've had that guy shouting at me on forest road. He told me to "slow down you effing see" I was cycling on the road and his wee dog was toileting in the gutter.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  28. mgj
    Member

    Phone call back from police this morning; he is known to them and has been charged before for similar, and in best Scottish terms, once I have been interviewed, a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal. Suggest others also ring 0131 311 3131 if they want to report him.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  29. SRD
    Moderator

    Gosh. first thought: wow. good for the police. second thought: that poor little girl with him.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  30. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I only ever go this way occasionally on the way home. If I should chance upon this unsavoury character I think my battleplan will be to not react to him, carry on a little bit, get the camera phone out then double back to collect some "evidence". See how he likes being on Youtube...

    Posted 12 years ago #

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