Nuxx:SPThl.7986$pR5.7102@newsfe24.ams2

Path: number1.nntp.dca.giganews.com!border2.nntp.dca.giganews.com!border1.nntp.dca.giganews.com!nntp.giganews.com!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!feeder.news-service.com!69.16.177.246.MISMATCH!cyclone03.ams2.highwinds-media.com!news.highwinds-media.com!npeersf02.ams.highwinds-media.com!newsfe24.ams2.POSTED!7564ea0f!not-for-mail Message-ID:  From: _  Newsgroups: uk.rec.cycling Subject: Re: spindthrift - magnatom antics Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:07:22 +0000 References:  Lines: 63 User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.19 (Windows/20081209) MIME-Version: 1.0 In-Reply-To:  Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit NNTP-Posting-Host: 82.21.204.127 X-Complaints-To: http://netreport.virginmedia.com X-Trace: newsfe24.ams2 1233652056 82.21.204.127 (Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:07:36 UTC) NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:07:36 UTC Organization: virginmedia.com Bytes: 3767 X-Original-Bytes: 3724 Xref: perfectly-safe.chapmancentral.co.uk uk.rec.cycling:828183

relevant wrote: > Here is a letter I have sent - perhaps a few more on similar lines > > > e-mail to: > scott.hannigan@glasgow.gov.uk > > > Environmental and Protection Services, > Taxis and Private Hire Enforcement Unit, > 231 George Street, > G1 1RX. > > > Dear Sirs > > I understand that you have recently had a complaint made against the > driver of the Private hire car with plate no.2266. > > I would like to point out to you that within the cycling community the > complainant is a serial complainer about the driving habits of > motorists - and always wears a video camera and sound recorder whilst > he is cycling in order to ensnare unaware drivers. > > This is quite a common practice amongst a small group of cyclists > which enables them to act as an agent provocateur and to ride in an > irresponsible fashion which causes incidents which they then attempt > to put the blame for, on other parties. Indeed, sometimes such > serious accidents can be caused in this fashion that the threat or > reality of a court case can lead to the cyclist receiving significant > monetary compensation. > > It should be also be noted that taxi drivers, and the drivers of > Private Hire vehicles are common targets, as complaints can be made to > an authority which will then reprimand a driver, who in reality was > not actually at fault. This however causes significant > self-satisfaction to the cyclist and they are then able to brag about > their "achievement" in internet cycling forums. > > I would draw your attention to the web site: > http://www.youtube.com/user/magnatom where you may see for yourself > the further activities of the complainant. > > Of particular interest are those videos where "magnatom" clearly > points out to the driver that the video will be on u-tube and that a > detailed closed up of the vehicles registration plate is recorded. One > may wonder why this action is taken - it is most certainly > unnecessary; but is certainly threatening and intimidation. > > The threats which are made to the drivers are probably common assault; > and these criminal acts are then often compounded by the thumping and > kicking of vehicles in order to cause criminal damage. > > I trust that you will exonerate the driver who was involved in this > incident - and perhaps also circulate to the Taxi and Private Hire > Companies the gist of this communication so that their own drivers are > suitably forewarned. > > > Regards > I thoroughly applaud your letter and hope that it gets the right reaction. It might have helped to be a bit briefer, though!