Cyclists across the San Francisco Bay Space declare that they’re below assault from motorists who’re driving up alongside them and opening their doorways so as to knock them off their bikes.

In a video of 1 such alleged assault, a grey Hyundai Elantra might be seen driving up alongside a gaggle of riders. Whereas alongside, somebody on the passenger aspect of the car opens and shuts their door shortly, in what the video’s poster construes as a deliberate try to hit the bike owner.

Two riders have been significantly injured in these alleged assaults, and in two others, cyclists declare that autos merely swerved into them, somewhat than utilizing their doorways, experiences Fox11. One rider, Ellie Mead, stated she was attacked on Saturday, February 11, at round 8:00 p.m. by a passenger who doored her.

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“I’ve eight stitches and this huge gash in my brow,” Mead informed the outlet. “There was this grey sedan. A passenger on the passenger aspect opened the door and slowed down the automobile. My bike rammed proper into it. I fell to the bottom. They drove away. As they drove away they have been laughing.”

In all, 14 cyclists have been allegedly focused and eight hit in assaults that occurred between Thursday, February 9 and Saturday, February 11. In lots of the incidents, the autos reportedly accelerated to catch as much as the cyclists within the lead as much as the incident.

“Make no mistake – these have been violent, focused assaults with automobiles used as literal weapons,” East Bay Bike Occasion, the group drawing consideration to those incidents, wrote in a latest submit. “Final night time was one other horrifying reminder that native governments should take rapid motion to make the streets protected for everybody.”

Sadly, the dangers to cyclists lives are very actual. In 2022, fatalities rose by eight % amongst American cyclists. That was a bigger improve in numbers than was skilled amongst pedestrians, motorcyclists, or different drivers.

Whereas police say they’re investigating the incidents, the East Bay Bike Occasion stated it is going to be internet hosting a “Solidarity Experience” on Sunday, February 19, to help and unite the biking group within the space.