- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
news
Car keys and drain (copyright John Stevenson)Toronto cyclist hit by motorist throws car keys down drain
A cyclist who was hit by a motorist in Toronto reportedly got his own back by grabbing the keys from the car’s ignition and throwing them down a nearby drain, rendering the vehicle immobile.
The incident happened in the Canadian city last Thursday, with one witness posting an account on Reddit of what had happened, reports Treehugger.com.
“The cyclist was going eastbound on Queen and the driver was going westbound, the driver made a quick left, t-boned the cyclist and stopped in the intersection,” said the witness.
“At this point, the driver was getting out to see what happened. The cyclist took the keys from the car, walked to the nearest storm drain and tossed them.
“Shortly after, the cyclist bailed and the cops showed up.”
– San Francisco Critical Mass cyclist filmed smashing car window with bike lock arrested
Police managed to follow and stop the cyclist, who has been charged with mischief, but according to police constable Clint Stibbe, while the motorist was being investigated, he had not yet been charged with any offence.
"Reaching into a vehicle is risky at best," said Constable Stibbe. "And you never know what the person inside that car is going to do to you when you do that."
He added: "In the end what we're looking at is a very adversarial relationship between cyclists and drivers. It is something that is occurring on a daily basis."
– Police escort Brazilian cycling team off highway in Toronto
One person commenting on Reddit said that they’d been tempted to do the same as the cyclist in this incident.
"I've always thought of doing this when people have almost run me down while crossing the street," one person said on Reddit.
"I can't believe someone actually did it,” the commenter added.
Contsable Stibb added: "Some people may think it's funny and maybe [it is] to that individual who dropped the keys.
"But in the end you don't know what that person is going home to."
– Toronto cyclists sticker cars illegally parked in bike lanes
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
- anke2 12 min 55 sec ago
I thought the X was for the Elon - which doesn't make things any better...
- thax1 2 hours 56 min ago
Double points for that photo backdrop Mark1a, and for anyone that has a shelf bracket for their air duster canister.
- mattw 3 hours 42 sec ago
This risks turning me into a hanger and flogger....
- wtjs 7 hours 44 sec ago
In SE London, psychopath riders are the majority of people on bicycles Oh dear! another festive stealth anti-cyclist ☃️
- wtjs 7 hours 6 min ago
Well, you know the BMW drivers' saying: knock that house (hospital, social housing, care home, hospital...) down, could save 30 seconds on the trip!
- Spangly Shiny 8 hours 40 min ago
I had the pleasure of owning two of the featured builders here, in my history. When I joined the Army in 1971, I took with me my curly Hetchins:...
- Username 9 hours 46 min ago
Could Siobhán paint it red and noone would notice it?
- Spangly Shiny 1 day 35 min ago
To paraphrase Field of Dreams, "Build it right and they will come: and use it!"
- Rendel Harris 1 day 2 hours ago
And a Happy Christmas to you, road.cc staff!
- Rendel Harris 1 day 3 hours ago
The odds of not being able to find a single pedestrian - just one, note, "any pedestrian" - in an area containing more than about ten of them who...
Add new comment
25 comments
Contsable Stibb added: "Some people may think it's funny and maybe [it is] to that individual who dropped the keys.
"But in the end you don't know what that person is going home to."
Somebody should point out to Constable Stibb that at least the fucker is going home, whereas he seems not to care that other people may not get there.
Contsable Stibb added: "Some people may think it's funny and maybe [it is] to that individual who dropped the keys.
"But in the end you don't know what that person is going home to."
Somebody should point out to Constable Stibb that at least the fucker is going home, whereas he seems not to care that other people may not get there.
+1 for that.
But should we really be surprised at the response of the law enforcement agent. Cyclist as second class citizen...
I want to be charged for 'causing mischief'. Sounds like something out of the beano.
When the Constable say's 'you don't know what that person is going home to' is that meant to be a deterrent for those of us reading this? As in, if I find myself thinking I'd like to take this driver's keys out of their car and throw them down a drain I should think about what they're going home to first? It's so vague but I can't help think he's suggesting that the driver may not have a very happy home therefore may not have a happy response to your key prank.. I guess police deal with people who have difficult home lives all the time so it might make sense but I still find it a strange thing to say.
Cyclist couldn't have been injured if he got up, snatched keys from the car ignition then rode off when he realised the filth were turning up. Something doesn't add up.
I always regret not doing this when I witnessed a car knock off a motorcyclist. The car driver and passenger swapped places and drove off. I managed to record the reg number, but it turned out the car was stolen. As far as I know they were never caught.
I'll applaud you for your bravery, but I wouldn't beat myself up too bad for not having tossed a car thief's keys. Yeah it might've been the right call but it's not without it's risks.
First took the keys from a van driver who dangerously pulled out in front of us when I was still at school. It helped him focus and calm down, after a chat he realised what he'd done wrong and and apologised profusely I handed him back the keys.
Second time the driver pulling a caravan cup up a bunch of us not once, not twice but thrice. Then he stopped being upset by a bunch of young lads on bikes shouting at him. He was swearing and threatening and tried to get out to fight. He felt he'd done nothing wrong. I grabbed they keys from the ignition again and it seemed once again to help calm the situation, it helped persuade him not to get out after all and after quite a long chat the group set off cycling and I gave him back the keys.
Most of us, even cyclists, when challenged about our driving tend to be defensive, justifying our actions. After a while we realise we were wrong. The dangerous idiots are the ones who want to argue or fight, it takes a while for them to realise they were wrong and come back down to earth - I personally prefer that to happen before they drive off.
It isn't always safe, it isn't always possible and many times using the bike's agility to get away is the best defence - but if you can't then why not grab the keys? Chucking the keys in a drain might be fun but I doubt it really helps.
This is so true. To my shame I once acted like a complete tosser to a moped rider I accidentally cut up in my car. When challenged I got incredibly defensive and it was only when I was driving away that I realised I was totally and utterly in the wrong and should have simply apologised. Our personalities really do change when we're behind the wheel. That experience taught me a few useful lessons.
How dare you admit that you are not a perfect motorist!
Bloody hell disgruntled cyclists have been chucking away motorists keys for decades in Yorkshire. So what's the fuss ! ?
Chapeau to the cyclist!
So, at this point the driver still hadn't realised what had happened? Very worrying. Or were they just worried that the cyclist had dinged their paintjob?
Hands up if anyone thinks that the motorist would have stayed around, or that the police would have attended, if the cyclist hadn't taken their action...
Unfortunately in the USA / Canada there are many many gun carriers and the cyclist could well have been shot, i'm sure most people have seen the clips on youtube or FB.
Saying that as a Poice officer i would have had a good laugh about it
Yeah the cyclst could have been carrying a gun by the same logic. There was no message to motorists "don't run down cyclists, you don't know what they might do"
Strap a 50 mm phased plasma pulse rifle with laser targeting to your top tube...
The USA perhaps, but Canada? Not so much.
The USA perhaps, but Canada? Not so much. Perhaps more than England but you'd have to be very unlucky indeed to encounter someone carrying a gun in Canada, particularly a handgun. If you do, it's someone who either owns it, or is transporting it, illegally. The gun culture is very different here compared to the US (despite some of the efforts of our current government and lobby groups).
Cyclist should have jumped into a car and run him down. "Sorry, I didn't see you. This will haunt me for the rest of my life. Be safe out there. Wear a helmet."
Not bike related, but in Timperley recently a lollpop man was assaulted by a motorist who then tried to drive away.
Another driver snatched the keys and threw them high into a tree in an adjoining garden.
I can't remember the exact police response, but it was along the lines of 'congratulations for quick thinking'
"Reaching into a vehicle is risky at best," said Constable Stibbe. "And you never know what the person inside that car is going to do to you when you do that."
He'd already 'T-Boned' him, how bad could it get?
"Police managed to follow and stop the cyclist, who has been charged with mischief, but according to police constable Clint Stibbe, while the motorist was being investigated, he had not yet been charged with any offence."
There's a surprise...
Worse than getting knocked off your bike but still able to walk around and grab things - fairly sure it doesn't take much imagination to think up several dozen actions that fit the bill.
Are the police really more concerned by the actions of the cyclist who was hit by the car than the driver who's actions led to the cyclists response?
It is believable that they could be, as the Toronto police have not enjoyed a very good relationship with cyclists.
About six or seven years ago, during the summer, the police were performing safety spot checks on cycle-commuters. Despite these checks being performed hours before sunset, numerous people were fined for not having proper lights or reflectors.
In the early 90s, after the police were the focus of criticism, their action against rampant bike theft (the numbers exceeded those of New York City, despite Toronto having a quarter the population) was to leave unlocked bikes as bait, then arrest the suckers who walked away with the bikes. A handful of these arrests got the police front-page headlines, but did nothing to reduce theft.
When the police do recover stolen bikes, what they required from owners to retrieve their bikes was stifling (e.g., a sales receipt for what may be a very old bike, or bought used, or a build from parts). That policy may have been changed in the last few years, as there was criticism of this.