KOB.com:Â Cyclists face new hazard along paths
Posted at: 10/16/2009 9:26 PM | Updated at: 10/16/2009 10:19 PM
By: Antoinette Antonio, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com
A warning for bicyclists in the Albuquerque metro area: Someone is setting up booby traps along bike paths.
The most recent landed an Albuquerque man in the emergency room after he was knocked unconscious.
The traps target unsuspecting bicyclists cruising along the path. The next thing they know, they’re caught up in trip wire. Not a funny joke when you ask cyclists.
Jennifer Buntz with Bike ABQ has heard of at least three cases in the past month where someone set up trip wire along a bike path.
Buntz said, “We’re very concerned, we want cyclists to understand that they need to look out for this too, now.”
The latest trap was on a path along Interstate 40 near Juan Tabo, nailing a bicyclist headed east on Thursday.
“He was just cycling along, and he caught a wire strung and it knocked him off his bike and he hit his head, sustained unconsciousness and a concussion, had to go to the emergency room,” Buntz said.
Other cases include a steel wire set up along a bike path north of Alameda along the Corrales bosque last week. That was taken down before anyone got hurt.
About a month ago, a bicyclist was able to break through fishing wire along the North Diversion Channel near Paseo.
Bicyclists in that area say it’s not laughing matter— it’s a crime.
Cyclist Martha Dunn said, “It’s not worth it, it’s just not worth it. I mean, it’s petty, it’s low.”
Cyclist Matthew Dunn said he should pay more attention.
“I try not to think about it, but I probably should if its gonna keep on happening because we ride a long at 15-17 miles an hour, and if you’re not paying attention, it’s gonna hurt if it doesn’t kill you,” he said.
Bike ABQ says the victim who was taken to the hospital didn’t have any severe injuries, but that might not be the case next time.
While they don’t want to scare bicyclists, they want them to be aware of what’s out there.
