After more than 34,000km of cycling without incident, one rider was deliberately rammed by a motorist in a shocking act of road rage - and it was all caught on camera.
The cyclist had just brushed the wing mirror of a passing car while reaching to switch off his bike computer. He stopped, intending to turn and wave an apology - but before he had the chance, the driver reversed, then accelerated into him with purpose.
“At first I thought he’d just slipped the clutch. But no - he drove into me deliberately. Then reversed and took off.”
Miraculously, the rider escaped with only a sprained wrist and ankle, plus road rash. His bike, however, didn’t fare as well. A bent derailleur, buckled Dura Ace C50 wheels, and a shredded GP5000 tyre were among the damage. Fortunately, his Cycliq Fly6 captured it all.
Worse still, the car was found to have no valid MOT - and was therefore uninsured. Initially, police told the rider to “call your insurer” and closed the case. But after a formal complaint, a cycling-aware officer reviewed the footage and escalated the matter.
“I was livid. I had clear camera evidence and wasn’t going to let it slide.”
The case went to court, supported by a witness driving behind the offender. The outcome?
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27 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months
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25-day rehabilitation activity requirement
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4-month curfew, 8pm-8am, enforced with electronic monitoring
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6-month driving disqualification
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£250 compensation to the rider
The cyclist credits his camera - and UpRide - for making accountability possible.
“Glad I had my Fly6. Without it, this would’ve gone nowhere.”
Why Recording Matters
It's hard to believe some of the crazy behaviour that happens on the road, the best defence is crystal clear video that leaves no room for debate.
You know the type. “I’m sure they wouldn’t have done that” or “No-one would be that stupid” … except, unfortunately, we know different.
As well as stopping another ‘he-said, she-said’ defence dead in its tracks, having video evidence helps everyone understand the how and why of those “what-the-hell-just-happened” moments.
When things go wrong, video gives you the power to show exactly what happened. And when drivers know they might be recorded, they’re more likely to think twice before making a dangerous choice.Feel safe. Record your ride. With the dashcam engineered for cyclists.Learn more about the front-facing Fly12 Sport or rear-facing Fly6 Pro. For complete front and rear protection, check out the Ultimate Bundle.
Excerpts used under fair dealing for the purposes of reporting and commentary. Source: “Lollipop man sacked after cyclist threats” – POST Newspaper.
