Cricket legend Shane Warne says irresponsible cyclists think they own the road after a run-in with a bike rider on his way home from the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"I think what disappoints a lot of people is the attitude of the bike rider. They don't own the road," Warne saidbefore training with his Melbourne Stars Big Bash cricket team yesterday. "My main concern is the attitude of the bike riders; just respect everyone on the road."
But the cyclist involved in the incident with Warne had a different view, claiming the cricketer drove into his bike and damaged it so badly he couldn't ride home.
The cyclist wants to remain anonymous, but told cyclingtipsblog.com he carried his bike to the police station to report the run-in and said he wanted Warne to pay for the cost of its repair.
He denied Warne's claim that he thumped his car and said it was the cricketer who was aggressive.
"The driver lurched his car forward, forcing my bike wheel and almost my leg under the front of his car," he wrote.
The cyclist said he was "dumbfounded at how overtly aggressive the driver had been". He said that after the incident Warne did not stop to check if he was injured and he claimed to have witnesses who could back his story.
Warne denied a witness report that he intentionally clipped the cyclist after the argument.
"He [the cyclist] was lucky, I was actually polite and careful after smacking my car twice and grabbing on to my car ... otherwise I might have put my foot down and tried to hit him.
"People can say whatever they want; I know what happened, I did the right thing at the time and I did the right thing afterwards."
Warne said he would be willing to work with cycling advocacy groups after he was criticised for inciting hatred towards cyclists. AAP
