BobbyG

This bridge is a mile from my home and I have ridden over it hundreds of times over the years.
I don't know if this was avoidable in any way, but I post it just a reminder to be alert for crap like this.
WIshing a speedy recovery to the rider.
https://www.kktv.com/content/news/Bi...508085091.html

canklecat

Too many of those "pranks." There are a few places along the local MUP where I watch very carefully for tripwires and booby traps, especially at night. As far as I know it's never happened here. But I've witnessed a few confrontations between cyclists and other trail users. Often when perpetrators are caught they either had a grievance against cyclists, or they were idiotic younger guys who thought it was a harmless prank that wouldn't seriously injure or kill anyone.

And fluctuations in the economy and provisions for homeless and/or mentally ill folks can impact safety on shared MUPs. There was a gruesome murder on the Dallas trails a few years ago -- a jogger was murdered by a mentally ill guy with a machete or axe. That's rare, though. Most homeless folks I've chattered with along my bike rides are very averse to confrontation and dislike the official shelters because of the noise and aggressive vibe. They prefer the quieter parks or downtown area because they feel safer. I don't worry about homeless folks setting up tripwires along the trails.

TimothyH

Here in North Georgia they put branches across the trail as a ploy to rob cyclists who stop.

https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/...jJkIr5Vo0CxCO/

https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/...g5ekN6s8x82lJ/


-Tim-

freeranger

My wife was telling me that someone put a piece of thin wire across an off road bike trail off of the Louisville Loop a few days ago. Said the mtn.biker wasn't going fast and was able to stop before hitting it, luckily. The park's rangers are keeping a close look out now, and doing more walking of the off-road trails. Years ago, I came across where someone had broken glass bottles on a rocky section of singletrack. JERKS!!

bugs11

Last year on the first day of RAGBRAI someone threw a bunch of nails on the county road the route followed that day. I was out on the road early and saw a street sweeper working. I also saw DOT trucks pulled over and guys with brooms sweeping the road - which I thought was odd, so I asked them why they were sweeping the road as I went by. That's when I found out about the nails. Luckily I didn't get a flat but I saw a number of cyclists who did. Some people are jerks (to put it nicely). C'est la vie.

bakerjw

Karma is a real ***** when she comes back around swinging her bat.
I've seen people well deserving get hit with it.

Robert C

We would like to say so; but no, it rains on the just and the unjust alike. To think otherwise is a reliance on the just-world hypotheses which is better known as the just-world fallacy.

from here

burnthesheep

I don't understand how we can put someone in prison for 10 to 20 for their second un-armed robbery but folks like this (when caught) often get next to nothing.

Put some teens on trial as adults (or adults) and put em in the slammer for 10 years for this crap and it'll stop.

Too many things seen as "boredom crime" carry too lenient a penalty. If your kid did it, sure it would be upsetting to lose a kid for 10 years to prison. But you raised a kid (or adult) who thought it funny to string a death trap up.

jefnvk

Eh, It'd be a pretty tragic outcome for me to ever support sending someone to prison for ten years over this. As a society, I feel we can come up with far better ways to punish than simply using prison for everything.

I'm thinking if it was a prank by a kid with no record, a year or two of supervised probation, all summers and weekends in the spring and fall during said probation spent cleaning up and maintaining park trails, and fines and restitution to the victims should get the point across fairly strong. If you consider that light, I'd suggest you try it for a few weeks and see if your mind changes.

Cyclist0108

Thanks. I was going to post something similar, but yours is much better than what I was formulating.

If it was a kid pulling a prank, with no understanding of the consequences (as the victim speculates), making restitution for several years would be far more useful to everyone than a long-term prison sentence.

If it was a sociopath (adult) with full understanding of the consequences, then prosecute for assault and battery and/or attempted murder.

burnthesheep

I'm not talking about a low-strung trap like was posted. There have been local news stories here of high-strung ones setup to kill moto/4-wheeler riders in the past.

That's what I'm referring to.

Ok, send the kid to some kind of rehab center and the parent gets the prison time instead. I can be OK with some rehab for a younger kid (under 15 or so). But some adult has to have some consequences.

base2 

Kids pulling pranks wouldn't use para-cord. Kite string, rope, twine, all cheap, visible & readily available.
Para-cord is strong invisible & expensive by comparison.
This was deliberate. Some people just have problems.

About a month ago, I was in Kenmore (an adjacent town,) Pedaling on at about 18mph and some guy tossed a nail filled pringles can in the trail right in front of me. I just went around it because, honestly it was like a hundred feet in front of me & I was wondering "why'd he drop his chips?" As I went by he started screaming that I should slow down & called me "Speed-racer" I told him to have a good walk.

Last week I was doing 12 while on the hoods and a little girl about 10 years old darted across the path without looking then halted right in my path when I caught her eye. I was prepared & took evasive action & narrowly missed her. I was told "slow the eph down!" by a cyclist approaching from the other direction. "I was doing 12!" I yelled.

I think people respond to posture. Hands on the hoods or drops equals "racing" & in their minds they take offense that "dangerous" activities are afoot & they've gotta do something about the lawless entitled cyclists mucking up their serenity. That their only cycling knowledge is a $100 Wal-mart junker isn't my problem.

I never have these interactions if I ride a flat bar bike, or sit up on the tops even at the same speed. Thanks. I'll keep my hands where the brakes are for people like this.

Troul 

Nailed it.
No different than a car with the muffler chopped off cruising in 1st gear doing 15 mph down a residential 25 mph street around 3pm.
The locals will report that "dangerously fast careless car" to the authorities ASAP.

Put the muffler back on that same car & then go traveling 40 mph down the very same street a week later... No one gives a hoot.

Hiro11

I feel your pain. The vast majority of people on the huge MUP network in my area are very polite and tolerant. The path is fairly wide, straight and generally not very crowded so it's used by "serious cyclists" all the time doing 18-20 MPH. I see group rides, people doing intervals, town line sprint etc on this path. I ride with a bell and make sure people know I'm coming around. 99% of the time, it's fine. However, every once in a while you run into a selfish jackass who thinks they own the trail. These people generally think that anyone else using the trail in a manner inconsistent with their preferred use of the trail is violating some sort of rule. Lycra clad cyclists certainly qualify as "rule breakers". No amount of reasoning and no amount of care in approaching can appease these people. Also, they completely absolve themselves of any selfish action they've taken that has increased the risk of the encounter. Three examples I encounter frequently:

- someone walking a dog on one of those reel leashes with the leash at full extension. You approach from behind slowly and ask to pass. They very slowly start to reel in their dog like it's a marlin they've hooked in the deep ocean. Loud huffing and a yelled "SLOW DOWN" usually follow. How about you not use a giant leash? Why are you walking a dog on a path with many bikes in the first place?

- people running / walking three abreast, all talking loudly or all listening to headphones. These people are totally oblivious to the outside world. You approach and announce your intention to pass, they go into a sort of Keystone Kops running around/falling over themselves routine. It's as if they're shocked that someone else might be on the trail. Again, huffing and yelling sometimes ensues. How about you pay attention to your environment? How about you not take up the whole damned trail?

- people with young kids learning to ride bikes. They generally pick a warm summer day during prime time when the trail is going to be crowded. The kid inevitably turns out in front of you when they look back because they haven't learned to ride straight. I slow waaaay down to sub-walking pace and announce my intention to pass. The parents make NO effort to ensure the kid stops or otherwise stays out of the way. I pass at 3 mph, praying that the kid doesn't turn into my wheels. The parents make it very clear that I'm imposing on them through this process. How about you teach a kid to ride somewhere other than a relatively narrow path on a packed summer day? How about you tell the kid to stop to ensure there are no issues?

Gah.

MattTheHat 

I suppose they're wondering "Why ride a bike on a trail where people are walking their dogs?"

What I don't get are people who walk on the wrong side of the path. Even riding at a reasonable 10 MPH or less can get interesting when you come around a blind corner to find someone walking on the same side of the path as you're riding. I understand walking on the wrong side of the street, but on a MUP? I just don't get it, and MANY folks in this area do it.

-Matt

Phil_gretz

The lash.