Victoria's mayor says her bike was vandalized as she spoke at an event over the weekend – and believes the act may have been targeted.
Lisa Helps said she was leaving a climate action event at the Vic Theatre Friday night when she discovered her bike had padlocks placed on the spokes of both wheels.
She said had she not noticed the lock, she likely would have been thrown over her handlebars if she tried to ride the bike.
Helps said the act may have been the work of somebody targeting her due to their views on bike lanes.
"I was widely publicized to be speaking that night, and it's not a surprise what my bike looks like from the last time it was vandalized. It was on the front page of the newspaper," she said. "I don't know, there are lots of other bikes there and no one else seemed to have a problem. Especially since all the conversation about the bike lane this past week."
Helps said the bike, which was built from scraps, isn't much to look at – but it would be fine after the padlocks were cut off.
She said even though the act feels personal, she's not letting it get her down.
"People find all sorts of ways to express their discontent. My preference is through dialogue and conversation," she said.
