sorry, the "incident" happened saturday, the 15th, not sunday as i
mistakenly wrote in my previous email.

many people have emailed and asked that i explain what happened
saturday regarding a large gcc group on millhopper road this past
saturday.  the requests come from a sincere effort to stem rumors and
enhance rider's awareness of how to ride more safely, particularly in
that area of millhopper road, which is riddled with blind driveways
and other hidden roads.  not to mention the gainesville sun article,
which didn't even scratch the surface of what really happened.

i am reluctant to make any detailed or official statement, as i was
only one of about 24 cyclists.  all of us naturally had, and have,
different perspectives and interpretations, especially during a
quickly developing and dangerous event.

however, in the interest of safe riding and productive dialogue, here
is a basic framework as to how i saw it unfold.  please keep in mind,
this certainly is not the only version of how it happened.  and i am
not a spokesman for the group in any way.  i respectfully request
that people not email me w/ additional questions regarding this email.

•   •   •

a vehicle, traveling in the same direction as the cycling group on
millhopper road, tries to turn right at a time when our gcc cyclist
group had already effectively blocked the turn by the normal course
of riding in the bike lane, two abreast, towards the chevron
station.  speeding to try and make the turn, the driver clearly
misjudges the distance and realizes at the very last second that the
group would be in his way.  he slams on the brakes, nearly smashing
into the front part of the group and taking up valuable space in the
road and bike lane.  we are roughly one mile away from the chevron.

the riders, almost getting hit, swerve to avoid collision and yell to
gain the attention of the driver and other cyclists.  the vehicle
screeches to a stop, just in time to avoid direct collision.  riders
try to pass and regroup,  stunned and terribly unimpressed with this
display of dangerous driving.  the group continues onward, startled
and scattered, but is quckly regrouping.

out of my view, perhaps something provokes the driver.  or maybe he
isn't provoked at all.  it is unclear.  but now that most of the
group has passed the car, the driver revs the engine and again speeds
towards the group.  yells are called for heads up.  the car speeds
faster and faster, engine sounds redlined.  just feet away from the
main part of the scattered group, the car slams on brakes, skidding
several feet and stopping just a few more feet from a large number of
cyclists.  now the group is very angry and feels under attack.  a few
people crash trying to avoid collision with the car, not seriously
injured, but road rash and damaged bike(s).

the driver starts screaming out of the window, gets out of car,
leaves car in the middle of the road.  cyclists, now livid, start
yelling back.  there is a shouting match for several minutes, both
sides trying to make a point.  man tries to get back into car to
speed off.  cyclists try furiously to remember the tag id.  the
driver can't find keys, curses about not having his keys.  cyclists
are now calling the police.  the shouting subsides and people calm
down after several more minutes, but scene remains tense.  the car
remains in the road.  all traffic is forced around it.

when the police arrive, officers find the keys and drive the car out
of the street.  most riders are able to leave at this point.  a few
stay behind to give statements and talk with officers.  apparently,
the driver is ultimately charged w/ reckless driving and gets fine
and driving school.

•   •   •

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