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Tory baroness, 84, uses handbag to whack cyclist who jumped a red light
Last updated at 23:22pm on 15.01.08Hurtling through the traffic, the cyclist probably thought he had got away with jumping a red light and nearly knocking over an elderly woman.
But the pedestrian in question was 84-year-old Tory peer Baroness Sharples who perhaps inspired by Lady Thatcher, swiftly delivered her own form of retribution.
The veteran peeress swung her handbag and landed a sharp blow to the cyclist as he whizzed past outside the House of Lords.
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Angry: Lady Sharples was nearly knocked down by a cyclist
And she said her only regret was that she didn't hit him harder.
She added that cyclists were becoming an increasing menace to pedestrians by ignoring traffic signals such as red lights and riding on pavements.
And she called on cycling groups to do more to encourage courteous behaviour on the roads.
Her comments reinforced calls for laws requiring cyclists to put registration plates on their bikes.
Lady Sharples said she had narrowly avoided being knocked down by cyclists three times in London.
Describing the most recent incident, she said: "I had a bag and I swiped him. I did not hit him hard enough. They are a ruddy nuisance.
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"I know they need to get to work and a lot of them behave properly, but there are an increasing number that just don't obey the lights and it's not fair on pedestrians."
The widowed baroness, whose first husband Sir Richard Sharples, former Tory MP for Sutton and Cheam, was assassinated while serving as Governor of Bermuda in 1973, suggested a licensing scheme for cyclists but conceded that such a law might not be workable.
"It's up to cycling organisations - they should tell their members," she said.
"Laws have got to be good. If they don't work they are worse than useless."
Lady Sharples said she believed male cyclists were more likely to be a menace. "Women do, in general, stop at the lights when they see somebody crossing."
She raised the issue in the House of Lords during a debate on road safety.
She asked the government's transport spokesman Lord Bassam: "Can the Minister say whether I am within my rights when, at a pedestrian crossing, a cyclist rides straight at me when I have the lights in my favour?
"I swiped one with a bag the other day. Would I be in trouble?"
Lord Bassam replied: "I will be careful on this. I am a great admirer of the noble baroness, and I think she probably did the right thing."
London Mayor Ken Livingstone has sought to clamp down on dangerous cyclists with police issuing £60-on-the-spot fines for riding on pavements or jumping lights.
Tory MP Mark Pritchard urged ministers to consider a registration plate system for bikes to make it easier to identify cyclists riding dangerously.
He said: "Cyclist etiquette would improve if they could no longer remain anonymous."
Reader views (8)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
Well done Lady Sharples, a pity you did not knock him off his bike! As a life-long law abiding conscientious cyclist I am sick and tired of these morons giving the rest of us a bad name. They are the same kamakazi individuals who do not use lights at night and dress in dark clothing. They are not only a danger to pedestrians, but to other cyclists as well. Recently, one collided with me and sent me over the handle bars badly damaging my bicycle. Those who condem your spontaneous action would presumeably would have had nothing to say had you had been knocked down. The C.T.C., of which I am a member, should unreservedly condemn these criminals on two wheels who, alas, seem to out number the genuine cyclists. It is time those in the wrong suffered the consequences and if that means being struck by a handbag, then so-be-it. What is the betting that a lot of these individuals are on stolen bikes in the first place, such is their contempt for others. A much better idea than number plates is for the so-called forces of law and order to bring these people to book and for the judiciary to do their job (asking a lot) and not side with the law breaker when the miscreant stands before the bench. Fat chance, I hear the law abiding say!
- Terry Davies, Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
You know, I guess it was technically illegal - you're not supposed to take the law into your own hands and all that - but cyclists jumping red lights really angers me. Cycling organisations do themselves (and cyclists) no favours by refusing to condemn this sort of behaviour and for constantly making excuses for something that is inexcuseable.
I speak as a cyclist who always stops at red lights and gets annoyed by the arrogance of other cyclists who meander through red lights and then complain that other road users don't treat them equally. Maybe there's a connection?
I do ride on the pavement, though.
- Stephen Flaherty, Nottingham
It's in their genes don't you know, public opinion has turned them away from shooting peasants (and soon 'pheasants') and they have to vent their spleen on someone, secure in the knowledge that no one will fight back.
Change the gender and think about it, man hits female cyclist with briefcase following perceived traffic offence - would that be ok too?
Is it OK for me to stand by the traffic lights and hit cars with something heavy if their drivers jump a red light.
What about if I do it to Baroness Sharples' car, that OKtoo?
- Jim Bohme, Central London
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