A bit of aggro from motorists is all part of being a cyclist these days. You become hardened to it as a matter of course, but the danger is that it becomes difficult to differentiate between what is acceptable and what is outright abuse.

Even if we wanted to react, where can we turn? Surely the police have better things to do than listen to a load of moaning cyclists?

>> Save up to 31% with a magazine subscription. Enjoy the luxury of home delivery and never miss an issue <<

Actually, I’m wrong about that. In Surrey at least, the police want wronged bike riders to get in touch, and last week I was urged to encourage riders to call 101 in cases when they suffered abuse or threat from drivers, or 999 for instances of dangerous driving when a rider has been put at risk.

You’ll need to give the vehicle registration, make, colour, etc, as many details as possible. The use of helmet cams is encouraged, and a picture taken on your phone may help.

I contacted Surrey Police after a particularly annoying incident when a car forced me to stop and the driver threatened further reprisals, telling me that anti-cycling vigilante groups were ‘patrolling’ in the area.

I wasn’t much help to the police, as I didn’t get the reg, but they were certainly sympathetic and acted on the information I supplied.

Robert Garbutt is editor of Cycling Weekly