Vicky's Ripper

[dotinthesky]

From the Debeauvoir newsletter:

WARNING TO CYCLISTS ON REGENT'S CANAL
A cyclist was attacked this week on the towpath through
Victoria Park and sadly such attacks are frequent. Cyclists are advised to
avoid using the towpath at quiet times.

Fuck... I walk the towpath by myself in quiet times all the time. I can even guess where it happened - it's that bit just after the barges, when the towpath dips just before reaching Mile End park. I suppose I could always jump in the canal if somebody attacked me - or could these attacks only be related to cyclists? I could also put my trusty Doc Martins in their crotch, I suppose...

Comments

[steer.livejournal.com]

Fuck... I walk the towpath by myself in quiet times all the time

I used to run along it when the weather was warmer and, to be honest, I've been pretty tempted to attack cyclists myself. I bet you have too.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I've been pretty tempted to attack cyclists myself. I bet you have too.

I'm tempted to attack half of Londoners most of the time. But to actually go ahead and do it? It would take a snotty face and a loud mobile phone playing music on the bus to push me over the edge.

[steer.livejournal.com]

Not one of those Regent's canal cyclists who does 200mph through the bridge, zips past nearly killing you and then tuts at you for not vanishing? They drive me MENTAL.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I'm going to stick to it. I love the canal too much, plus it might be good if I'm a witness to someone else's attack or I can help in some way. And if they came for me... I can run like mad!

[tonight-we-fly.livejournal.com]

As mentioned by another respondent above, from my frequent use of the canal for running I suspect that this is a reaction to the dangerous behaviour of so many feral cyclists along there, and poses no threat to decent law-abiding citizens. I'm not usually one for lynch mobs, but I say well done to the vigilantes on this occasion.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I use the canal twice a day, five days a week, and it's true that once in a while someone goes by quite fast. But in general, the majority of bikers are very considerate and many will say thank you if I give them passage at a bridge! In the end, I think it's about the same proportion as people on foot who are nice or rude. I'd hate to think that the cyclist attacked was one of the nice, polite ones.

We all got to live in peace, etc. ;-)

[tonight-we-fly.livejournal.com]

You probably use a strech which is more urban and populated than mine (as I run outwards through North Acton and Perivale), which makes it harder to practice cycle miscreance. Along my stretch I'd estiamte that the proportion who ignore all signs about pedestrian priority and cycle at dangerous speeds (whilst expecting all passers-by to dive out of their way) at around 75%.

I'm a cyclist too, remember; yet I've never had a problem with a pedestrian ever (or in fact a car/lorry on the road for that matter); it's only with the other cyclists. And don't get me started on people who cycle through red lights at high speed whilst you're crossing the road...

[sublimevisions.livejournal.com]

did we walk along that tow path?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Yes, we did! Good memory. :-)