Paul01

Bicycle stolen during robbery, beating on Pinellas Trail
Man who was beaten rode Pinellas Trail as commuter

Posted: 9:14 PM
Last Updated: 10 hours and 36 minutes ago
• By: Brad Davis
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A helmet is bloodied. It's the same bicycle helmet that Mike Hall was wearing Monday while riding on the Pinellas Trail. He was beaten and robbed during a routine trip home from work.
"I Just crossed over 31st Street, I had to wait for some cars to go through. And I'm coming up, just getting across the street and there's four guys, two on each side of the road, or on the trail and I'm riding through them. I really didn't realize, didn't think, that one was going to jump me," explained Hall.
Hall now has the physical and emotional scars of having been beaten by the four young men. To make matters worse, the strong-armed robbers stole his main form of transportation, a bike valued at more than $1,000.
"They could've just knocked me off the bike and just stole it and ran. But they wanted to sit there and beat me up," Hall wondered.
Hall acknowledges that It had just got dark when the beating happened. Luckily for him, a passerby noticed the commotion and caused the four suspects to flee.
"I'm still upset. I think I've slept all of two hours," Hall said.
Lorraine Smith uses the trail several times a week and has heard of other incidents on the trail, but, "You certainly don't think of it as being a place of where you have to watch your back all the time," said Smith.
Lorraine says the incident won't keep her from enjoying the Pinellas Trail. But Mike Hall, who already has a loaner bike to use, will now take a new way home.

-beating-on-piinellas-trail>https://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/new...iinellas-trail

DEK

Man, that really sucks.

dahut

That seriously bites. And people wonder why others want to own a gun.

Godwin will be along soon.....

Lindaosm

How horrible! We've not been on that trail so I'm not sure of the area where it happened. He is so fortunate that someone came along. I guess it could have been worse. Sure would make me change my route.

Paul01

We ride that stretch of the trail in south St. Petersburg almost every Sunday going for lunch in downtown St. Petersburg but, at least, it's mid day.

bikecrate

Unfortunately, crime can happen anywhere. I don't think the PT is any more dangerous than most urban areas.

Paul01

From today's St. Petersburg Times

ST. PETERSBURG — Officers will increase patrols along a stretch of the Pinellas Trail after two bicyclists were attacked Monday night in separate incidents in the same area, police said.

The attacks occurred at 7:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. near Seventh Avenue S and 31st Street.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/publics...cle1191471.ece

Paul01

A few years ago, there was a cluster of muggings on the trail at the I-275 underpass and another up in Clearwater.

Unfortunately, the driving culture around here with the drunks, the texters, the cell phone talkers and the drivers who are just plain hostile to cyclists make the roads even more dangerous.

Spoonrobot 

Terrible.

TrailViewMount

I live in Sarasota and I know downtown St. Pete well. It is full of thugs, criminals, and welfare babies. These bikers should know better than to ride downtown. Even in the daytime. If you see trouble ahead on a trail, stop and turn around. Fast. I would.

OKIE_55

I grew up in St Pete, that part of town has been bad since I can remember.
Hope these guys recover quickly, and the perps get caught.

If, and I say if, I were to ride that part of town after dark, I'd sure want my rubber band shooter with me.