Chris, Yes it is the same thing. Hadn't seen that post.

Sam, I am going to buy some mace (sp?) The problem is a weapon, if properly used, will only take care of the one person making contact. What about the others that are egging them on? Still, I'll carry it anyway. I've started carrying my cell phone in the case clipped right to my front waist band instead of my back jersey pocket. But as a woman whipping the tar out of some strapping young man with a baton seems highly unlikely (though at this point...somewhat tantalizing. heh, heh).

Cipher, It's the Cedar Lake Trail, up near downtown under the 94 overpass. Overpasses just seem to attract all sorts of nefarious types I guess. It affects downtown commuters the most. I can re-route my trip but like I said, they could show up anywhere. They did actually report it again on the news last night, so maybe more people will be on the look-out.

Mike, fortunately just about every twincitian and their brother is a bicyclist or rollerblader (seems that way on the weekend at least) so we're lucky not to have people complaining about the trail itself. Your story goes to prove however that you don't have to be a young whipper-snapper to stir up dangerous trouble.