Breaking News: Cyclist Assaulted on Market

“BBnet3000” posted this video of an assault on a cyclist on Market Street on the Streetsblog website this morning:

The video shows a confrontation between a cyclist and a motorist who parked his car in the bike lane on Market at Van Ness. It’s a disturbing incident and unfortunately all too common. Other commenters are already taking the cyclist to task for being aggressive, but wherever you stand on that question, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s against the law to park in the bike lane, even to discharge passengers. It’s also against the law to drive a car at a cyclist and get out and spit at them. This is a case where SFPD can do something, but they need your help.

Streetsblog has been in touch with Supervisor Jane Kim’s office and the SFPD about the incident. Here’s part of what SFPD Commander Ann Mannix had to say in an email to Streetsblog:

Terrible event. Does the video come from the woman the driver spat at? She would have to sign a citizen’s arrest for the incident then the district investigations can follow up on the incident. The passenger did the right thing to calm the situation…Let me know if she [the cyclist] is willing to sign a citizen’s arrest and then we will attempt to identify the driver (not necessarily the registered owner of the car). I have cc’ed the captains of both the Mission and Southern Stations as the event likely occurred in both of their districts.

So if somebody out there knows the victim, please email tips@sf.streetsblog.org