Motorists who block cycle lanes in Lithuanian capital get stern warning from the city's mayor

This article is more than 9 years old

This article is more than 9 years old

Drivers who park in cycle lanes would normally worry about receiving a fine or perhaps having their vehicle towed. They probably do not expect to have their car crushed beneath the wheels of an armoured personnel carrier which has the local mayor at the controls.

But car owners in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, may be choosing their parking spaces a little more carefully after the city's mayor, Arturas Zuokas, drove over – and wrecked – a Mercedes in a stunt to serve as a warning to anyone who thinks about parking illegally.

In a video released by the city government, Zuokas is seen beaming triumphantly as he rides roughshod over the car.

"In the past few days, expensive cars have been illegally parked in almost this exact place – a Rolls Royce and a Ferrari," says the mayor's narration to the video.

"What should the city do about drivers who think that they are above the law? It seems that a tank is the best solution."

The get-tough approach earned praise for Zuokas, who has been better known for his involvement in a bribery scandal while serving two terms as mayor until 2007. Vilnius voters re-elected him in April.

Zuokas had cycle lanes installed throughout the capital during his first term as mayor.

"Mayor Zuokas wanted his message to be loud and clear that the city will not tolerate brazen and disrespectful behaviour by drivers who disobey parking rules," said his spokeswoman, Irma Juskenaite.

"The mayor hopes that he will not have to repeat his performance to have drivers heed his message, although he says that he is prepared to do so," she added, with a smile.

The mayor cleans up the mess of crushed glass at the end of the video, before riding away on a bike.

The car, Juskenaite added, was bought specifically for the stunt.