The fishing line is nearly impossible to see, especially when moving quickly on a bike. Alan Mckinstry photo via Facebook.
Mountain bikers in Northern Ireland are pissed off, and justifiably so. A mountain biker found clear fishing line strung between two trees while on trails at Cavehill Country Park, according to Dirt. Bernard McClure, was out for a hike with his dog on his local trail system. And this isn't the first time someone has tried to booby trap the bike trails. According to BBC, obstacles along the path has been a frequent issue in this area, although thus far the traps have only been rocks and logs pulled out onto the trail.
Logs have been pulled onto trails in years past, but no trap has been as dangerous as the fishing line thus far.
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Hikers versus bikers and the fight for mountain bike trail access has been a controversial topic for years, and member Alan McKinstry acknowledged the potential hostility for mountain biking in a Facebook post to the Cave Hill Conservation Campaign's page. "I'm not sure how people on this group feel about mountain bikers on the hill, but we are a decent bunch of people and we work hard to maintain the trails we create and to ensure they are safely away from main walking paths."
We are a decent bunch of people and we work hard to maintain the trails we create and to ensure they are safely away from main walking paths.
Cormac Hamill, of the Cave Hill Conservation Campaign, responded via Facebook to McKinstry's post: "As chair of Cave Hill Conservation Campaign, a group with mainly walkers as members (though bikers are very welcome to join, and some have) I can safely say that the vast majority of walkers utterly deplore despicable behaviour like that highlighted by Alan. With a little consideration on both sides, there is no reason why walkers and bikers cannot share the wonderful resource offered by Cave Hill. I would like to think that if anyone has any information related to this dreadful act, they will pass it on to the authorities and I would urge them to do so."
With a little consideration on both sides, there is no reason why walkers and bikers cannot share the wonderful resource offered by Cave Hill.
The City Council has been made aware of this problem and has set out to make sure there aren't other traps on the trails.
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Cavehill is a local favorite for exploring via wheels and foot. Northern Ireland Views photo.
McKinstry berated the culprit, who is yet to be found. “This has been going on for many years and fortunately, despite their best efforts they have not yet hurt anyone. Today, however, things took a pretty nasty turn. Fishing line was found strung across a main mountain biking trail by some utter moron in an attempt to seriously injure a rider."
Booby traps are nothing new for mountain bikers unfortunately, but the introduction of fishing line is just low. As McKinstry lamented: "It could slice into someone’s throat or, if it caught you on the arm or chest, it could knock you off the bike and cause you a serious injury." Utter moron is right.
dvlr
July 21st, 2016
walkers continue to demand a pure wilderness experience in areas a couple miles from town. not happening. walk further; you may find what you’re looking for.