Driver faces charges after allegedly stabbing cyclist following close pass

 A 76-year-old motorist in Western Australia faces an assault charge after allegedly stabbing a cyclist minutes after making a close pass on the rider.

The incident happened on Friday morning as the cyclist, aged 52, rode with his wife in  Perth's Kings Park, reports the West Australian.

The rider, who wishes to remain anonymous, supplied footage of the incident to the newspaper, which has posted the video on its website.

Immediately after the close pass, the cyclist tried to remonstrate with the motorist, who drove off.

Shortly afterwards, he saw the vehicle in the car park of the Zamia Cafe and approached the driver again.

.“He came out of the car with a knife and hit me on my chest on the left-hand side,” said the cyclist, who sustained minor injuries.

“I stepped back and told my wife to call the police.

“I thought he was going to say sorry, but when I approached him he stormed out of his car,” he added.

The motorist has been told by police that besides being charged with assault, he will also be fined for contravening a 1-metre passing distance law introduced last year.

Matt Fulton, chief executive of cycling campaign group Westcycle, told the West Australian: “There is a small percentage of people who have let their emotions boil over and technology is now enabling this to be captured and used as evidence.

“People should consider the consequences of their actions towards bike riders before they do something stupid.”

He also called for a change in public perception of people on bikes, and warned that a "crisis point" was being reached in terms of the abuse given to cyclists.

“I’m fearful that we appear to be becoming more tolerant of the abuse towards cyclists,” he explained.

“This has to end immediately before it reaches crisis point.

“We need the public to reject it as acceptable behaviour, stop turning a blind eye and start calling people out on incidences that may result in serious consequences.

“We can’t accept this as being OK,” he added.

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