Image credit: Google Street View
On Friday evening, October 9th, Mandy Pappas was walking to the Henry Hudson Elementary School in Kitsilano to cast her advance vote for the upcoming federal elections. As she was crossing the street at the intersection of Cypress Street and York Avenue (a four-way stop with newly added bike lanes), a man riding a bike sped through the stop sign without stopping and nearly hit her.
Pappas, who is five months pregnant and a mother of a two-year-old daughter, yelled at the cyclist at which point the cyclist turned around and came back at her. Pappas alleges assault. The cyclist, after the story went viral, turned himself in and responded with a strange explanation of his return to confront Mandy, and subsequent flight from the scene. See the full story here from CTV News.
While this story is currently exploding, I have to say that Mandy is not alone in her experience with a cyclist in our neighbourhood. Although I’ve not had any cyclist ever turn on me, I have witnessed many cyclists not obeying the rules of the road, especially stop signs and roundabouts. And too many times have I been in near-collisions with those cyclists who whizz past me while I’m walking with my two young daughters.
Readers, what are your thoughts and experiences with cyclists (or other vehicles) and stop signs in Kitsilano?
