His mind trained on personal matters, Daryl Richardson crossed Pacific Street, entered the bike lane on the Burrard Bridge and set out to climb the paved path.
He didn't realize he was walking on a dedicated bike route and, as a pedestrian, was required to use the other side of the bridge.
"Every cyclist who went by me, I made sure to go farther toward the right where the cars are so they had more room, but none of them said anything."
That is until one irate cyclist struck Richardson, he believes deliberately.
"I saw this lady coming towards me and I went, 'Uh-oh,'" he said.
"I saw her and she veered into my lane and was going right for me. She was coming for me like she was trying to make a point. Then just before she was about to hit me head on, she swerved a little bit to hit me in the shoulder. Then she yelled something to the effect of, 'This is a bike lane.'"
(The collision on Dec. 6 was witnessed by Courier cycling columnist Kay Cahill.)
Richardson's left shoulder was struck by the fast-moving cyclist who was on the downhill slope headed downtown. He was unharmed but was knocked into the barrier between himself and northbound bridge traffic.
"I felt stunned, in shock that someone would be so angry that they'd want to run someone over."
City reports claim more than 80,000 bike trips are made each month across the Burrard Bridge since separated bike lanes were installed in July 2009. City council and Mayor Gregor Robertson urged city engineers to find ways pedestrians could access both sides of the bridge but no solution was put forward.
The Motor Vehicle Act prevents pedestrians from walking in the road where a sidewalk is available. Vancouver's director of transportation Jerry Dobrovolny said the east bike lane of the Burrard Bridge is considered a roadway and is no longer a sidewalk, meaning "pedestrians are required to walk on the west-side sidewalk only."
Richardson said he was concerned he may be at fault if the cyclist was hurt, but said of her brazen hit-and-run assault, "I'm not going to let something small bother me."
Richardson, 42, has lived in Vancouver since 1990, and can't remember the woman's face but believes she was wearing a white jacket. If he did cross her path again, he'd suggest she adopt a more courteous attitude and a calmer, broader perspective.
"I would say, 'Don't be so angry about something so small.'"
Richardson's outlook has come at a cost.
His partner travelled to Toronto five months ago but has since disappeared and he presumes she is dead. He was evicted from their shared apartment and on Boxing Day he will no longer be able to stay at the temporary shelter where he has been living. He spent two nights in Stanley Park and three months ago was on another bridge, the Lions Gate, intending to take his own life.
"I'd say to [the cyclist], 'Don't be angry on something so small.' I don't know how to elaborate on that. Life is more important than someone walking in your bike lane."
He has scant possessions but says he does have a large collection of stuffed animals he intends to donate to a children's charity or family shelter. Richardson says he lives day by day. "I can't live week by week."
"Every day is a different day. I try to be positive. I know it sounds corny, but I try to see beauty in everything. Your eyes are opened to many things you may not have seen before, both good and bad. I try to be positive. That's why I didn't yell at the lady when she hit me."
Twitter: @MHStewart
