Nanaimo, B.C. mountain bikers, beware: police report local trail-tampering, advise vigilance
While it may have been an isolated incident, local police are nonetheless advising trail users to remain cautious and vigilant.
Heads up, Nanaimo, B.C. riders. Somebody may have been tampering with area mountain bike trails, and while it may have been an isolated incident, local police are nonetheless advising trail users to remain cautious and vigilant.
The Nanaimo RCMP sounded the warning via a media release.
On Feb. 27, CTV News reported, a local resident discovered that wire had been strung up along a mountain bike trail on Nanaimo Lakes Road, a route commonly used to access Barsby Lake. In addition to the wire—which had been dangerously erected at approximate neck level, reports say—a number of wooden stakes, some jagged, had been placed along the trail as well.
If collided with by mountain bikers using the paths, either obstacle could inflict severe harm.
“These items could have caused serious injury to an unsuspecting mountain biker,” said constable Gary O’Brien with the Nanaimo RCMP. “There have been no other similar reports in that area so we are hoping it was a one-time incident. Having said that, we are looking to the public to assist in identifying who may be responsible.”
Molested mountain bike trails, unfortunately, aren’t a new problem on the south coast of British Columbia. In January 2015, a 64-year-old North Vancouver resident, Tineke Kraal, was caught tampering with North Shore mountain bike tracks, having strewn the plunging downhill paths with rocks, logs and other obstacles. In January of this year, Kraal—who claimed she “never wanted to hurt anybody”—was sentenced to three years’ probation and 150 hours of community service.
In Nanaimo, the offending items have been removed from the mountain bike trails and the police are on the look-out. In the meantime, those with information are asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP or Crime Stoppers.
