A cyclist in Brisbane, Australia, was left with a fractured ankle after he was punched by a man he rode past on a pavement whom he says seems to suffer from “anger management issues.”
James Stevenson said that the man, dressed in business attire, hit him after the pair brushed shoulders as he was riding on the pavement, which cyclists in Queensland are allowed to do unless there are signs forbidding them from doing so.
ABC News has footage of the incident, which happened on 10 October on Hutton Lane in Brisbane’s Central Business District and was captured by cameras mounted on Mr Stevenson’s bike.
He said: "I moved over to the left as far left as possible so both of us could pass on our way.
"Unfortunately, he didn't seem to want to give me much room, so our shoulders touched.
"I didn't give it much thought and just carried on. Next thing I know is I feel a punch from behind.
"I turn around to see what's happened and another one has landed on me, pushing me over."
The man said to him: “F*cking get off your bike,” and "Do you want to f*cking have a go?"
In reply, Mr Stevenson said: “You're a big man walking away,” adding, “it's all on camera you w**nker.”
Police are investigating the incident, although no-one has been arrested or charged as yet.
The cyclist told ABC News: "I really can't explain it. Some people just have anger management issues I think.
"This is my first incident of pedestrian rage I've ever encountered.
He continued: "It had a bit of a knock-on effect … I've had time off work, my wife's had to take time off work to ferry me to and from hospital appointments," he said.
"It's also been quite difficult trying to explain to my kids how something like this can happen.”
He explained that he was riding on the pavement since he was travelling in the opposite direction to the one-way traffic flow on Hutton Street.
Cyclists in Queensland may ride on the pavement, but are required to have consideration for others and give priority to pedestrians.
"I was as far over left as I could be,” Mr Stevenson explained. “There was 2 metres to his left.
"One sidestep, that's all he needed to take and we would have both got past."
Anne Savage, the CEO of Bicycle Queensland, said: "This is a shocking and deeply disturbing attack on a man who could not protect himself.
"He really easily could have been killed."
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