Woman Caught by Camera Sabotaging Mountain Bike Trails
Was the sentence fair for the crime?
Most of the time trail hazards in mountain biking are a mere nuisance. Sometimes though, they can be perilous, and that’s when things start to get serious.
Stray trail dogs, hikers and horses can normally be forgiven in the grand scheme of things, but when sheer malice comes into it, it gets truly concerning. That’s what happened when British Columbia resident Tieneke Kraal started to sabotage her local trails on a regular basis – dragging rocks and logs onto the paths in order to try and slow the riders down.
Kraal is reported by CBC to have left anywhere between 10 and 40 logs on the Skull trail in BC, getting up between the hours of 4am and 6am every single day with her two dogs in order to do exactly that.
Tineke Kraal Placing Debris 2 from nsmb.com on Vimeo.
Full article: http://mpora.com/articles/65-year-old-canadian-woman-sentenced-film...
This sabotage went on for 2 years before mountain bikers finally caught her with motion-sensor cameras. She was "very sorry" and received a suspended sentence, 3 years probation and 150 hours of community service. They have stipulated her community service would not involve mountain bike trails for her own safety because she was worried mountain bikers would hurt her. Ironic.
This isn't the only case of sabotage on shared biker/hiker trails. I've personally seen odd logs on the path that don't look like they were meant to be there or naturally fell on the path. At the very least, it's an inconvenience. It could also lead to serious injury or be life-threatening.
The sentence seems quite light. I wish they did have her work with the mountain biking trails in hopes she would humanize the people impacted by her actions. I don't think there truly is a risk of mountain bikers hurting her.
The other discussion? Should there be shared trails? Is there enough space to comfortably accommodate both hikers and mountain bikers? I haven't seen very many trails wide enough to comfortably fit both groups.
Personally, when I hike, I avoid shared trails and opt to hike on hiking-only trails. As a mountain biker, I am not a big fan of shared trails. Why? I am going at a faster speed and sometimes there are a lot of hikers and they are spread all over the path. No matter how many times I yell ahead when I spot them, sometimes they don't move out of the way i.e. walking 3-4 people wide across the path and not paying attention to cyclists on the path. Even if there are strictly enforced laws about sabotaging shared trails, I don't know that it will solve the issue. Will that truly discourage people from sabotage? In the case of the women who go caught by a camera, she was visiting the trails at 4 am. She knew what she was doing was wrong and chose to do this in the dark to avoid getting caught.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jim Reho on
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I wonder what would happen to someone who left a few logs on Lake Shore Drive! Community service? Big deal. Probation? Big deal. If effect, she was given no sentence at all.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on
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At least these were very visible obstructions. Not like fishing line 7ft above the ground, where hikers walk under them and bicyclists don't see them and get a serious cut on the neck.
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Permalink Reply by curt(is) locke on
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She's pathological.
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Permalink Reply by Brett Ratner on
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Hi, CLP:
I agree 100% that we as riders need to be mindful of our impact on nature, and we should eliminate/minimize things that we do that can cause a harmful affect on wildlife.
That said, the third paragraph of your post indicates that you would benefit from doing a little research before you offer opinions. As such, I'd like to correct you on a few things if you'll indulge me.
1. "Very little biking skill is required; it is more like an amusement park ride."
-- If you'd like to join me at Whistler to come "screaming down" a lift-serviced trail and gauge the amount of biking skill required, I'm totally game. And when the medevac flies in to whisk you to the nearest trauma center because you tumbled head-first into a rock, maybe you might change your opinion.
2. "The entire forest is turned into a torn-up mess."
-- Ummm, no. The truth of the matter is that they're going down what during the winter time are ski runs. They are using land that is already been cleared and is in use for recreation.
3. "you know what environmental degradation is caused by 'mountain biking.'"
-- Most trails, particularly new trails, are built to very strict guidelines set forth by the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA). These guidelines take into account a wide variety of environmental impacts, such as erosion, habitat, etc.
Prior to that, mountain bikers were riding on EXISTING trails cut for horseback riding and hiking. That's when the environmental impact was taking place.
4. Trail fees are often used to improve the entire park, so in a roundabout sense, mountain bikers can help improve their environments. On top of that, local mountain bike organizations do a LOT of volunteer work maintaining their local parks and trails.
5. Some studies have concluded that mountain biking on properly created and maintained trails has a lower impact than hiking. Certainly a lower impact than horseback riding and off-road motorized vehicles. Should we set horse traps too?
I mean, using your logic, your house sits on what was once a forest or a prairie. Should Ms. Kraal come in and set traps in your hallway...particularly during times of year when animals are breeding? I mean that linoleum floor of yours sits where a baby fox once lay. I certainly wouldn't blame Ms Kraal from feeling outrage about that.
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Clearly landmines are called for.
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"She's just an environmentalist." Now I understand. She should of been planting car bombs and poisoning children's milk. Humans are a menace (and amazing in their ability to rationalize their behaviors.)
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Permalink Reply by Ana Maria Delgado on
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There are legitimate means to express one's environmental beliefs other than trying to kill someone. That's why we have laws. I do agree that mountain biking can be environmentally detrimental, which is why I, as a mountain biker, have chosen to temper said destruction with behaviors that balance my environmental impact.
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Permalink Reply by ad on
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Right.... She was so concerned about native species breeding habits that she did this with her two dogs in toe. I mean, everyone knows that hiking through a forest on marked trails with two dogs tagging along itself has no environmental impact on native species.
She didn't want mountain bikers on the trails because she wanted to be able to hike them herself without having to yield space. She wasn't on some noble quest to give the land entirely back to nature. Give me a break.
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Well, said. This behavior is completely sociopathic and part of a larger issue of treating people inhumanely because of a self righteous attitude. I'm horrified at the thought of how hurt I/anyone could get in a situation like that.
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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on
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From what it sounds like, you have a specific issue with a trail in Cook County and are now applying it to all MTB - lumping it all together and blaming the mountain bikers. I'm a member of the Palos MTB group (in Cook County) and the main concern of the members of the group is to take care of the environment. Many volunteer and spend their time maintaining Palos, money is raised to care for the environment, and there's a hotline we all call to check for trail conditions to make sure we don't contribute to trail erosion. This group of mountain biking enthusiasts is strict about avoiding the trails when the ground is wet. It's unfortunate you have had a bad experience and made a choice to form a large-scale opinion about ALL mountain bikers. Fine. That's your choice and your opinion. But how is someone that repeatedly and maliciously sets out to harm mountain bikers an "environmentalist" and not a criminal? How would you have felt if someone was killed by her actions? As a mountain biker, cross country skier, and hiker that respects the environment and supports the trail systems, it's hard not to be upset with your position to blame the victims. No matter what, there is no excuse for what she did because she did something that could seriously hurt people. Why do you think violence is a legitimate and acceptable response?
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Ha! Thanks! Yes, now I see - classic troll. Now this is funny - CLP has a profile picture of a younger woman but if you go back into the discussions, here's what I found:
"Well done Marc! But take it from an active guy in his 70's, it is the next ten years, as muscles and brain shrink, and your testosterone level inevitably drops, that chronic diseases of old-age begin to show up. "
"Thirty-five years without a car, living in Lincoln Park, in a house bought for pennies, now worth plenty. Nevertheless still no car. Occasionally I'll use I-GO or rental cars for errands. For instance, I'm driving out to Roselle tomorrow morning for a 5k race. "
http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/car-free?commentId=2211490...I am also 6'5" tall. And for years I rode Panasonics with 27" frames, since those were by far the largest frames available.
http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/what-bike-do-you-recommend...
So CLP, who exactly are you? I'm done trying to have a meaningful discussion about mountain bikers with you because you keep defending violence against cyclists. This is a resource for cyclists.
According to your previous posts, you are a 70+ year old male who is 6'5". Really? Than why use a photo of a woman as your profile picture?
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Note the photo is of a "woman" sporting a fake "beard." There's your tip-off.
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