Shocking moment cyclist head-butts child in flight before ‘rude’ driver makes insulting excuses

SHOCKING footage shows the moment a child went flying after being hit head-on by a cyclist.

The horrific incident happened last month when a child tried to cross a cycle path to get to a bus stop in Elephant and Castle in the south London.

The guy is a few minutes before the terrible collisionCredit: SWNS

The cyclist could not stop in time, and the boy was sent flyingCredit: SWNS

Horrified onlookers watched as he crashed into the child at speedCredit: SWNS

The video shows how the cyclist tried to stop his bike, but ended up driving right into the boy.

Both rider and child fell to the floor as shocked bystanders watched.

The design of the road at this location means that the bus stop ‘floats’ between the road and the cycle lane – leaving pedestrians no choice but to dodge cyclists when getting on or off the bus.

One passerby was left speechless as she recalled what the cyclist allegedly said after hitting the little boy.

Sarah Gayton, street access campaign co-ordinator for the National Federation of the Blind UK (NFBUK), said: “I was only there for about an hour when it happened.

“And what was so shocking was that the cyclist got off and said, ‘Is he deaf? I called.”

“As if that justifies it!

“That poor little guy could have really hurt himself.”

Campaigners have called for these so-called “floating bus stops” to be scrapped, insisting they pose a danger to pedestrians, especially those who are blind or visually impaired.

Ms Gayton continued: “Surely it just goes to show that people need to be aware of those who may be blind and deaf – and may not notice oncoming bicycles?”

“The whole layout is dangerous. It is dangerous, but there are similar ones all over London.

Watch the cyclist rage on the road after colliding with a car – the driver made a key mistake

“The design does not take blind and visually impaired people into account at all. This is discrimination.

“These floating bus stops need to be destroyed.”

Ms Gayton previously shared the video on the X NFBUK account Twitterwhich caused a significant reaction.

The footage also shows several near-misses — where pedestrians narrowly escape being hit by bicycles — and moments where cyclists swerve too fast in the lane.

Ms Gayton said she witnessed another collision that day – and another a couple of days later.

“How much else is going on that isn’t being recorded?” She said.

Social networks users also shared Ms. Gayton’s concerns about such bike lanes.

One commented: “Putting a cycle lane in the middle of a footpath is one of the dumbest ideas I’ve seen. It’s like this in Leith Walk, Edinburgh.’

Another added: “Who thinks a cycle lane in the middle of a very busy pedestrian zone and pavement is a good idea? Absolute madness.”

And a third said: “Quite possibly one of the dumbest designs I’ve ever seen. However, they continue to unfold.”

Ms Gayton and the rest of the NFBUK team say all passengers should have direct access to the pavement when getting off the bus.

They call council prevent the construction of “floating stops”.

NFBUK also asked for “all bus stops that currently have cycle lanes to be changed to provide direct access to and from the bus stop for all bus passengers”.

After the shocking incident, both ended up on the floorCredit: SWNS

UK bicycle laws explained

CYCLING is a healthy and environmentally friendly way to get from A to B, but that doesn’t mean cyclists have the right to do whatever they want.

Cycling on pavements is illegal in the UK, except in special circumstances – such as when they have dedicated cycle lanes.

Rule 64 of traffic rules it is indicated that cyclists should not ride on sidewalks.

Section 72 of the Highways Act 1835 also prohibits “willful driving” on footpaths, including pavements.

Although the police may exercise discretion in enforcing this rule, it is still an offense to ride a bicycle on the pavement.

Even in cases where cyclists feel unsafe while riding on the road, there is no provision for riding on the pavement.

Cyclists can ride on the sidewalk only when there are dedicated bike lanes that are clearly marked with lines and symbols.

Rule 62 of traffic rules provides additional guidance on how to behave when bike lanes are adjacent to footpaths and sidewalks.

When the sidewalk is shared with pedestrians, bicyclists must keep to the shoulder designated for them.

If there is no separate marking, the cyclist must “use caution when passing pedestrians, especially children, the elderly or the disabled, and leave them enough space.”

Cyclists must also be prepared to stop or slow down if necessary to pass pedestrians.

What to do if there are no bicycle lanes

When there is no bicycle lane, cyclists must follow two main rules of the road, usually 72 in traffic rules explains:

1) Drive in the center of your lane so that you can be seen as clearly as possible in the following situations:

On quiet roads or streets – if there is a faster car behind you, turn left to give it a chance to overtake if you can do so safely
In slow moving traffic – when the traffic around you becomes more free, turn left if you can do so safely so that faster vehicles behind you can overtake you
On the approach to intersections or road narrows where it would be dangerous for drivers to overtake you

2) When driving on busy roads, when vehicles are moving faster than you, allow them to overtake where it is safe to do so, keeping a distance of at least 0.5 meters and, where safer, further from the edge of the curb. Remember that traffic moves quickly on most dual carriageways. Be especially careful when crossing the ramps.

Rule 73 of the code states that you must use special bicycle facilities at intersections, such as “small bicycle traffic lights at eye level which may allow you to proceed or pass separately from or in front of other traffic”.