Man charged over driving on bike path and abusing cyclists riding on road
A motorist has been charged after allegedly driving down a bike lane and yelling abuse at two cyclists who chose to stick to the road.
Footage, which appears to have been filmed by the driver, shows a driver make his way down the path on Swamp Rd, between Dunmore and Jamberoo on the NSW south coast, before hurling abuse at the riders.
His move to the bike path appears to be in response to the riders staying on the road and riding side by side, taking up much of the road.
“What’s the point of us spending this money if you’re not going to use it, you f****** d********,” he shouts from his window.
One of the cyclist quickly responds, suggesting they discuss the matter at the side of the road.
“Pull over so I can have a chat,” he says.
The motorist instead unleashes more expletives before speeding off.
“F*** off, f****** idiot. Use the bike track,” he says.
A NSW Police spokesperson confirmed to Yahoo7 News a motorist has presented himself to Illawarra police station and has been charged with using a mobile phone while driving, using offensive language and driving on the cycle path.
He is expected to be issued a court attendance notice.
The spokesperson said one of the cyclists had been interviewed and released without charge.
Social media divided over clip
The clip was uploaded to Facebook on Sunday and has divided opinion among thousands of users.
Many people on Facebook agreed with the motorist’s comments, praising him for his point about their decision not to use the path provided.
“He makes a good point. Why ride on the road when there is a perfectly good bike path,” one person said.
“Never wanted to buy someone a drink so much in all my life,” another declared.
Yet others were less appreciative of the man’s verbal attack on the cyclists.
One comment explained why the men might not have been using the bike lane.
“On the flat an amateur cyclist will go 40km to 50km/hr,” they wrote.
“You don’t want to be going that speed near pedestrians,” one comment read, referencing the fact the bike lane was in fact a shared path between cyclists and pedestrians.”
The rules on bike lanes in NSW
Others pointed out that regardless of the cyclist’s actions, the driver shouldn’t have moved into the cycle path.
While cycling two abreast is legal on NSW roads, the NSW Road Users’ Handbook says cyclists “must use the bike lane where one is available”.
If not using the provided bicycle lane, cyclists can cop a fine of $112.
There is no requirement for cyclists to use shared paths when available.
Motorists caught driving in a bicycle lane can be fined $187 while using a phone behind the wheel comes with a maximum fine of $2200 and five demerit points.
