Video: Vancouver police van caught on camera striking out-of-control cyclist
Credit to Author: David Carrigg| Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2019 00:20:42 +0000
A short video has appeared on Twitter showing a cyclist being struck by a Vancouver Police Department van on Great Northern Way.
The video was posted Monday afternoon by Twitter handle Village Whisperer and has generated a lot of online comment about cyclists and cycling safety.
Well… at least @VancouverPD were on scene right away 😝 A heart in throat moment for sure. pic.twitter.com/zXCcqszFZ0
It shows a male cyclist on a BMX bike wearing a green hoody and black shorts — with no helmet — appear suddenly onto Great Northern Way opposite the Emily Carr School of Design and the recently-completed Red Petal building.
The cyclist drops their bike to avoid a grey station wagon in the furthest eastbound lane, successfully avoiding a collision. However, immediately afterwards the VPD van appears and strikes the man in the rear while braking. The man is tossed forwards, landing on his buttocks and hands — and that’s where the video ends.
Most of the comments are negative towards the cyclist, including LisaG who says “Yet another careless cyclist in a city full of them”, and mrdruthers who adds “Saw a cyclist today riding on a sidewalk, then onto a crosswalk, then hop on the road into the fast lane, then make a left onto a side street; and when he made that left he went right in front on incoming traffic. He then had the audacity to give the incoming cars the finger.”
Vancouver lawyer Kyla Lee said the cyclist broke at least three laws under the Motor Vehicle Act.
“That rider was entering the highway without coming to a full stop. He made no effort to stop and entered the highway clearly when it was unsafe,” Lee said. “Then instead of riding as far right as possible he rode in the middle of the lane in the direct path of traffic, and he also wasn’t wearing a helmet.”
Lee suggested the cyclist should be fined for their actions to act as deterrent to cyclists driving erratically in Metro Vancouver.
Calls to the Vancouver Police Department have not been returned.