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Melbourne - Angry driver punches cyclist in face

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 4:46 pm
by Summernight
TheAge wrote:Police are hunting for a motorist who punched a cyclist in the face in a road rage incident in Melbourne on Monday morning.

Investigators have been told the 30-year-old cyclist was travelling north along St Kilda Road when he was nearly hit by a vehicle turning out of Albert Road about 7.20am.

The male driver of the vehicle, believed to be aged in his 40s, pulled over near a tram stop, approached the cyclist and an argument took place.

Police said the man then punched the cyclist on the chin and left the scene in his vehicle. He is described as Caucasian with a solid build, shaved head and grey facial hair. He was driving a white sedan, possibly a Suzuki.
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Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit http://www.crimestoppers.com.au" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/angry ... z2LE7Ns98C" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
How very charming. Wonder what caused this one? :roll:

Re: Melbourne - Angry driver punches cyclist in face

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 4:56 pm
by il padrone
TheAge wrote:The male driver of the vehicle, believed to be aged in his 40s, pulled over near a tram stop, approached the cyclist and an argument took place.

Police said the man then punched the cyclist on the chin and left the scene in his vehicle. He is described as Caucasian with a solid build, shaved head and grey facial hair. He was driving a white sedan, possibly a Suzuki.
Had the clippers out Shane?

Image

Re: Melbourne - Angry driver punches cyclist in face

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 5:19 pm
by Summernight
il padrone wrote:Had the clippers out Shane?
:lol:

Shane in a Suzuki, though? Trying to go incognito? Methinks he would prefer to stick to the high-life and a Mercedes/BMW. :P

Re: Melbourne - Angry driver punches cyclist in face

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 5:22 pm
by Mulger bill
Summernight wrote:How very charming. Wonder what caused this one? :roll:
TheAge wrote:...told the 30-year-old cyclist was travelling north...
This is all it takes (sadly) to make more than a few of them feel homicidal.
Something doesn't feel right about this to me, I mean a hero smokeboxer who was still heroic after slipping out of their two tonne armour?

Re: Melbourne - Angry driver punches cyclist in face

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 5:45 pm
by Howzat
My perception is that a lot of drivers mistakely believe, and are encouraged by loutish political actors to believe, that cyclists are not legitimate road users.

As a result, we are seeing drivers trying to intimidate cyclists - driving too close, honking their horns, revving engines - or punching them in the face - in order to "teach them a lesson."

While it may be a legitimate - if regrettable - political position to lobby for cyclists to be banned from roads, endangering people with reckless behaviour is never legitimate.

Endangering people with reckless behaviour is criminal.

They key point to bear in mind in public forums or private discussions, anywhere the subject might arise, is the principle that cyclists are legitimate road users, by tradition, by right, and by law. (There are a very few exceptions for freeways and tollways.)

It is the aggressive drivers harassing or intimidating cyclists that ought to be taken off the roads. This is also the position of the law.

Re: Melbourne - Angry driver punches cyclist in face

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 6:54 pm
by KonaCommuter
Will this be front page news?


:roll:

Re: Melbourne - Angry driver punches cyclist in face

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:54 pm
by Summernight
KonaCommuter wrote:Will this be front page news?


:roll:
That's how I found it on The Age's website...

Re: Melbourne - Angry driver punches cyclist in face

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 8:18 am
by munga
i thought it said 'angry facial hair' for a second. :lol:

really, it's just another road rage incident. i don't mean to trivialise it, but we have no idea what they said to each other.

Re: Melbourne - Angry driver punches cyclist in face

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 8:58 am
by il padrone
Howzat wrote:My perception is that a lot of drivers mistakely believe, and are encouraged by loutish political actors to believe, that cyclists are not legitimate road users.

As a result, we are seeing drivers trying to intimidate cyclists - driving too close, honking their horns, revving engines - or punching them in the face - in order to "teach them a lesson."

The results from ACA last week??

Why can't these hoons of the airwaves be 'taken off the road' ? :? :| :x

Re: Melbourne - Angry driver punches cyclist in face

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 9:15 am
by wizdofaus
Howzat wrote: They key point to bear in mind in public forums or private discussions, anywhere the subject might arise, is the principle that cyclists are legitimate road users, by tradition, by right, and by law. (There are a very few exceptions for freeways and tollways.)
I've never understood the Freeway ban - they're not terribly interesting to ride on, but generally are much safer than suburban roads due to the dedicated lane and predictable traffic flow. There are at least a few other roads in Melbourne that cycling is not permitted on, e.g. Nepean Hwy southbound up Oliver's Hill, Brunton Ave past the MCG and I think one or two others that I've noticed recently. Obviously this doesn't detract from your point.

Re: Melbourne - Angry driver punches cyclist in face

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 1:03 pm
by g-boaf
il padrone wrote:
Howzat wrote:My perception is that a lot of drivers mistakely believe, and are encouraged by loutish political actors to believe, that cyclists are not legitimate road users.

As a result, we are seeing drivers trying to intimidate cyclists - driving too close, honking their horns, revving engines - or punching them in the face - in order to "teach them a lesson."

The results from ACA last week??

Why can't these hoons of the airwaves be 'taken off the road' ? :? :| :x


They are just exercising their right to freedom of speech, as certain opinion writers would call it.

I don't like it either. We can of course use social media to combat this. Make it clear to advertisers that we don't support the views of programs they are advertising with, etc. That's democratic and expressing our freedom of speech and expression. It's up to the advertiser what they do about it.