Birmingham police are asking for witnesses to come forwards after a 26 year old biker was pushed off her bike into a canal.
Biker Sophie Watson said she was cycling at around 6:30pm when a group of young men were cycling towards her. They didn’t move out of the way for her, and ended up threatening her saying: “you’re getting pushed in.”
Sophie said this in a statement.
“The first one said ‘you’re getting pushed in’ and then maybe the sixth just pushed me in,” she said.
“Me, my bike and all my belongings were in the canal and they continued cycling and laughing.
“After I’d pulled myself and bike out, I continued on along the canal when I saw another drenched woman ahead… two men had helped her out.”
Sophie suffered minor injuries – compared to how bad they could have been – walking away with bruising to her legs and ankles.
The culprits were described as white and mixed race, and aged between 14 and 16.
She has now become apprehensive about traveling by bike, and it seems other women have suffered similar fates in the past.
“I’m now feeling apprehensive about cycling in secluded areas, but then I’m mostly forced to mingle with motor traffic,” Sophie said.
“I’m concerned they were attacking women and I’m worried other women will stop cycling altogether. Women cycle at a ratio of 1:3 to men in Birmingham.”
West Midlands police are appealing for any information people may have.
