Booby Traps on Dallas Bike Trail Found
 

Too many jerkfaces in this world. I have run across similar things on our local trail. One day I was riding when I spotted 3 young men (rather well off looking guys) standing on an overpass scoping out the trail. Kind of suspicious. As I approached, I noticed good size boulders laid across the entire width of the trail. Each about 30 pounds (used to line the river). I stopped and tossed them all back into the landscape. Gave them the finger then rode off. I had to female riders with me and hate to think about one of them doing a face plant because of some jerkfaces.

They looked disappointed then just walked away. Probably too much work for them to do it again knowing (at least I hope) another rider would remove the boulders as well.

Not an intentional booby trap but they do work the same way. It's those long thin retractable dog leashes. Rover is on one side of the trail, often in the bushes, owner is on the opposite side of the trail and walking or looking into the woods on their side. Unsuspecting bicyclist rides by and the leash catches their front wheel and dumps them. Nasty scrapes ensue. Ticks me off immensely especially when it's a little kid that gets wiped out by the leash.

Cheers

This situation should never be unsuspected. Anytime I encounter a dog owner I make darn sure I know that the dog is under control before I pass. Local MUP rules limit leashes to 6 ft non-retractable, though many dog walkers don't obey (just as many cyclists don't obey the speed limit).

Ah, but see the problem is that the dog is out of sight on one side of the trail and the dog walker is such that an approaching bicyclist does NOT see the reel portion of the retractable leash. Plus the leash is a LOT longer than a mere six feet. When that thin leash is across the trail it can be darn near impossible to see at the best of times let alone if a bicyclist isn't expecting it to be there. Like I said, the dog is NOT visible from the approaching bicyclist's point of view. Nor is the reel that holds the leash as that reel is often hidden (unintentionally though it may be) by the dog walker's body. Thus I said that the leash across the trail is an unexpected hazard as the approaching bicyclist does not have any idea that the dog is thereabouts or that the person is walking a dog.

Cheers

Were any boobies caught?

The bad part about this is that it was isolated, but now the news has made national attention out of it, so now there will be copy cat people trying to the same thing across this nation. The news should never publicize this kind of stuff.

I read a story about a guy in Colorado I believe who got caught with a boobie trap and ended up breaking some bones and had some pretty serious injuries. Scary what people will do in the name of fun.

Hate to burst your bubble, but this has been going on (and making news) for at least a couple decades now. :(