Off your bike! Grayling knocks cyclist flying

 

Beleaguered transport secretary Chris Grayling has attracted more bad headlines after knocking a cyclist flying with the door of his ministerial car.

Video obtained by the Guardian shows a cyclist identified as Jaiqi Liu hit by a car door apparently opened by Mr Grayling.

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Chris Grayling

Mr Grayling can then be seen to get out and speak to Mr Liu. The Guardian quotes Mr Liu as saying: ‘One thing he did say was that I was cycling too fast, which was not true. That made me really upset. He made out it was my fault.’

The encounter ends with Mr Grayling and Mr Liu shaking hands. The Guardian said the transport secretary left the scene less than two minutes after the collision.

Mr Liu told the Guardian that he did so without leaving any name or details.

He reported the incident, which occurred just before 6pm on 12 October, to the Metropolitan police, still not knowing who had been in the car.

The video came from a camera mounted on the handlebars of a bike belonging to Laurence de Hoest, who said he was also unaware of Mr Grayling’s identity at the time of the incident.

A spokesperson for Mr Grayling told the Guardian: ‘This was an unfortunate accident. Mr Grayling got out of the car, checked the cyclist was OK and waited until he was back on his feet. Mr Grayling spoke to the cyclist and apologised; they shook hands before he left.’

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