Jupiter Island offers reward for bicycle lane tack spreader
September 11th, 2009 by Jason SchultzJUPITER ISLAND— The town is coming to the aid of bicyclists, offering a reward to catch whoever may have tried to sabotage bicycles this past weekend by spreading carpet tacks across the bicycle lanes of South Beach Road.
The Jupiter Island Police Department has offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever spread the tacks on the bicycle lanes over Labor Day Weekend. Several bicyclists reported ending up with flat tires because of the tacks.
“It’s just unfortunate on so many levels,” said Gene Rauth, deputy town manager in city press release. “It’s dangerous, it’s criminal and it undermines the goodwill and understanding that the town has actively sought and built with the local cycling community. To help restore that trust, we’re going the extra mile to make sure the road is safe again for cyclists, motorists and pedestrians.”
Anyone with information about the tack-spreading culprit can call Jupiter Island police at (772) 545-0112.
The release said the town is also going to hire a street-sweeping crew to comb debris and hazards off the roadsides over the weekend starting Saturday morning.
The town and bicyclists have been engaged in a bit of a debate in recent weeks after a town commissioner proposed restricting bicycle riders along South Beach Road. Today bicycle riding groups and the town reached and agreement governing the size of groups that can ride on the island together and the ordinance has been withdrawn.
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September 11th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Longtime city leader shoots himself last week, bike lane craziness this week, wild divorces……it is starting to look like Palm Beach up there.
Wait until Donald Trump hears this, he will want to buy the Tiger Woods estate and turn it into a Hotel/Casino…..
September 11th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Who would do that - All the people who are fed up with the bicyclist causing traffic jams and not obeying the traffic laws. The bicyclist sure pissed someone off, but for the majority them that is pretty easy.
September 11th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Even as a long term bicycle rider I have to come down on the side of the Jupiter Island Administration on this situation. In Europe, where I have ridden on the roads of France and Germany, it is expected that cyclists remain on the right spaced so that any overtaking automobile can safely pass or have room to come back into the wide space between the cyclists to avoid collision with approaching cars. This is not hard to manage. It is common sense and a safe way to share the road. There is no earthly reason to ride in packs and obstruct the roadway. This works out well for all and it should here as well.
September 11th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
$1000 that’ll get a lot of attention on Jupiter Island. The reason they are going to sweep the roads is to protect their residents from the payback nails to to help cyclist’s.
September 13th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
I guess all the bicycle attitude is finally biting you in the ass. This is a bit extreme, however with the piss-poor attitudes of the bicyclists the motorists which are required to by law share the road are sick of your crap. NO MORE THAN 2 ABREAST IDIOTS!!!!!!!!
September 15th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Tacks in the bike lane? Pretty bright! The bicyclists “IN THE BIKE LANE” are not the problem…
September 15th, 2009 at 11:17 am
And if you want to stop the problem, enforce the rules.. More than two abreast, pull over the entire group and ticket them all. Anyone without ID you confisgate their bike. Word will get out quickly.