A gay couple from the U.K. say they were accosted and had their car damaged by a group of homophobic cyclists after asking them not to bike around their private property.
The two men, who have asked to remain anonymous, live on a rural farm that is only accessible by a private road, Grimsby Live reports. There are signs all over indicating that the road is not for public use.
But this didn’t stop a group of cyclists from blowing past the signs and shouting homophobic slurs at the couple when they asked them not to trespass on their land.
The incident happened last Wednesday afternoon.
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“When we told them it was private land, some of the group left, but a lot stayed behind,” one of the men says.
Later, he says, they tried leaving their house to go shopping, by the cyclists blocked the road.
“We asked them to move and one guy went from 0 to 100 and started shouting loudly at us and got in our faces. He also tried to damage the car, including trying to rip our wing mirrors off, which we are now having to get fixed.”
The man continues, “Another man started giving us homophobic abuse and started shouting slurs at us.”
“There were only two men giving most of the abuse, the rest just stood there and let it happen, and I think that can be just as bad. Surely one of them could have stepped in?”
Police were called, but by the time they arrived, the cyclists had taken off.
“When the police arrived we gave them the photos and explained what had happened, and they labelled it as a hate crime, which they are now investigating,” the man adds.
The couple says walkers and bikers will occasionally come down the road, but most people apologize and turn around when they realize they’re on private property.
“This is the first time we’ve had someone being so violent and homophobic about it,” the man says, adding that there was “no need” for the cyclists to behave the way they did.
“There’s a public bridleway a couple of minutes away from where we live which cyclists use all of the time,” he continues. “They had no right to be using the road, there are signs along it that say it’s a private road and it’s not for public use.”
A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said the department is investigating and are currently looking for the men responsible for damaging the couple’s car.
“The victims were also subjected to homophobic abuse meaning we will be dealing with this as a hate crime,” police say. “Anyone with information as to the identity of the offenders is urged to call.”
Chrisk
I know they called you bad names. I also get it that’s it’s private property but jeez lo weez. Unless their vandalizing it maybe just turn the other cheek. I don’t see any harm in some bicyclists making a mistake and riding through your property. The world isn’t going to end.
1898
the cyclists tried to rip the mirrors off the land owner’s car, which the owner now has to pay to have repaired. the cyclists were asked several times to leave and instead of leaving they resorted to property damage. i dunno about you but if that happened to me i wouldn’t just let it go
dhmonarch89
they stayed there after they were asked to leave- the article says, ‘later, when they went shopping’ implies that the group stayed to intimidate and abuse them…re read the article
Chrisk
Except it all happened after the couple confronted them. I’m not saying the bicyclists were in the right. The ones that did the damage should obviously pay.
Is it really worth confronting each and every person who crosses the property line though? If it was right next to the house then I’d get it. I don’t think it is though. It’s just land.
LegionKeign
You obviously don’t own property. If one of those bicyclists hurt themselves on said private property, the insurance companies would fight it out and ultimately the property owners rate would go up. Believe me I know, having owned several homes.
Harley
If it’s a private drive they have every right to not having the public use it. Time to put up gates. May be an inconvenience coming and going but then everyone will know it’s a private drive.
Goforit
A less expensive and much more effective solution….. cover the road with rust colored tacks. They wont be long enough to bother your car tires but will play hell with bike tires. I would place the tacks as far down the road as possible, past a couple of no trespassing signs. That way, the bikers would have to carry their bikes back out to where they have their cars parked. They won’t come back.
mailliw110
I live in a big city in Oregon. Lots of bike riders here. Most are nice, but some think they own the road.