Magistrate says cyclists who use city roads are ‘automatically at high risk’, as he sentences car driver for badly injuring bike rider

While sentencing a driver for crashing into – and seriously injuring – a cyclist, a magistrate said bike riders who use city roads are “automatically at high risk”.

Tae Hwa Cheong, 80, of Milsons Point, outside Manly Local Court on Thursday, where he was convicted of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm. A cyclist suffered serious injuries after Cheong failed to give way at a lower north shore intersection. Picture: Manly Daily

A Sydney local court magistrate said cyclists who chose to ride on city roads “automatically put themselves at high risk”.

Acting magistrate Robert Rabbidge made the comment in Manly court while sentencing an elderly driver for crashing into, and seriously injuring, a bike rider on the Lower North Shore.

The cyclist suffered a badly fractured thigh bone, and a range of other injuries, when a Hyundai SUV, driven by Tae Hwa Cheong, 80, collided with the bike at a T-junction in Milsons Point.

Cheong, a retired cleaner of Milsons Point, pleaded guilty to one count of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.

Tae Hwa Cheong, 80, of Milsons Point, outside Manly Local Court on Thursday. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months. Picture: Manly Daily

The cyclist, Graham Davis, who was thrown into the air on impact, needed surgery to insert a rod in his broken left leg, fractured a thumb, chipped a tooth and suffered numerous bruises and grazes.

In a fact sheet tendered to the court, police stated that Cheong was turning right out of Greenway Dr into Broughton Rd at 4.10pm when the collision occurred.

“The impact caused the victim to be thrown from his bicycle and become airborne,” according to the facts sheet.”

Mr Davis was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital.

In an interview with North Sydney police, Cheong said he did not see the cyclist before the impact.

Tae Hwa Cheong was also given a 12-month good behaviour bond in Manly Local Court on Thursday. (AAP IMAGE / MONIQUE HARMER)

While sentencing Cheong, acting magistrate Rabbidge said people who ride pushbikes on roadways were “facing risks”.

“Those who choose to ride bicycles on city roads automatically put themselves at high risk.”

The court heard on Thursday that Cheong had a “quite outstanding” driving record. His lawyer said his client was “very sorry” for the injuries caused to Mr Davis.

Mr Rabbidge acknowledged that Cheong was a “very distinguished gentleman” and a “good man” who had been given a glowing reference from the pastor of the church he attended at Dee Why.

“It’ a sad situation,” Mr Rabbidge told him.

Cheong was disqualified from driving for 12 months and placed on a Conditional Release Order to be of good behaviour for a year.