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Angry mum’s plea after toddler is hurt
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| Sara Garratt with son Harvey, three, was hit by a cyclist riding on the pavement. She is appealing to bikers to take more care |
ANGRY mother Sara Garratt is pleading with cyclists to stay off the pavement after a woman on a bike ploughed into her three-year-old son.
She and her son Harvey Crisp were walking along Oxford Road, Calne, on Wednesday last week when the cyclist rode into him. He was hit so hard Ms Garratt feared he was severely injured.
The mum-of-three, of Stokes Croft, said she saw the woman cyclist, who was in her 40s, speeding towards them on the pavement. She said: "It was just after me and Harvey crossed over the road. She was coming quite fast towards us. Then the bike went smack into him and I saw Harvey bounce off the front wheel.
"He landed face down on the pavement and I was screaming. I expected him to stand up with blood all over his face. The cyclist didn't even help Harvey up off the floor. She just stood there. I would have said something to her but I was too concerned about Harvey.
"He was just crying and crying and we were both really shaken up by it.
"I dread to think what would have happened if she hit Harvey at a different angle. He could have broken his leg or something a lot worse."
Ms Garratt, 34, said her former partner called an ambulance, as they feared Harvey might have had concussion. Luckily the toddler only sustained grazes to his hands and legs.
She said: "Harvey was lucky but people who cycle really fast along pavements need to slow down before there is a serious injury.
"I was surprised this lady was going so fast along the pavement, usually its teenagers that behave this irresponsibly."
Police are appealing for any witnesses who saw the incident at around 11am on Oxford Road.
It is an offence to cycle on a public pavement and in October Calne Police vowed to crackdown on cyclists flouting the law after receiving a record number of complaints.
PC Hans Monahan of Calne Police said: "This is a serious incident where a young child could have been severely injured.
"Cyclists need to remember what appears to be an innocent act, cycling on the pavement, can have very serious consequences and could lead to endangering pedestrians."
Anyone who saw the incident can contact Calne Police on 0845 4087000.
2:10pm Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: betty swallocks, NWilts on 4:35pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Same here...walking along London Rd.Narrow pavement by the art gallery, cyclists three abreast came towards me. I didn't budge,forcing them to slow down.I politely pointed out to the three lads, that this was a pavement, for pedestrians,only to met with a "yeah oroight", before cycling off again.If you feel the need to cycle on the pavement, you clearly don't possess the skills or the confidence to ride on the roads, in which case, walk.Vowing to crack down is very commendable, but actually doing it ,is something else.
Same here...walking along London Rd.Narrow pavement by the art gallery, cyclists three abreast came towards me. I didn't budge,forcing them to slow down.I politely pointed out to the three lads, that this was a pavement, for pedestrians,only to met with a "yeah oroight", before cycling off again.If you feel the need to cycle on the pavement, you clearly don't possess the skills or the confidence to ride on the roads, in which case, walk.Vowing to crack down is very commendable, but actually doing it ,is something else.
Posted by: spooks, calne on 5:30pm Thu 27 Mar 08
so why is this in chipenham??
calne does have a problem with cyclists on the pavement.i dont mind if its young kids 3-4 who are just learning to ride but older kids and adults should stick to the road.
www.calnetalk.com
so why is this in chipenham??
calne does have a problem with cyclists on the pavement.i dont mind if its young kids 3-4 who are just learning to ride but older kids and adults should stick to the road.
www.calnetalk.com
Posted by: Joe, Calne on 9:33am Fri 28 Mar 08
The police should charge the cycalist
The police should charge the cycalist
Posted by: The Maxter, Chippenham on 10:26am Fri 28 Mar 08
Cyclist should be off the pavement. End of. - No excuse about traffic on Oxford road these days. Perhaps a cycle refuge along that road would encourage cycling in Calne?
Cyclist should be off the pavement. End of. - No excuse about traffic on Oxford road these days. Perhaps a cycle refuge along that road would encourage cycling in Calne?
Posted by: dk1471, Chippenham on 5:58pm Fri 28 Mar 08
In Chippenham Near the cinema i nearly got knocked over by a cycliest, i pointed out that he should be on the pavement and god told to F*** Off and had the middle finger pointed at me as he rode away. Lucky i just laughed at him, but this could have been intermidating to a minor or elderly member of public.
Cycliest are also a pain when cycling down one way systems the wrong way, where i live police will drive quite happily past them turning a blind eye at the offence!
In Chippenham Near the cinema i nearly got knocked over by a cycliest, i pointed out that he should be on the pavement and god told to F*** Off and had the middle finger pointed at me as he rode away. Lucky i just laughed at him, but this could have been intermidating to a minor or elderly member of public.
Cycliest are also a pain when cycling down one way systems the wrong way, where i live police will drive quite happily past them turning a blind eye at the offence!
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