September 6, 2022 - Toronto’s High Park continues to be a focus of controversy between motorists and cyclists as a local rider, Marcel Zierfuss, a former top level rider for Canada, was recently the victim of a hit and run.
According to Zierfuss, a driver passed him in the park and began shouting at him and driving erratically. Zierfuss yelled back as the driver turned into his path, but he passed the vehicle. The driver of the grey Toyota Corolla subsequently chased him down, and abruptly stopped in front of him, forcing the rider to crash into the rear of the car.
Zierfuss’ bike was damaged and he suffered a bleeding nose and a concussion as the driver sped away. “I’ve never had a car intentionally come in front of me and try to take me out. I’m lucky to be standing,” he told CTV. “It’s no longer a safe place at all for me.”
The cyclist sought legal advice from David Shellnut, also known as The Biking Laywer, who commented that the attack was unprovoked, noting that the driver shouted expletives against cyclists for not stopping at stop signs and being entitled.
The assault follows the recent ticketing and harassment of cyclists in High Park by Toronto Police that Shellnut says was unwarranted, and that things are getting out of hand, such as the incident with Zierfuss and others.
Over the Labour Day weekend, in other hit-and-runs in the city of Toronto, a pedestrian was struck and killed while a cyclist was injured by the same driver. Police arrested and charged a Kitchener man.
Shellnut has written Toronto Mayor John Tory several times following the High Park ticketing fiasco that resulted in a protest ride organized by Shellnut and other local activists – and yet again regarding the Zierfuss hit and run.
“In the past month, there have been 2 collisions in High Park that our office is aware of, 1 caused by a TPS officer and now this, by a deranged and dangerous motorist. Prior to these and a stream of other incidents, we begged for your help and that of other elected officials in calming tensions. Instead, we were met with silence and in fact support for escalating enforcement against a statistically insignificant threat, cyclists. We demand immediate action to reduce anti-cycling narratives amongst the police and public,” wrote Shellnut to the Mayor.
According to Shellnut, Toronto Police are investigating the Zierfuss matter and he hopes Mayor Tory will dial back the enforcement crackdown on cyclists which has led to false narratives and emboldened motorists to target people on bikes. He noted a new FB group against cyclists called “Report the cyclists in high park” that espouses extremely anti-social and dangerous behaviour.
As safety issues continue to be top of mind The Biking Laywer offers tips and advice on how to deal with such incidents – check out A Cyclist’s Guide to Hit & Runs here.
Read more on CTVnews.ca here.
Open Letter to Mayor John Tory here.
Statement on All Cyclists Rally in Toronto’s High Park on Aug. 11 at 6pm for Safe Streets here.
Cyclists and Pedestrians Call for Less Police Enforcement & Better Travel Through High Park here.
Read more about the The Biking Laywer here.
