The cyclist knocked off his bike by Emma Way, who later tweeted about '#bloodycyclists', said he was frustrated that she escaped without being convicted of driving without due care and attention.
Toby Hockley, told BikeRadar that though he wasn’t worried about the Norwich Magistrates’ verdict yesterday, it was “frustrating,” that 22-year-old Way had only been punished with a small fine and given seven points on her licence for failing to stop and report an accident.
He said: “I was just sort glad it was all over to be honest, I wasn’t that worried about the result.
“They sided with her because there was reasonable doubt over the case and that’s a bit frustrating, but I can understand why – it was essentially my word against hers on a small country lane.”
The incident happened on 19 May near Rockland All Saints, Norfolk, as Hockley was riding the Boudicca Sportive. Shortly after the incident, Way tweeted: "Definitely knocked a cyclist off his bike earlier. I have right of way – he doesn't even pay road tax! #bloodycyclists." The tweet caused a storm and she later deleted the account. Way also gave a number of interviews in which she said she regretted sending the Tweet.
29-year-old Hockley, who has since started work in a Norwich bike shop, also said he felt slightly sorry for Way’s treatment on social media.
"I just don’t think she’s been out in the real world very long," he said. "I think she got a fairly rough time and I feel a little bit sorry for her. I think a lot of the reaction to her and her actions have been a little bit over the top – calling for her to be burnt and lynched and all sorts."
However he said the cycling community needed its voice heard and called for good figureheads to lead the way.
"We do need to have our voices heard and we don’t really have anyone doing that at the minute – not in a position of power," he said. "The community does have to speak up for itself but there also needs to be some good figureheads acting as the voice for cycling, and channelling it through that rather than everyone shouting at once."
