Cyclist-driver altercation in Vancouver

The tension in Vancouver between one cyclist and a motorist came to a boil Friday, Jan 24., when Edward Hoey, a cyclist, got in a fist fight with a motorist who forced Hoey off the road with his vehicle.

Hoey says he was turning left on Georgia Street when a motorist, upset the cyclist wasn’t in the bike lane, began honking and revving his engine. After making the turn, the driver proceeded to swerve toward Hoey, running him off the road and causing him to crash the bike.

Hoey told CBC he reached in the passenger window and the driver grabbed his arm and wouldn’t let go. When Hoey got free he grabbed papers off the passenger seat and threw them on the ground. The driver got out and the two fought on the sidewalk until onlookers broke them up.

Police were called and so far have determined that both men were at fault, but they are still waiting on some witnesses to make statements. No charges have been laid. Hoey allegedly tried to damage the vehicle.

Vancouver has seen rising cyclist traffic in recent years and have been devoting lots of city resources towards bettering the bike network and keeping cyclists safe on the roads, although motorists and riders in the city, as in other cities, often don’t see eye-to-eye.

Vancouver law does not dictate that cyclists must use bike lanes and they are free to ride on city streets provided they follow traffic laws.

An onlooker posted pictures and her side of the story on Facebook.

A video was taken of the later moments of the altercation, although it doesn’t show how the entire episode unfolded.