Vandals block Wellington mountain bike cycle trails with obstacles

Wellington City Council park rangers are installing motion-activated cameras in the Town Belt on Matairangi/Mt Victoria after a spate of vandalism that appears to target mountain bikers. Photo / Wellington City Council

By RNZ

Wellington City Council is installing motion-activated cameras in the Town Belt on Mt Victoria after a spate of vandalism which it says appeared to have targeted mountain bikers.

Over the past few days, the council said logs, stumps and other obstacles had been placed on several mountain bike trails in places where, if hit by a mountain bike rider, they could cause serious injury.

The council’s parks manager Bradley Schroder said timber had also been fastened to trees at a height with the apparent intention of injuring riders.

He said fencing and signage had also been removed, mainly around the V, Rockdrop and Shuttlecock tracks, and cautioned riders that other trails may have been vandalised.

Logs, stumps and other obstacles have been placed on several mountain bike trails. Photo / Wellington City Council

Schroder said the police had been notified and cameras would be installed adjacent to the bike trails with the aim of identifying the culprits.

“We are extremely concerned about what’s going on. We’re in touch with the mountain biking community and we’re warning riders to take extra care while using trails on Matairangi/Mt Victoria.”

He said the mountain bike trails on Mt Victoria were designed and heavily signposted to minimise the risk of riders and other Town Belt users from coming into conflict.

“We know some people in the community don’t like that the Town Belt is a shared space for walkers, runners, riders and other track users but we won’t tolerate people doing things to put other people in harm’s way.”

Schroder urged the public to call the council on 04 499 4444 if they spotted any vandalism or suspected any person of performing vandalism.

- RNZ