DougG
04-05-07, 03:46 PM
I was riding my Giant Sedona along a local converted rail-trail the other day. I had just crossed the river over the bridge when I was startled by seeing a Jeep driving up the side of the railroad embankment! He had been playing 4WD back in there and was about to drive out. Well, the only way in and out of that spot was along the trail, which is closed to motor vehicles, so he obviously got back there by driving around the barriers.
Now I was ahead of him on the trail and he had no choice but to follow me out for the half-mile to the nearest road. At this point, the trail runs along a steep embankment that follows the river, so the only way that I could have let him past would be to get off the bike and scramble down the side of the grade, which I was not about to do. The guy did not do anything dangerous at this point -- he stayed well back and just drove along slowly as he followed. But if someone had come along in the other direction, they would have had to do something to get out of the way.
When I got to the road I could see where he had driven around the posts, so I stopped there and let him drive around them and of course I got his plate number. I happen to be a member of the group that promotes this particular trail, and the head of the group has a lot of local civic connections, so I emailed him about the incident and he passed it along to someone at the city. I eventually heard back that the Chief of Police called the guy and really ripped him a new one, and that the guy was not likely to drive back there again!
So score one small "victory" for keeping a bike route safe for riding. :)
Now I was ahead of him on the trail and he had no choice but to follow me out for the half-mile to the nearest road. At this point, the trail runs along a steep embankment that follows the river, so the only way that I could have let him past would be to get off the bike and scramble down the side of the grade, which I was not about to do. The guy did not do anything dangerous at this point -- he stayed well back and just drove along slowly as he followed. But if someone had come along in the other direction, they would have had to do something to get out of the way.
When I got to the road I could see where he had driven around the posts, so I stopped there and let him drive around them and of course I got his plate number. I happen to be a member of the group that promotes this particular trail, and the head of the group has a lot of local civic connections, so I emailed him about the incident and he passed it along to someone at the city. I eventually heard back that the Chief of Police called the guy and really ripped him a new one, and that the guy was not likely to drive back there again!
So score one small "victory" for keeping a bike route safe for riding. :)