A retired civil servant in Cambridge, U.K. was so fed up with cyclists “hurtling” toward her that she decided to take matters into her own hands with the help of her dog.
Susan Currall, who is 75, was walking her dog Rosie on a dual-use path used by pedestrians and cyclists on Sept. 12 when Michael Ramage, a lecturer at a local college, cycled past.
“He came towards me and was saying, ‘Get out of my way,'” Currall told The Telegraph. “He was close enough for me to reach out, so I attacked him with the poo bag.”
“At least it shows that I was picking up my dog poo,” Currall continued. “I just hit him with the bag on his arm. I did not deliberately pour the poo over him. But the bag might have split when it hit him. I did not mean for it to split, and I didn’t actually see if anything went over him.”
After the altercation, Ramage dismounted and said that he was going to call the police.
“I was sarcastic and said, ‘Are you going to call your mummy as well?'” Currall admitted.
In court, Currall was ordered to pay £100 ($160) in costs and £25 ($40) compensation to Ramage to cover the dry-cleaning bill incurred.
After sentencing, Currall was unapologetic about the incident. Speaking to the Telegraph in London, she said: “It is ridiculous that this case ended up in court. A lot of people will be applauding me for what I did, because cyclists can be such a pain in the neck.”
Ramage, who is the director of studies for architecture at Sidney Sussex College, described the incident as “pretty unpleasant,” but says that this is not the first time he has had dealings with the poo-baggie wielding septuagenarian.
“I’m not physically intimidated. I know I won’t suffer any serious injury, but the mental anguish with having to deal with an encounter, that’s what it’s really all about,” he said. “I have encountered her with my kids, and it’s upsetting for them. I would not change my route, but I do go down there with a lot of trepidation.”
Currall’s lawyer Monica Lentin said, “I think many people who are pedestrians in Cambridge would agree that having cyclists and pedestrians together doesn’t work. The pedestrians do feel extremely harassed and I feel the same way myself. The council seems to be pursuing a policy that bicycles are king here in Cambridge and have rights over everyone else.”