- Cyclist claims battery thrown at him
- Internet mobilises in support
- Wants to lend drivers bikes for a week
A CYCLIST who claims he was the innocent victim of a vicious road rage incident said he posted the picture of the distinctive car online in the hope of finding the culprit.
Chris Moore posted a picture (see below) on online forum Sydney Cyclist to warn other bike riders about the dark Mitsubishi carrying the number plate "TRAFFIC".
"Cyclists beware - there are two crazy people driving around Sydney, who do NOT like cyclists," Mr Moore posted on Sydney Cyclist.
"It's a dark red Mitsubishi sedan, their number plates are covered with cardboard with "TRAFFIC" written on in texta.
"Yesterday afternoon the guy on the right threw a battery at me, and then got out of the car and punched me. I suppose that's assault and battery?"
The avid cyclist said he was at sitting at traffic lights waiting to turn right when the occupants of the car began abusing him and threw the battery.
He says the car then turned right with him and stopped before a man got out and punched him.
“I didn’t do anything to provoke him,” Mr Moore told news.com.au
“I maybe held them up for 15-20 seconds and wasn’t riding that slowly.”
The post sparked a raft of comments and debate about road safety with cyclists and motorists pitted against each other.
Mr Moore, who lives in the inner-west Sydney suburb of Newtown, said he reported the incident to police who told him they weren’t optimistic about the chances of finding the car.
“It had a cardboard number plate so it was probably unlicenced I guess,” he said.
“I’ve posted the picture in case someone identifies the car and before they do something like this again.”
He added the reaction from the cycling community had been quite supportive, with internet vigilantes now trying to track down the driver who allegedly assaulted him.
While he appreciated the support he'd been shown, Mr Moore said the conversation between cyclists and drivers was too antagonistic.
Even if police do find the driver, he's not interested in pressing charges. In fact, as the owner of a bike shop, he has an offer for the occupants of the red Mitsubishi.
"I just want to sit down and have a beer with them," he told news.com.au.
"I assume they live in Newtown or somewhere nearby. I'd like to lend them bikes for a week so they could give cycling a go.
"I think they'd come to appreciate the joy of cycling."
Were you in the red Mitsubishi? Email us at news@news.com.au if you want to take up Mr Moore's offer
Mr Moore said while said most cars were happy to share the road, incidents like this would turn more cyclists off the habit.
The Mitsubishi sedan driven by people allegedly attacking Sydney cyclists. Picture: Courtesy of Sydney Cyclist
His post also made it onto popular global forum Reddit, drawing comments from cyclists worldwide.
As one Redditor put it, "Internet Vigilante is go!"
According to his fellow cyclists, it shouldn't take long to track down the alleged attacker.
"We can easily identify it if left on road," wrote another forum user.
"It has distinctive blemishes/damage visible in this picture. The power of 4000 Sydney Cyclist members will quite likely find it."
Redditor Andrenid claimed they'd seen the car plenty of times, "usually around Union Lane off King St".
They said they'd "always laughed" at the cardboard number plate, which they'd seen "a few times over the last few months".
A "friend of a friend" told Mr Moore the car was "sometimes parked in Petersham".
Mr Moore said the COPS number for the reported incident was E47648731. The internets responded with a hearty "let's get them!"
NSW police confirmed they received a rport of a common assault on Abercrombie Street in Darlington on the weekend.
They confirmed the victim was a cyclist who alleged had a battery thrown at him and was then punched on the shoulder.
"Investigators have received a description of a vehicle seen in the vicinity at the time of the alleged incident and investigations are continuing," the statement said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000."
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