Major worry over bike trail sabotage

Major worry over bike trail sabotage

12 April 2017

WARNINGS have been issued that vandals sabotaging mountain bike trails in Newcastle’s Donard Wood could cost someone their life.

For the third time in as many weeks, part of the unofficial trails were deliberately targeted, prompting those who use them to describe the incident as “the most concerning to date.”

A small wooden bridge was tampered with and while it appeared there was nothing wrong, a closer inspection revealed boards which form the bridge had been sawn in half and put back in place with the clear intention of throwing riders off their bikes as they crossed it.

News of the latest incident comes as preparations continue for the arrival in Newcastle in a few weeks’ time of a number mountain bikers as part of their preparations for a World Enduro event in Co Wicklow.

Over recent weeks, a log and heavy boulders have been placed across some sections of the trails which resulted in a number of riders sustaining injuries.

Last weekend, organisers of the British Fell Running Championships held at Donard Wood had to alter the course to avoid the section vandalised recently.

Eddie Hawkins — who is a regular user of the forest trails — said they are also used by many advanced mountain bikers all-year round, with the Newcastle venue also hosting regional competitions.

Permits allowing competitions to take place are provided by the Forest Service, with mountain bikers saying they understand that not everyone agrees with or welcomes their presence in Donard Wood.

They have also revealed that the trails must now be inspected before they ride along them and have appealed to anyone with information about those responsible for the recent sabotage to contact police.

Eddie says he believes those responsible are not young people, but adults opposed to the presence of mountain bikers.

“To sabotage a bike trail to deliberately cause someone harm is darn right reckless and criminal,” he declared.

“The boards which formed the bridge were cut down the middle but left to look intact and this is the third trail section that has been destroyed over the past few weeks in order to cause deliberate harm.

I don’t believe whoever is setting up these traps will stop and I appeal to anyone who has any information to pass it to the PSNI to ensure this is dealt with swiftly before someone gets seriously hurt.”

Eddie says he understand not everyone agrees or welcomes mountain biking and that it may also be the case that a small number of riders may not respect other users.

He is seeking a meeting with the Forest Service to discuss the issue, asking for signs to be erected warning the trails are under surveillance or the potential use of wildlife cameras which are set off by movement in a bid to find out who is responsible.

Councillor Willie Clarke has branded those behind the latest incident as “completely irresponsible” and agrees their actions could lead to riders sustaining serious injuries.

He said while the trails are unofficial, they have been designed and created by young people and are well used.

He continued: “Donard Wood is known to have issues with trails being vandalised, although to this point, they’ve only consisted of logs and boulders being pulled out into the trails.

“Now the bridges and jumps have been sawn through on one of the most popular mountain bike trails in a deliberate attempt to seriously injure riders.

“While walking in the area, I viewed the damage and the danger to users was obvious. Someone could lose their life and these actions must cease.”

“I have had discussions with Forest Service officials and a representative from the mountain bike community with a view to organising a meeting with Newry, Mourne and Down Council officers to better manage the situation.”