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Towpath assaults, GU. Sparkhill Birmingham


springy

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Reported in tonights Expess & Star (Walsall ed)

 

2 teenagers have now been arrested in connection with a series of

assaults on cyclists on the towpath of the Grand Union in the Sparkhill

area of Birmingham

 

http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/latest-news/news2.aspx?id=3653

 

http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/latest-news/news2.aspx?id=3661

 

disturbing ...

 

 

springy

 

Mods :- wasn't sure where to post this - please move if appropriate

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Looks as though it was probably on the bit between Catherine de Barnes and Camp Hill, never was my favourite bit of canal:unsure:

 

 

I agree, that's probably my least favourite way into / out of Birmingham.

May be if everyone pushed one cyclist into the cut each day we could solve a problem! (only joking!)

Edited by NickF
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Not in the least bit amusing. Completely on the contrary. If there were more cyclists there would be less of a problem. I have refrained from answering the rabid anti cycling views on here before.

However one of our sons in law recently had a taxi do a u turn in front of him. Fortunately it was his bike that went under the taxi, he was thrown over the roof into the road. Now he's back cycling he again uses the canal tow path. Last week he was cycling in the centre of nottingham at 2 in the afternoon and was watching a group of youngsters as he approached them. As he drew level, one grabbed his arm and asked for help claiming the others were trying to rob him. Our son in law had to make a quick assessment and was able to let the lad get away then catch him and escort him to safety. Not everyone can stop a potential robbery but I feel safer if there are more people about.

Putting tin hat on and leaving.

Well done for your son in law, a few more like him and the world would be a better place, greenie for your son in law.

:)

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Thats lovely. So as a cyclist, a well behaved 1, apparently its ok for others to promote violence on all cyclists any chance they get, as long as its followed by "only joking". How about we do the same for other groups, I heard a load of Jews were gassed during WW2, lets gas some more Jews "only joking". Apparently adding "only joking" makes it ok. What about all the pedophile stories perpetrated by famous people. Lets joke about raping little kiddies, because if we follow it with "only joking" then that makes it ok.
So what about that woman on the Shroppie who went on a drunken rampage, lets all get pissed & smash into other peoples boats "only joking" because the peeps that had their boats smashed into are bad people & now must be targeted.
Way too many anti cycling threads on here, this time cycliusts were the victims. But as long as you're part of a group that is seen by others than less than human then it's apparently ok.

Edited by Ssscrudddy
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Came that way today (camp hill to knowle) and it seemed to be better than I remember, not much litter, reasonable depth most of the way. And totally devoid of people (gloomy Sunday i suppose). They have recently done up some of the towpath (actually, Star City much of the way to C de B ) with loose fine grave on the surface which at least will make approaching cyclists audible. Although of course the gravel will mostly end up in the cut in a year or two.

 

By the way, thank you to the selfish idle git who left every top gate open on garrison and camp hill, with several resultant drained pounds.

Edited by nicknorman
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Looks as though it was probably on the bit between Catherine de Barnes and Camp Hill, never was my favourite bit of canal:unsure:

Nor ours. We were pelted with apples one time, made worse when Dave realised they were aiming at the dog on the roof. We do tend to pass the area early in the morning or during school hours nowadays.

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Nor ours. We were pelted with apples one time, made worse when Dave realised they were aiming at the dog on the roof. We do tend to pass the area early in the morning or during school hours nowadays.

 

To misquote Mrs Doubtfire - a cruise-by fruiting ...

 

Glad the little gits have been caught.

 

.. and writing as a frequent pedestrian in London, there is nothing anyone can say that will change my mind about tosspots on bikes. I've had one hit and numerous near misses on crossings when they speed up the nearside of traffic and don't stop - a variation on the manoeuvre that gets them squashed by lorries turning left.

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.. and writing as a frequent pedestrian in London, there is nothing anyone can say that will change my mind about tosspots on bikes. I've had one hit and numerous near misses on crossings when they speed up the nearside of traffic and don't stop - a variation on the manoeuvre that gets them squashed by lorries turning left.

 

Me too. A rolled up copy of the Metro through the spokes works well....

 

And for those lacking humour, I'd be prepared to stand up in court and ask how I was able to put said paper in their rear wheel if I hadn't already been on the pedestrian crossing in front of the stationary traffic.

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They have recently done up some of the towpath with loose fine grave on the surface which at least will make approaching cyclists audible.

...and which will come in useful for burying the more annoying ones.

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Thats lovely. So as a cyclist, a well behaved 1, apparently its ok for others to promote violence on all cyclists any chance they get, as long as its followed by "only joking". How about we do the same for other groups, I heard a load of Jews were gassed during WW2, lets gas some more Jews "only joking". Apparently adding "only joking" makes it ok. What about all the pedophile stories perpetrated by famous people. Lets joke about raping little kiddies, because if we follow it with "only joking" then that makes it ok.

So what about that woman on the Shroppie who went on a drunken rampage, lets all get pissed & smash into other peoples boats "only joking" because the peeps that had their boats smashed into are bad people & now must be targeted.

Way too many anti cycling threads on here, this time cycliusts were the victims. But as long as you're part of a group that is seen by others than less than human then it's apparently ok.

 

 

 

Apologies if my sense of humour offends. I am a cyclist, as I have said elswhere on this forum I find the presence of cyclists makes an area feel safer. What I said is not my opinion but a joke hence the statement "only joking". No offence intended.

  • Greenie 1
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Accepted, & I'll apologise for ramping it up a bit.. But too many boaters do think it's perfectly ok to promote violence on cyclists & then calling it a sense of humour fail on the part of someone who says this is wrong. Maybe that kid has a dad who jokes about htting cyclists & is too immature to get it. To put it in perspective here is a bit about cyclists by cyclists promoting the very same ideas that most normal people would accept. Sure they aint boaters & no one has thought about banging in your mooring pins simply cuz they dont know. But none of them arte promoting violence against non cyclists, & it flies in the face of the attitudes here.
Worth a read. - http://cyclebath.org.uk/2015/08/26/cyclists-used-to-prevent-towpath-repair/

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Accepted, & I'll apologise for ramping it up a bit.. But too many boaters do think it's perfectly ok to promote violence on cyclists & then calling it a sense of humour fail on the part of someone who says this is wrong. Maybe that kid has a dad who jokes about htting cyclists & is too immature to get it. To put it in perspective here is a bit about cyclists by cyclists promoting the very same ideas that most normal people would accept. Sure they aint boaters & no one has thought about banging in your mooring pins simply cuz they dont know. But none of them arte promoting violence against non cyclists, & it flies in the face of the attitudes here.

Worth a read. - http://cyclebath.org.uk/2015/08/26/cyclists-used-to-prevent-towpath-repair/

Thanks, actually I think we are on the same side of this argument. I would never condone or promote violence and am all in favour of cyclist, boaters, anglers and walkers all enjoying the canals together and respecting the needs of each other. The problem is that a minority of each group do not.

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I find most people are reasonable when talked to reasonably.

 

Yesterday we had to wind where some anglers were fishing. I apologised for disturbing them before I began to turn.

 

They said it wasn't a problem and they admitted they knew they weren't supposed to be fishing in a winding hole.

 

We turned, they resumed fishing and we were all fine.

 

Not all anglers are like this, but most are.

 

Not all cyclists are demons either, any more than all pedestrians are innocent victims of them.

 

In all walks of life there are good and bad. In my experience the good usually outnumber the bad many times over.

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