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Cyclist breaks pelvis in Richmond Park crash with off-lead dog

Incident happened on same day crackdown was announced on ‘speeding’ bike riders in the SW London park

The Metropolitan Police have warned dog owners to keep their pets under control after a cyclist was left with a broken pelvis when he swerved to avoid hitting a dog in London’s Richmond Park.

The incident happened yesterday, according to Royal Parks Police – the same day that the Daily Telegraph reported plans to crack down on cyclists riding above the posted speed limits in the Royal Park, even though those only apply to motorists and not people on bikes.

> Cyclists in Richmond Park face crackdown for ‘speeding’ – even though limits do not apply to them

The crash followed the end of the deer birthing season during which dog-owners were told to keep their dogs on leads when visiting Richmond Park.

The tweet said: “Is your four legged friend super excited to be off the lead now that the deer birthing season has ended?

"Unfortunately, some get so overwhelmed by their new freedom that they forget to look left and right at the road, so we need you to keep them under control.

“A cyclist had to take decisive action today in order to avoid hitting a dog that ran out in front of him. He crashed to the floor resulting in a suspected fractured pelvis. Wishing him a speedy recovery #RichmondPark #KeepDogsUnderControl.”

Last November, a judge said that cyclists and dog owners both “have a sense of absolute entitlement” when he allowed an appeal by a dog owner who had been ordered to pay £50,000 to a bike rider who sustained a brain injury after her Cocker Spaniel ran into his path and caused him to crash on Acton Green Common in West London.

> Judge says cyclists – and dog owners – “have a sense of absolute entitlement”

Publishing executive David Crane, aged 71, was thrown over the handlebars of his bike in the collision with the dog belonging to investment banker Carina Read, 49, in March 2016.

Judge Alan Saggerson allowed Ms Read leave to appeal, saying: “We all know that cyclists whether on path, road or common, have a sense of absolute entitlement to do whatever they want to do and we all know that dog owners also have a similar sense of entitlement to do exactly what they want to do irrespective of anybody else.

“It's quite a conundrum,” the judge added.

The appeal hearing in that case has not yet taken place, as far as we can ascertain.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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17 comments

Avatar
Bob's Bikes | 1 year ago
9 likes

I hope the cyclist recovers quickly, but just one question did the owner of the dog involved come forward/own up? The article states he crashed avoiding the dog so one wonders what he will do for compensation whilst off work/damage to bike and clothing etc etc

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brooksby replied to Bob's Bikes | 1 year ago
5 likes

Clearly had no "honour or integrity"(TM)

 

As an aside, I started to read this story out to my wife and her very firs5 comment was, "well I bet he was riding too fast!" no

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Hirsute replied to brooksby | 1 year ago
3 likes

Faster than a dog ?
Plenty can do 30 even a jack Russell.

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Nagai74 | 1 year ago
15 likes

All dogs to be fitted with number plates, be insured and pay road tax.

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Hirsute replied to Nagai74 | 1 year ago
8 likes

We did used to have dog licences (37.5 p) but it was uneconomic to collect. (Must be a lesson there)

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Bmblbzzz | 1 year ago
6 likes

Dogs on leads, those self-extending ones, are usually more of a problem than dogs off leads.

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ShaneDG replied to Bmblbzzz | 1 year ago
0 likes

Couldnt agree more nothing more terrifying than out running and realising too late there is a semi invisible trip wire extending across the footpath.

My solution is brutal but effective - I run at the dogwalker until Im sure they dont have an extenda lead, if they dont I move around if they do I make them move

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steaders1 | 1 year ago
7 likes

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that cyclists can not be prosecuted for going faster than 20mph around Richmond Park and other areas managed by Royal Parks, thus bringing an end to a long-running dispute between cyclists and police over the issue.This was in 7 Oct 2021

Why are they not targeting the moped bike thieves instead?

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brooksby replied to steaders1 | 1 year ago
1 like

I don't think that the park police are intending to prosecute for speeding. They have decided that going faster than the posted speed limit is of itself careless/dangerous/furious riding so they'll prosecute for that instead...

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hutchdaddy | 1 year ago
3 likes

Most importantly, how is the bike? 😉

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wtjs | 1 year ago
13 likes

Judge Alan Saggerson allowed Ms Read leave to appeal, saying: “We all know that cyclists whether on path, road or common, have a sense of absolute entitlement to do whatever they want to do

Yes, he's a bad one, all right! Taking the rantings in the hyper-junk press as fact, and applying them by implication to the unknown preceding cycling habits of the victim

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lio | 1 year ago
18 likes

If you want to know what an institutionally anti-cyclist sounds like just listen to Judge Alan Saggerson. Completely biased.

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lonpfrb replied to lio | 1 year ago
1 like
lio wrote:

If you want to know what an institutionally anti-cyclist sounds like just listen to Judge Alan Saggerson. Completely biased.

The judge says "We all know that cyclists whether on path, road or common, have a sense of absolute entitlement to do whatever they want to do and we all know that dog owners also have a similar sense of entitlement"

In other words: Cyclists and Dog Walkers have a similar sense of entitlement.

While HWC rule H1 sets out the hierarchy of responsibility, it doesn't mention pets.

Clearly responsible pet owners will consider their well being so avoiding collisions that are avoidable by maintaining physical control of the pet.

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eburtthebike replied to lio | 1 year ago
10 likes
lio wrote:

If you want to know what an institutionally anti-cyclist sounds like just listen to Judge Alan Saggerson. Completely biased.

If any case involving a cyclist comes up in front of him, they would be entirely justified in demanding a different judge.  Is there any way such blatantly, self-confessedly biased judges can be removed?

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the little onion replied to lio | 1 year ago
10 likes

Surely a man like that can't keep his job? Imagine if he said "we all know Jews/women/Canadians/jazz aficionados have a sense of entitlement"?

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Secret_squirrel replied to lio | 1 year ago
0 likes

tbf whilst I wouldn't label all dog owners or cyclists like he did - he does have a point. There are certainly healthy minorities of both that feel that way.

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ChrisB200SX replied to lio | 1 year ago
3 likes
Judge Alan Saggerson wrote:

We all know that cyclists whether on path, road or common, have a sense of absolute entitlement to travel legally do whatever they want to do and we all know that dog owners also have a similar sense of entitlement to do exactly what they want to do irrespective of anybody else.

...It's quite a conundrum

That entitlement is literally written in the CROW Act (2000), a judge should know better. There is no conundrum. The dog owner is bang to rights, there are no grounds for appeal, the judge has absolutely failed in their basic duty.

The judge is clearly biased against both dog walkers and cyclists and should have recused themself from the case.

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