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Wednesday May 23, 2012

What we're talking about

Tweets, lies and no videotape

Posted by: Derryn Hinch | 18 January, 2012 - 3:55 PM
hinch

I hadn't planned to buy into this story because for a while it looked a 'he said, he said' situation but there have been some developments this afternoon and I want to try to get to the truth of it all.

IMAGE: Hinch on a bike.

*Scroll down to hear Hinch interview Cycling Victoria, speaking on behalf of the cyclist involved*

I'm talking about the Shane Warne 'bike rage' story. If you believe the spin bowler's spin – which he detailed in about 700 words on Twitter even though the limit is 140 characters – an arrogant cyclist thumped on the boot of his car, then used his car to pull himself through the traffic when the lights changed.

"He pulls out in front of me whacks my bonnet with his hand and pulls out in front of all the traffic, I yell out 'hey buddy, what the hell are you doing'. He abuses me and says 'get off the road'."

According to Warne, the cyclist then stopped in front of him blocking his way and when he tried to edge past the bike rider he accidentally clipped the bike wheel.

The cyclist, who insists he remain anonymous - which weakens his case - has hit back in a blog in which he accuses Warne of being the aggressor and is demanding the Big Bash cricketer pay for the repairs to his damaged bike.

Warne was on his way home from practice at the MCG when the incident occurred.

The cyclist claims that at no time did he 'thump' or 'whack' Warnes Mercedes coupe on the corner of St Kilda Road and Toorak Road about 6pm yesterday.

The 28-year-old says Warne yelled at him and deliberately ran into his bike which was so damaged he was forced to carry it to the side of the road and could not ride it home.

That doesn't gell with Warne's Twitter version:"Anyway, I drive off, he rides off and everyone was shaking their heads at this bike rider as he was being very dangerous."

The bike rider claims eyewitnesses would support his ersion of events. And one cyclist at the scene is quoted by the Herald Sun:

"He definitely ran into him in his car on purpose. He didn't even try to swerve to miss him. On Twitter it was obvious he was trying to cover up the fact that he was in the wrong."

Both Warne and the cyclist have apparently lodged complaints with police.

Warne has used the fracas to back a commendable campaign for cyclists to be registered – an old hobby horse of mine – but has declined to be interviewed about the road rage incident.

Later today he tweeted: "We both know what happened and people next to me shook their heads at your actions. All move on please."

The bike rider's response: "Shane, please acknowledge that you made a mistake and pay for my bike. I'll be donating yesterday's pay to the Amy Gillett Foundation to do my bit – it would be great if you did the same."

I know I have copped my share of flack from cyclists by calling them cockroaches on wheels' but we deserve to know what really happened in my neighbourhood last night.

It least it has achieved one thing: Re-ignited the debate about the registration of bikes and the licencing of riders.

They've got their own bike lanes now. Why should motorists' registration fees and petrol taxes pay for it all?

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PLAY: Cycling Victoria speaks on behalf of the cyclist to Hinch

Shane Warne incident sparks debate

Shane Warne in the studio with Neil Mitchell LATEST: A man purporting to be the cyclist involved in the altercation with Shane Warne on Tuesday night has denied that he 'whacked' the cricket legend's car. Read more and view images, apparently of the damaged bike.

Blog comments Your Say

  • Once again Derryn Hinch is completely uninformed yet willing to give his opinion. This is simply another case of a public figure (Shane Warne) using an innocent member of the public as a scapegoat for his own actions instead of being held accountable for them. Much like Les Twentyman, he has used the media to his own advantage turning a small incident into a media circus only because he can. I agree completely with this person's choice to remain anonymous so as to prevent him and his family from dealing with the media vultures. As a friend of Daniel Mallia's I only wish he was given the same choice instead of being hounded by the media based solely on what Les Twentyman had to say and not the truth. Les and the media were largely responsible for his death and instead of now leaving his family to grieve in peace, they continue to tarnish his name without the facts. I suggest that the media actually start to think twice before they allow these public figures to address their own issues in front of the world.

    Bernadette McConnell Saturday 21 January, 2012 - 6:40 PM

  • Every year Derryn gives hundreds of needy kids a bike. Are these kids 'cockroaches on wheels' too?

    Mylene Saturday 21 January, 2012 - 10:13 AM

  • I would love to be able to get my bike registered, because then I would be able to ride in the middle of any land on any road and watch as people realise that it wasn't such a good idea, and that they have no argument as to why I should not ride there. Even without rego or anything as stupid as that, legally cyclists can ride in the middle of the lane and can hold up traffic. You should be grateful that a majority of cyclists sick to the far right of lanes.

    Anonymous Friday 20 January, 2012 - 4:12 PM

  • Hinch. Yet again you should do some little research or fire your little 15yo assistant for not doing her job. Car registration contributes to like less than 1% of the cost of building and maintaining roads and most of it in fact is used to cover insurance claims and to prop up the TAC. Fuel excise pays for some infrastructure too but the majority of the funds comes from personal income tax and corporations.
    Anyway Hinch, as a cyclist myself I can assure you that a road cyclist all clad in lycra like myself would not slap or punch a car unless he was placed in a position of danger by a motorist. Certainly not for no reason! Warne would certainly have been annoyed at the cyclist squeezing past his Merc and that it was started it. If he had kept his fat celeb mouth shut all would have been nothing and forgotten in 5 mins. It would not surprise me that Warne was trying to squeeze through traffic anf placed himself in the way of all motorists and cyclists alike. And one final fact Hinch everyone had ignored: a cyclist cannot 'hang onto a Merc' and be driven by the vehicle. There is nothing to hang onto. The radio antenna is on the RIGHT side of the car, not the left.

    _cycleman_ Thursday 19 January, 2012 - 10:34 PM

  • Jan the only reason this issue is being discussed is that bikes are not as fast as cars and it irritates motorists (I know I am one). When people get into cars they become selfish and intolerant; of everyone.

    The need for insurance and identification is minimal and does not justify the cost of administration.

    It is telling that this modern Australian society we are looking for ways to decrease cycling rather than encourage it.

    LukeW Thursday 19 January, 2012 - 1:05 PM

  • The same dudes that claim to be 'bike riders' in favour of registration 'have voted "Labour" all their lives' as well. :p

    Mylene Thursday 19 January, 2012 - 11:27 AM

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