Cyclists face off with motorist

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Just who owns the roads in downtown Austin on the last Friday of the month?

For the past two decades, a large group of bicyclists takes to the streets in Austin for the "Critical Mass" bike ride, causing what some call traffic headaches for drivers.

This past Friday, bicyclists say things turned ugly when a motorist pulled a gun on them near 5th Street and Lavaca Street.

"I have realized that motorists really don't care," said bicyclist Nikol Heathcock.

Heathcock jumped on her bike for the Critical Mass ride starting at the UT West Mall Friday, and said a driver named Tim Swift knocked her off her bike at 5th Street and Lavaca Street.

"He swerved into the right lane and broadsided the guy in front of me," said Heathcock. "And I hit the guy who was in front and went off."

That's when Heathcock said Swift pulled out a gun.

She also said bicyclists then started beating his windows.

"That is a sign that you're going to take the law into your own hands," she said. "So we weren't unjustified in doing the same thing."

Police showed up to the scene, but let Swift go, according to a police report.

"I was mauled by a bunch of bikers," Swift said. "There's a lot of anarchy and illegal activity going on there."

Swift did not say whether he pulled a gun on the riders, but did say he had damage to his car from the bicyclists

"I was a victim of this whole thing as the police report says," said Swift. "Things like this can't be allowed to be happening."

Leaders with the Texas Bicycle Coalition says bicyclists should have behaved better.

"I can understand why the motorist was mad," said Robin Stallings, Executive Director of the Texas Bicycle Coalition.

"It wasn't ok for the roadway to be blocked and both lanes being blocked," said Stallings. "We should not be the ones that are breaking the laws."

But those that ride, and now have the scabs from their fall.

"Really the only way to let them know there is a substantial amount of people on bikes is to get them to pay attention to you," said Heathcock.