Video of the 9-28-01 Critical Mass Ride

Our coverage of the 9-28-01 ride:

• Video of the ride
• Media Reports about the ride
• Our commentary, including critiques of the media coverage below

At Austin’s Critical Mass ride, a jeep driver (Mike Henderson) intentionally knocked over a cyclist and crashed into another car.  The Statesman ran one version of the events, the Chronicle ran another, and then the owner of the car that got hit disputed both accounts in a letter to the Chronicle, claiming that the cyclists "beat the crap out of" the motorist.

Here's what really happened (and we have the video below to prove it): Henderson, frustrated by the delay caused by the bikers, squealed his tires and sped his jeep recklessly through a pack of cyclists, who parted to avoid getting hit.  Cyclists then surrounded his vehicle at the red light and yelled at him.  The light turned green, and then Henderson STEPPED on his accelerator, knocking cyclist Justin Davis to the ground, and trapping and dragging Davis’s bike under the jeep.  Henderson proceeded to crash into Krissy Morrow’s Honda Civic which was waiting at the same light but headed in the opposite direction.  Henderson got out of his jeep, and one cyclist (reportedly one of those whose bike Henderson hit) pushed Henderson's head with his hand.  Henderson then walked around his jeep and grabbed another cyclist's bike, throwing it to the ground.  That cyclist punched Henderson in the face.  No other punches were thrown, Henderson certainly wasn't "beat up", and what little did happen certainly wasn't unprovoked.  During this time, a cyclist slashed at least one of Henderson's tires.

Before flaming me, understand that I am no longer a regular participant of Critical Mass, much less a leader or even a spokesperson. Further, I don't condone any violence or vandalism on anyone's part, whether motorist or cyclist. Finally, if you want to berate Critical Mass, then emailing me won't accomplish your goal, since I am not Critical Mass, and I'm not a messenger besides. If you want to talk to CM riders, the only way to do so is to go to a ride.