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Home NATIONALHundreds of cyclists demo for road safety
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Mon, 17 Aug, 2015 12:02:57 AM
Agitators clash with bus driver in Helsinki
FTimes – STT Report, Aug 17
 
Cyclists procession at Mannerheimintie in Helsinki on Sunday. Photo – Str / Lehtikuva.
Several hundreds of cyclists brought out processions and held rallies in Helsinki, Turku and Kuopio on Sunday to protest against the recent death of a cyclist in a car accident and in demand of their safety on road.
 
The main bicycle march was organised in Helsinki, which disrupted the traffic momentarily on Mannerheimintie, the Helsinki police said.
 
The rally was organised to commemorate the death of a cyclist after being run over by a car in Helsinki on August 12.
 
The event led to a clash between a bus driver and the marchers on Mannerheimintie. The bus driver heading to Tuusula took a turn in front of the Helsinki Music Centre, bumping into the bicycle procession and triggering a quarrel.
 
According to the police, the bus driver lost temper and threw one of the participants bicycle underneath another bus. In response, one of the cyclists went inside the bus and took the ignition key. The bus driver then started to shove cyclists.
 
Photo – Str / Lehtikuva.
The situation calmed down after the police arrived at the scene.
 
The police are investigating the incident as a case of endangering road safety, mild damage offence and petty assault.
 
Heikki Alanko, the managing director of Pohjolan Liikenne termed the incident unfortunate. 
 
“We are very sorry to have been involved in this situation. These are never good things, and especially in such a situation, this is a pity,” said Alanko.
 
Alanko stressed that there is room for everyone in the traffic and all road users must be able to feel safe.
 
Since the matter is still under investigation, Alanko refused to comment what would be the repercussions of the incident for the driver.
 
“We do not tolerate any form of violence,” Alanko said.
 
For the part of the cyclist who took the ignition key, the incident is being treated as disruption of traffic.
 
Besides Helsinki, similar bicycle processions were organised in the towns of Turku and Kuopio.
 
“Our main goal was to get people together to deal with what happened. The atmosphere during the cycling was devout and peaceful compared to previous joint cycling,” said Matti Kinnunen, the chair of an association of cyclists in Helsinki.
 
With the exception of the altercation, Kinnunen considered the march to be a success. According to his assessment, around 850 cyclists took part in the march.
 
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