I’ve ridden along Brighton seafront many times, aa my wife went to Uni there, for those unfamiliar it’s basically a big wide pavement with a clearly marked cycle lane running most of the length of it.
The amount of pedestrians who stroll across the cycle lane without looking or giving any indication of thier intentions was staggering, it was like they’re trying to get hit. Even my very mild mannered and far from recklessly speedy wife got in occasionall shouting matches riding along there with people who just stepped out in front of her with no warning.
In the absence of any CCTV and seeing as there’s no mention of any pending legal proceedings against the cyclist I’m inclined to conclude this is what’s happened here.
Just because you’re in Slade it doesn’t mean you’require always looking where you’re going.
Should evidence emerge that the cyclist was riding like a cock-end I will be happy to revise my conclusions accordingly.