So, this morning, I was riding into Tooting, coming down from the bridge at the station, when I saw a cyclist coming the other way in the bus lane just past the Police Station.
Coming past Seely Road, he was struck by a van driving out without looking. As I pulled up, the cyclist had opened the van door, and was hitting the driver with his bike. OK, the pillock deserved it, but I felt that it probably wasn't appropriate. So I calmed things down by asking if the cyclist was OK, and then giving his bike a quick glance, noticing his bars were askew, but it seemed generally OK.
The bus driver who had witnessed the incident obviously felt it was nothing to do with him, as he pulled right round me to progress towards Mitcham.
The cyclist went on, but I had a few words (all suitable pre-watershed) for the driver before I left it. Though I suspect his English was almost non-existent.
Could I have reported it, given we were almost right outside Tooting Police Station? really, what would have been the point? I would have made myself late for work and got annoyed (yet again) by tossers who don't give a fuck. Besides, I was riding quite well, so I let my vanity take over and I set off again, determined to report the van on the MPS website.
Half an hour of exhilirating riding later, I'd forgotten the Reg number. I'd even forgotten the company name on the side of the van.
Not fulfilling my duty as an active citizen, really, though I console myself with having stopped a fight and checked the victim was OK.