Who is in the wrong? Cycling campaigner accuses motorist of putting mother and baby at risk in Richmond Park

By Rory Poulter

30th Sep 2021 | Local News

A cycling campaigner has triggered a row after posting a video of a car involved in an apparent near miss with a woman pushing a baby buggy through Richmond Park.

Watch the video here.

The campaigner, who uses the Twitter name The Department of Parks & Recreation, has used the footage, which showed the buggy on one of the main roads, as part of a wider effort to curb the access of cars to the park.

However, the post has triggered a backlash on Twitter with many people saying the driver did nothing wrong and it was the woman pushing the buggy who was at fault.

The campaigner posted a message alongside the video, which read: "Motorists are literally driving at babies in a park, and this is the only account calling it out. Amazing."

The poster, who regularly tweets about allegedly dangerous behaviour by motorists, described the driver's behaviour as 'deeply antisocial'.

However, the remarks on the video, which has attracted over 19,000 views, were immediately condemned. People pointed out that the driver indicated to overtake and had to pass the buggy while avoiding cyclists coming in the opposite direction.

One person wrote: "What exactly did this motorist do wrong? They weren't speeding, they indicated and allowed plenty of space for both the woman and the cyclist the other way. What else could they have done?"

Another wrote: "Looks pretty safe to me. They're driving slowly and they indicate to pull out. Hardly driving at babies!"

A third said: "The lady with the buggy was in the wrong here. Sorry, but she was in the road. I don't think the driver did anything wrong.

"FYI I'm not a driver. I don't think it's fair that this person's licence plate is in full view."

Cycling campaigners are putting pressure on the Royal Parks to introduced permanent curbs on the access of cars to Richmond Park with measures to stop all through traffic. By contrast, there are complaints from many visitors to the park that the cyclists are themselves creating a danger.

     

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