Did anyone else around Washington DC see the 11 pm news on channel 9 on Thursday night? I tuned in halfway through a news spot and missed part of it.

Apparently a motorist and a cyclist got into an alteration on the loop around Haines Point sometime on Thursday. I didn't hear the report on what happened or how it started, but I think the accusation is that the cyclist followed the motorist, rode along side of her, gave her verbal abuse, used racial slurs and spit on her before riding off. The report said that the police are looking for the cyclist to possibly press assault charges. The report talked about the midday rides around Haines Point, interviewed several people (including a cyclist) who had nothing useful to add about what happened. The report ended by talking about crowded conditions on the MUTs in the area. Showed the WO&D and interviewed a guy walking three big dogs who said "why can't we all get along" (more or less.)

Does anyone else know what happened at Haines Point? The report outright wasn't hostile, but it didn't make cyclists look good. Didn't see anything in today's paper, but it my show up in next week's crime section.

Where's Haines Point?

DC, West Potomac Park, on the river, south of the Jefferson Memorial and opposite National Airport.

more or less

I think you're right - but only to a point. We do seem to be judged by the actions of a minority of cyclists at times but I think that most people are smart enough to realise that the trouble in this case was caused by a person on a bicycle and that not all people who ride bicycles act the same way.

It's a bit like hearing that a pair of bank robbers escaped in a white car. No one believes that everyone who drives a white car is necessarily a bank robber.