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I was out for a cycle this morning. Was going down a hill with a parcelforce van in front. I kept a safe distance, made sure we’d both seen each other in his mirror. We get to the bottom of the hill, he slams on his brakes. I stopped with a clear car length between us, on the inside so could still see his mirror.
While I was still thinking WTF, the van was put in reverse, throttle stamped on with it pointing straight at me. I had to pull me and my bike into the verge to get out of the way.
In the shouting match after he made it clear just what he thought about cyclists (not good, unsurprisingly enough) as well as aggressive “what you going to do about it?” stuff. He reckoned I deserved it because “yous [cyclists] are always up and down this hill like f***ing idiots”. The hill is on NCN1, on a cul-de-sac for cars...
I’ve made a complaint to parcelforce via twitter, but just got a “his boss will have a chat with him”. That really doesn’t feel like enough: if I used my company’s assets as a weapon, or assaulted someone in company clothing, I’d lose my job.
Is it worth it making a complaint to the police? There’s no corroboration beyond my strava and his van’s gps tracking.
I’m in Edinburgh for what it’s worth (aware that some cops are more useful than others).
Bloody hell. I'm thinking now and more about getting a camera for when I'm on the roads...
I'd contact the police for sure. They then can deal with parcel forth. that's quite serious and I am sure they will respond.
Parcelforce in Edinburgh?! You're lucky he didn't laser you!!!*
Yes, report it to the police though
*This may be a reference to a very old thread.
and I am sure they will respond.
I'm quite sure they'll do sweet **** all
Camera (after horse has bolted)
I sympathise (two recent near-misses, one aggressive) and yes to reporting his actions to the police, but no video-footage often = no dice.
Thankfully you’re not hurt.
Ihave found Edinburgh police very helpful and willing with stuff like this ( 3 reports of road rage)
However without some sort of corroboration nothing much can be done
Any CCTV around? there s a lot in Edinburgh.
I would report it to the police as an assault ( it is) and make it clear you want an investigation and action
Suspect it varies with police forces - reported a close pass over the festive holidays, went in to report it personally after initial call to 101 - I didn't think much would happen at all, but they did (it seems) contact the driver, make him aware his driving was below standard, and got back to me that they'd followed it up.
Not saying they'd prosecute, but taking a reg number and details may help if anything happens in future (or is already on the books).
Definitely report to police; after that go back to Parcelforce telling them...police are involved, you require a formal written apology from the driver and will escalate if not received, you want sight of their cyclist awareness policy.
Thanks for the advice everyone.
No CCTV, no camera on bike. I would’ve called the police straight away if I’d had a camera.
I’ll give it a day, just in case I get something more back from parcelforce (I told them I didn’t think a wee chat was sufficient), contact the police tomorrow if nothing happens.
On a related note: any recommendations for a decent camera?
Oh, should’ve said: I got a photo of the van at the incident, if that helps.
I’m a professional driver (in a different industry)
Please report it.
It may not achieve anything on its own, but you may be the 2nd/3rd/14th person to complain in a month.
A company may not seem interested, but they won’t ignore umpteen complaints.
Do it for your sanity, for the safety of others, and for me, this **** is making decent drivers look bad by association.
I’ll give it a day, just in case I get something more back from parcelforce
Police should be involved regardless
Contact the police now.
Explain you had to jump out of the way as he pointed his vehicle at you.
It's not just a normal close pass.
As someone who had a moron in a car deliberately drive over my bike (I.e. I had damage to show for it), I can sadly confirm that the police are likely to do sweet FA.
Could the PF van have a dash cam? No idea how you would get access to the footage but it might show him reversing for no apparent reason and lend weight to your side of the story
What camera would those that commute use out of interest? Is Go Pro the easiest option or is there something simpler?
Report to police. Make sure to comment Which parts caused you fear and alarm (if it did).
However without some sort of corroboration nothing much can be done
If he denies it, then yes, at the very least parcel force can probably confirm he was there at the time and place. That won’t corroborate his threats though - but you’d be amazed how many of these sort of cases cross the threshold because the driver doesn’t simply deny any knowledge and says something like “the skinny guy in Lycra had been tailgating me all the way down the hill, he’s lucky I didn’t stop quicker”.
Superficial - its seems to be very much a postcode lottery. Edinburgh will and do investigate and take action on these things
As others have said report to police as threatening behaviour and attempted assault with a vehicle.
They may not persue it but that maybe enough for Parcel force to be taking it seriously - as others have said, you could be demanding action is taken.
Driver has a grudge against cyclists so deserves the sack.
I wonder if anyone received a knackered parcel after the altercation, don't delay in contacting the police, that would've been pretty serious damage if you didnt move, theres a lot of dashcams about, did anyone drive past during the initial incident or while you argued with the driver.
Also he's probably got a history of doing this by the sound of it.
Also don't assume Parcelforce will be keen to retain the services of the driver. They might be grateful of more disciplinary ammunition.
That chilli tech camera on another thread sounds pretty decent. I’m toying with getting 1 (or maybe 2) of those as I seem to be getting close passed more and more these days.
That chilli tech camera on another thread
can haz link plz?
Barnton Ave?
If so it is normally pretty busy with cyclists. Were there no other witnesses? You could stick up a note.
Parcelforce in Edinburgh?! You’re lucky he didn’t laser you!!!*
I came here to make that comment, but was 2 hours late 🙁
Stick the picture up on here abd also tweet the picture on their feeds, Nothing makes a business act quicker than bad publicity.
Always worth reporting -I was run off the road by a white van last year, rang 999 to report and was eventually called to give a statement.
I had no camera or proof, just my word.
No injuries but it seems the car behind (that didn't stop) must have phoned it in separately as there is a second witness and as the driver admitted he was driving but that we stopped and had a chat and I was aggressive (rather than he swerved at me twice, putting me off the road and carried on).
Off to court for common assault charges against him soon (delayed by covid)....
Now I run a Fly6.
Also I second the idea that he may have a load of complaints against him, and that if on a warning your feedback may 'help'...
If it makes the op feel better, I've had a parcel force van do similar, only I was in a small van and unable to dodge sideways like you did and they simply reversed full tilt into the van.
He had driven past the address for the parcel, not looked properly and reversed a fair distance flat out into the van.
I've ordered 2 of the above cameras. One for me, one for my OH. So many ducking bell ends driving.
The photo of the van is here: Twitter link, not uploaded anywhere I can share an image, sorry. On Facebook too.
Itl have a tracker on the van and should show the erratic reversing.
I'd try and find the local transport managers details on linked in and mither the life out of him
A lot of parcelforce drivers are owner drivers and selfemployed in England so I would go to the police and send the pictures to parcelforce they can stop his contact straight away and will have one hell of a big van on is plate doing nothing.If I did that with a RM van I would be well in the Shite.This happened few years ago in Gloucestershire with a TNT 7.5 tonner lorry driver he cut up a cyclist big time who was one hell of a rugby player complained to TNT who had loads of complaints about this guy and sacked him.
Yes, the company i work for (megabus/citylink) have got rid of guys in the past if they received a number of complaints, usually when the complaints had a similar theme ie: rough driving, rude driver etc.
If they get enough complaints the driver will be removed from the network pdq.
As above, social media can work well.
Get in touch with parcelforce. They'll have a record of where & when ( roughly) their driver's are. Also they often have CCTV fitted on the vans. + Go to the cops. This pillock should lose his licence.
Id be after a hand written apology from the driver
'his manager has had word' is meaningless , there is zero proof 'his manager' has grown a pair , logged off from candy crush saga and go out of his chair and spoken with the moron
I’ve reported the incident to the police, who seem very interested. Got another call with them later today, I’ll keep you posted. (Bike camera ordered, cheers for the tip above).
At the end of the day the potential offences are assault and attempted GBH, but your friend here may be a section 59 offence, which is much easier to apply. Normally it means two in a year and you get your car crushed; I’m not sure how it plays out for someone driving company vehicles*, but I’d guess it might result in them having their job crushed. So hopefully it would keep Matey in check; or if he’s had one previously then he might regret this incident a little more.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/30/section/59/enacted
* edit: only just saw this 🙂
A lot of parcelforce drivers are owner drivers and selfemployed
I’ve made a complaint to parcelforce via twitter, but just got a “his boss will have a chat with him”. That really doesn’t feel like enough: if I used my company’s assets as a weapon, or assaulted someone in company clothing, I’d lose my job.
I had a similar incident with a haulage driver (in company signed Artic) who had a go at mowing me down in Newbury one morning a few years ago. So I emailed the company detailing his conduct and pointed out that as much as anything it reflects on the company.
But I also explicitly made the point that while expected the driver to receive a weak bollocking I knew the complaint wouldn't go much further...
Cos it won't, and that's the thing, contact their employer and if there's a pattern of complaints about a specific driver then they'll maybe have grounds for a dismissal in future. But the Police will do very little without video evidence it seems. Being a prize bellend, using several tons company owned/labelled vehicle to intimidate and potentially injure strangers is still only seen as a minor infraction by half the population. we live in an ideal age to be an utter ****wad...
I would suggest you expend no more effort on it OP, the returns for what you put in now will be disproportionately meagre, and you will only end up more frustrated as a result.
Edit:
I’ve reported the incident to the police, who seem very interested.
I doubt they really are, you're probably just being humoured. But if you can get the guy off the road do it... you've already exceeded the effort most people put in so well done.
A good few years ago now, I had a Parcelforce driver try to rush past and (unsuccessfully) left hook me at a give way/crossroads as I was going straight ahead (in primary position). Parcelforce didn't even respond to my complaint.
I still use other couriers wherever possible.
This sounds bizarre. Why would a van driver react to being followed down a hill?
Maybe his wife left him for a roadie?
In a surprising coincidence, Parcelforce now want to talk to me, mere hours after telling them I’d made a complaint to the police.
Cookea
This is in Edinburgh. Edinburgh cops ime are good with this sort of issue and will do the little they can
I reported two road rage incidents without me getting the number plates. Both times the cops checked cctv. Once the camera was pointed the wrong way. The other they could see the incident but couldn't get the number.
Edinburgh cops have a lot of cyclists and motor cyclists amongst them and they take road rage seriously. Edinburgh has a lot of cyclists and a high rate of cyclists injuries. It's a priority area for the police.
Edinburgh cops have a lot of cyclists and motor cyclists amongst them and they take road rage seriously. Edinburgh has a lot of cyclists and a high rate of cyclists injuries. It’s a priority area for the police.
They've even got cyclists in the armed response unit. Met a couple of them in Les Arcs last summer.
Might be handy if you have a run in with the Edinburgh Mafia, as opposed to Parcelforce.
They’ve even got cyclists in the armed response unit. Met a couple of them in Les Arcs last summer.
Was it like the opening scene of The spy who loved me, only on a double black?
Was it like the opening scene of The spy who loved me, only on a double black?
I certainly could have done with the parachute.
They’ve even got cyclists in the armed response unit. Met a couple of them in Les Arcs last summer.
Who on earth were they chasing all the way to France, must have taken ages to get there... 😊
I had a run in with the local bin men on a bit of single track road near me a couple of years ago. I was running towards them, they didn't slow or deviate in any way. I had to jump off the road to avoid getting squished.
Complaint to Chief Exec and subject access request for vehicle footage. Initially there were a few attempts to fob me off but I eventually got what I wanted. The next time I met the lorry in the same place, the driver slowed right down and pulled over as much as he could in 8' of road.
Follow it up. They'll have trackers and likely cameras. You're entitled to the footage if you're in the pics.
Might be handy if you have a run in with the Edinburgh Mafia, as opposed to Parcelforce.
There’s a difference?
Might be handy if you have a run in with the Edinburgh Mafia, as opposed to Parcelforce.
Oh I don't know, sounds like it might be useful with Parcelforce too 😉
Barnton Ave?
If so it is normally pretty busy with cyclists. Were there no other witnesses? You could stick up a note.
Just along a bit, Brae Park Road, just before Cramond Brig. One cyclist would’ve seen me take the photo of the van, but wouldn’t have really witnessed anything. The folk getting the delivery would probably have heard the commotion though.
Police have taken a statement. They’re off to find out who he is before acting further. Unlikely any charges as no real evidence, depends on his previous. Police say they’ll call back next week, but left assurances that he’d be getting an awkward visit at his depot in the next couple of days to at least be told he’s now on the police radar.
No response from Parcelforce after they asked for my contact details earlier, maybe something will come from that tomorrow.
Now I need to see if my cycling or business insurance can end up with a nasty bill to him for the past couple of day’s lost income...
I've just had a call from the depot manager. He didn't sound happy at all, claims to be a cyclist. "Absolutely unacceptable behaviour". Sounds like the initial response from the driver has sealed his fate, job-wise.
I also got in touch earlier with the British Cycling incident team, should hear from a lawyer later today about claiming my losses from him. The depot manager was fully supportive of this action.
And as a finale, the dude is due a visit from the police today - it sounded like his boss might be quite helpful with this too.
Too soon to shout "Result!" but I'm feeling a lot better knowing something is now being done about the incident, maybe make the **** think twice before trying anything like this again.
wbm - what losses are you wanting to claim for (sorry, I did re-read but didn't find anything)?
Good news that it looks like something has been done about it. I'm road riding a lot more these days and already fed up of aggressive / passive-aggressive drivers.
Well yes, the result you want is nobody else is put in danger from this guys driving. There’s no need for it.
I agree it is bizarre though, i mean wgas if someone follows them down a hill ffs.
Good work, fingers crossed it gets dealt with satisfactorily.
Shows that the best way to make sure nothing gets done about such incidents is to just assume that nothing will be done - and not to report them.
wbm – what losses are you wanting to claim for (sorry, I did re-read but didn’t find anything)?
Sorry, should’ve said I’m self-employed. Been unable to concentrate on anything all week, so also have been unable to bill my client for those days as zero work done. I’ll be looking for that lost income.
If BC don’t think they can get it, I’ll make a claim on my business’ insurance, leave it up to Hiscox if they want to get the money back from him. I’d imagine they will.
Shows that the best way to make sure nothing gets done about such incidents is to just assume that nothing will be done – and not to report them.
That’s pretty much what his manager said.
Good result, lets hope he reflects and his comment
“yous [cyclists] are always up and down this hill like f***ing idiots”
doesn't lead to another incident with "you cyclists cost me my job" added.
Good result, lets hope he reflects and his comment
“yous [cyclists] are always up and down this hill like f***ing idiots”
doesn’t lead to another incident with “you cyclists cost me my job” added.
In an ideal world, he'd be forced to become a cyclist himself because he wouldn't have a driving license any more.
doesn’t lead to another incident with “you cyclists cost me my job” added.
That was my worry too, but I don’t think my actions have made him any more dangerous. He was already willing to maim for a minor annoyance, this is just going to add one more thing to his already long list of things that annoy him.
Needs his licence taken off him really, but that’s not going to happen from this incident alone.
That's national cycle route 1! Of course it's full of cyclists!
Sounds positive result against a dangerous sounding driver so far.
That’s national cycle route 1! Of course it’s full of cyclists!
It’s especially full of inexperienced cyclists and families recently.
If I hadn’t had my foot clipped in to lift the rear wheel out of the way, I would’ve been under the van. Similarly, if I hadn’t stopped close enough to the side of the road to be able see his near-side mirror, I’d be under the van. Most other users of that road wouldn’t have been so fortunate.
Well done for persevering @wbm1874 and the sooner the idiot is off the road the better.
I agree it is bizarre though, i mean wgas if someone follows them down a hill ffs.
It is bizarre, I've had an 'experience' with this though.
Some guy took exception to me following him down a hill (me on bike, him in car, plenty of room though, I like to ride fast downhill but I'm not stupid enough to tailgate) and brake checked me twice, and then did a full on emergency-stop (on a NSL road I might add) and got out to have a proper shout at me for "being too f'ing close, you'll run into the back of someone if you keep riding like that you f'ing see-you-next-tuesday"
If that wasn't bizarre enough, when I pointed out that the irony of the fact that I didn't crash into the back of him, despite him apparently trying his hardest to make it happen was entirely lost on him, he then came out with this blinder:
"just get out of my f'ing way, you cyclists think you own the road!"
emboldened for emphasis and reminder - I was behind him
People are crazy
People are crazy
They are, and every time you get into an encounter you have to hope that they are not psycho violent crazy and you may not get away with a bit of swearing...
i was on an open road TT , and on a fast-ish downhill section the pick - up in front makes a sudden decision to stop and make a right turn .( fish and chip van)
Que me doing a full on emergency stop with the back of the bike fishtaling around and me trying not to use my face as an E brake on the pick up tailboard.
The car behind me starts blasting his horn , and that is really helpfull how exactly? some drivers are weirdo's