In a disturbing incident caught on camera, a food delivery courier suffered injuries after a pedestrian deliberately pushed a shopping cart into the Danforth Avenue bike lane, causing the rider to crash violently. The unprovoked attack, which occurred Tuesday evening near Danforth and Bowden Street, has raised serious concerns about cyclist safety in Toronto’s dedicated bike lanes.
Footage obtained by CO24 News shows the suspect, described as a middle-aged man in dark clothing, waiting on the sidewalk before suddenly shoving an empty shopping cart directly into the path of the approaching e-bike rider. The courier, unable to avoid the obstacle, collided with the cart and was thrown from his vehicle.
“This appears to be a deliberate act targeting someone simply doing their job,” said Constable Maya Richardson of Toronto Police Service. “We’re treating this as an assault investigation and are asking any witnesses to come forward.”
The victim, whose identity has not been released, sustained moderate injuries including lacerations and a possible shoulder fracture. He was transported to a local hospital where he remains in stable condition.
Local cycling advocates have expressed outrage over the incident. Jared Morris, director of SafeCycle Toronto, told CO24 Canada that this represents “a disturbing escalation in anti-cyclist sentiment” in parts of the city.
“We’ve seen increasing tensions between different road users since the pandemic-era expansion of bike lanes, but physical attacks like this cross a dangerous line,” Morris said. “Infrastructure changes need to be accompanied by education and enforcement.”
This incident comes amid ongoing debates about Toronto’s cycling infrastructure. The Danforth bike lanes, installed as part of the city’s ActiveTO program, have been both praised for improving cyclist safety and criticized by some business owners and residents concerned about parking and traffic flow.
According to CO24 Politics reporting, city council is currently reviewing proposals to make several pandemic-initiated bike lanes permanent fixtures, with decisions expected next month.
Toronto Police have released images of the suspect and are asking anyone with information to contact 55 Division or Crime Stoppers. As e-bike and food delivery services continue to grow across the city, how can Toronto better protect vulnerable road users while addressing the concerns of all stakeholders in our shared urban spaces?
