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Auto Bike Show Report
Washington and 11th Avenue Incident submitted by Ramon

I will allow others to write about the events at the convention center that included a bike show and a mini-mass ride around downtown letting people know about the possibility of bikes in the 21st century.

However this is the story that will forever live in the memories of the six or seven riders that partook and the many witnesses on Washington Ave.

After the Bike Show 2002 ended some of us decided to ride over to West Bank and pay homage to Hard Times Cafe and get a bite to eat. Espiacally since one of our riders worked there perhaps we would get a bigger portion of those yummy hash browns. This is what I was thinking before we turned on to Washington heading to the West Bank. After riding in the middle lane! JUST THE MIDDLE LANE for safety reasons for a block we decided to go over to the RIGHT LANE and try our luck with all of the muck from the cars. We were riding two abreast as is legal via Minnesota State Statute 169.222 which states in Subdivision 4 Section C: "c) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway or shoulder shall not ride more than two abreast and shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane."

We were on Washington Ave which has three lanes and a left hand turn lane. While riding two abreast a Red Coverette Lincense UM796, got behind us and revved his engine countless times and made for one scarry bike ride considering the conditions on the right side of a road way in the middle of winter. When we told him that we had the right to be in this lane for safety reasons and that the rest of the road was open he went into the middle lane and stopped at the next light. We caught up to him before the light changed and told him that we can be over there and that we were not blocking traffic as he stated. At this moment the passenger rolled down his window and spit on the bicyclist that told him this. The corvette then proceeded to run a red light but was easily caught up to one block down the road on the corner of 11th and Washington. At this moment I was on the sidewalk off of my bike telling him not to spit on anyone again. He then proceeded to get out of his car and approach me. He was about 3 inches from my face and I was scarred. I am not affraid to admit it.

At this point the other riders caught up with one creating a diversion by falling on the ice behind the red corvette. The driver then approached his car door and made it look like he was leaving. But before he totally got in the car he got out and pushed the bicyclist that was spit on into an on coming car narrowly missing the front of the car but hitting the rear of it. At this moment there was approx. 10 cars around and 2 cell phones calling the cops. We then surrounded the car and the driver sat there very calmly. He then started to rev his engine and push at my bike that was in front of him. I love my bike I moved it from the Red Beast and he proceeded down Washington to 35W.

However, the cops arrived after about 15min and a report was filed and with 3 witnesses it looks better than normal. minnesotacriticalmass.org will have updates, I dont know if the individual that was pushed into the car will press charges but the cops have the description of the man and his passenger and witnesses that saw the whole thing go down.

I was scared. I dont believe we should be scared while riding our bikes. The officer said he is filing the charges under Assualt. The person that was pushed into the car and recieved DNA from the passenger is okay but a bit shaken up.

Thanks to the individuals that waited to talk to the police.

RIDE ON!