Police are hoping the public can help them find a driver and passenger who allegedly threatened a cyclist with secateurs and a knife during an argument in North Melbourne on Thursday afternoon.

A verbal stoush erupted at traffic lights between the 33-year-old cyclist and a silver Holden Commodore carrying two men about 3.45pm on Haines Street on Thursday, police say.

Two men allegedly wielded secateurs during an incident with a cyclist in North Melbourne on Thursday.

As the cyclist rode off, the car accelerated quickly and the passenger threw something at him.

Once the cyclist took a photo of the Commodore’s number plate, the two men, described as being of Caucasian appearance and in their late 20s, stepped out of their car.