In a shocking turn of events, a dream holiday for an American couple from Phoenix, Arizona, turned into a nightmare when 64-year-old Rod Maroney, a retired aerospace engineer and father of two, suffered a near-fatal collision with an e-bike on Sydney’s George Street. What makes this already distressing incident even more unbelievable is that Maroney, while fighting for his life in a hospital, was issued a fine for the collision.
The incident occurred in September 2023, as the couple, at the start of their long-anticipated “bucket list” trip, crossed the road outside the Queen Victoria Building’s light rail stop. George Street, meant to be traffic-free apart from the light rail, became the setting for a tragic accident when an e-bike, travelling at considerable speed down the light rail tracks where bikes are not permitted, collided with Maroney. The impact sent him flying into the air, causing devastating brain injuries that required emergency surgery and left him in a coma for weeks.
As Rod Maroney fought for his life in St Vincent’s hospital, his wife Barbara Maroney, 61, experienced a bewildering situation. Shockingly, she found an $86 fine in her Airbnb letterbox, accusing Rod of the offense of “moving into the rider’s path.” This occurred even as her husband lay unconscious, struggling for survival. The fine, issued by NSW police, cited the violation of riding a bike along light rail tracks, a prohibited act as confirmed by Transport for NSW.
Outraged by the timing and insensitivity of the fine, Barbara, a semi-retired lawyer herself, sought legal assistance to contest the citation. The fact that the fine was served at their Airbnb accommodation while Rod was in a coma raised questions about the appropriateness of the legal process. Barbara argued that in the US, such service of process would be considered unacceptable, suggesting that if authorities were determined to serve the citation, it should have been done directly at the hospital where her husband was recuperating.
Despite the clear prohibition against riding e-bikes and bicycles on the footpath of George Street, especially in the Light Rail corridor, the collision took place in an area where such activities are explicitly banned. According to the City of Sydney Council website, riding a bike along George Street between Hunter and Bathurst streets is strictly prohibited unless accessing a private driveway. The collision occurred just outside the QVB light rail stop, catching the couple off guard as they crossed the road after dinner around 7:30 pm.
Barbara vividly recalled the horrifying moment when the collision took place. Attempting to warn her husband, she shouted, but he couldn’t hear her. The e-bike rider, traveling at a considerable speed, also attempted to alert them with a yell just before the impact. Unfortunately, the warning went unheard, and the collision unfolded tragically, with Rod being knocked unconscious and rushed to the hospital.
The rider of the e-bike, although knocked to the ground, appeared unharmed and stayed at the scene. The subsequent investigation and legal proceedings revealed the stark contrast between the severity of the incident and the seemingly callous act of issuing a fine to a man fighting for his life.
This incident not only highlights the importance of enforcing traffic regulations but also brings attention to the need for sensitivity in legal procedures, especially in cases where individuals are battling life-threatening injuries. The Maroney family’s dream vacation turned into a nightmare, and as Rod continues his arduous journey of recovery, questions remain about the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the fine during such a critical time.
