Tamaki Drive cyclist clash

Nigel Cooke (inset) lost his car grille in an incident with a cyclist. Photos / NZ Herald, Jason Dorday

A high-profile barrister says he locked himself inside his expensive Mercedes as a furious cyclist kicked the panelwork and banged the windows.

It is the latest in a string of clashes between motorists and cyclists on Auckland's busy Tamaki Dr - each group accuses the other of being a danger on the road.

British cyclist Jane Bishop was knocked off her bike and killed last year, prompting cycling groups to highlight the risks posed by drivers who disregard cyclists or pass them at speed. But motorists say cyclists ride in groups in the middle of the lane, making them impossible to overtake.

Now this week, Parnell lawyer Nigel Cooke has revealed to the Herald on Sunday how he drove into a bicycle during the evening rush hour, tearing the grille from his green 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS saloon. A new CLS saloon sells for up to $277,000.

Police investigated after a complaint from the cyclist, but have laid no charges.

It is not Cooke's first encounter with the authorities while driving. Earlier this week, he lost a High Court appeal against a $150 fine for driving in a bus lane. He had unsuccessfully argued the Symonds St bus lane was inadequately marked.

After the Tamaki Dr incident, police officers turned up at Cooke's home in Parnell's exclusive Gibraltar Cres. They took a statement from him, and returned the Mercedes grille that the cyclist had taken as evidence.

"He was riding his bike along Tamaki Dr in the middle of the road," Cooke said.

"I flashed my lights, he pulled over and I drove past. The traffic banks up and stops. My car stops in a line of traffic and next thing this lunatic tries to open my car door. Luckily my car is self locking."

Cooke feared for his safety as the cyclist "danced around the car screaming and shouting".

"The bloody lunatic told me to get out of my car. He kicked my car. He was dancing around banging on my window," he said. "My concern was he was going to pull me out of the car. He was screaming his head off at me."

The cyclist had stopped his bike in front of Cooke's car.

"The bike was parked immediately in front of my car and impeded my passage," Cooke said.

"He stopped me from proceeding. I was stopped in the middle of the road. It was 5pm and the traffic was banking up. Behind me impatient drivers were undertaking me and overtaking me. It was madness.

"The car moved forward and knocked his bike over. The car has a grille on the front and the bike has taken the grille off with it when it fell.

"I didn't drive over the bloody thing. I reversed back and drove around his bike. I drove off."

The cyclist called police and gave them Cooke's registration number and his car grille.

Officers turned up at the Cooke home to return the grille and interview Cooke about what happened. "I made a full statement to police, the cyclist gave his description of events, there were bystanders there who had seen what happened and I'm sure police spoke to them, and the police have decided not to lay any charges," Cooke said.

TAMAKI DRIVE TOLL

June 2011: Recreational cyclist Jim Tabak breaks a shoulder blade after a companion slips on a greasy white line before toppling on to him - one of a number of such crashes.

March 2011: Chief Coroner Judge Neil McLean is told the corner near Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World is "a very dangerous situation for cyclists".

September 2010: Jane Mary Bishop, 27, swerves to avoid a parked motorist who opens a car door. She falls under a moving truck, suffering fatal injuries.

April 2010: Council sets aside $455,000 to improve Tamaki Drive, after 24 crashes involving cyclists - including six causing serious injuries.

Sept 2009: Cyclist Greg Paterson is critically injured and three others hurt when a car ploughs into a pack of 20 riders. Cyclists with the injured men describe the scene as "absolute carnage".