Bashing down trails on the Spruit

[Rata Del Spruit]

Jumping the Jan Smuts step down today I made the horrible mid-air discovery that someone had destroyed the landing. It's quite clearly intentional as they've taken a spade to it and basically dug the centre out of it, leaving the sides. It's not the first time that people have decided to destroy jumps or sections of trail that we've built but it makes me wonder:

 

a) Who does this kind of thing?

b) Why?

c) How come they can find the energy to take a spade and destroy a jump but not to go out and build/maintain the trail?

[MrFine]

a) Selfish Rucking bastarts.

b) Jealousy makes you nasty.

C) Got nothing better to do than to irritate the rucking **** out of us all.

Edited February 2, 2014 by MrFine

[DR ◣◢]

That is just poor form.

 

Miserable muppets.

[(Deon)]

Rata, glad you are ok.

 

I can lend some input here as it is a case similar to what I am experiencing at the moment, just different.

 

First thing to maintain is do they have any "right" to destroy what you/someone has built? In other words, do you have permission to build that there? Tough question to answer especially if you don't have the council's blessing?

[Vetseun]

Maybe somebody looking for a bakkie load of soil.

Surely somebody cant be so futtup that they would take a spade to it for the sole purpose of destroying.

[SimpleDom]

Not to mention the "removal" of most of the drain manhole covers...

[Rata Del Spruit]

Maybe somebody looking for a bakkie load of soil.

Surely somebody cant be so futtup that they would take a spade to it for the sole purpose of destroying.

 

 

Not a case of needing the soil as it's a difficult spot to get to (the launch would have been easier as it's on the road side of the ditch) and it looks like the soil was just tossed into the trench.

[Rata Del Spruit]

Rata, glad you are ok.

 

I can lend some input here as it is a case similar to what I am experiencing at the moment, just different.

 

First thing to maintain is do they have any "right" to destroy what you/someone has built? In other words, do you have permission to build that there? Tough question to answer especially if you don't have the council's blessing?

 

Yeah, the jumps and trail are all maintained and built in a rogue fashion so whoever trashes them has just as much right to do so as the people building them. I just can't fathom the reasoning. It's possible somebody felt the jump was dangerous but it's well off the line since the municipality inexplicably dug the trench and you'd have to choose to do that step down/step up quite intentionally.

[Sidewinder.]

Bet you it's the fun police-probably some old fart/queef.

[Rata Del Spruit]

Not to mention the "removal" of most of the drain manhole covers...

 

Was that not theft?

[SimpleDom]

I'm sure it was, but if all the soil from the landing zone was removed, and not just hacked to the side, it seems like "theft" too? Although I'm not sure who the soil in the ramp technically belongs to, but I'm sure council wouldn't like it... The ramp destruction is just plain asshole. The removal of stuff (soil or drain covers) is another matter...

[(Deon)]

Yeah, the jumps and trail are all maintained and built in a rogue fashion so whoever trashes them has just as much right to do so as the people building them. I just can't fathom the reasoning. It's possible somebody felt the jump was dangerous but it's well off the line since the municipality inexplicably dug the trench and you'd have to choose to do that step down/step up quite intentionally.

Has it been happening for long or is this an isolated incident? Last thing you want is for the "neighbour" to start complaining to council. Any chance of going through the mission of getting the nod??

[Rata Del Spruit]

Has it been happening for long or is this an isolated incident? Last thing you want is for the "neighbour" to start complaining to council. Any chance of going through the mission of getting the nod??

 

It's happened at that jump a few times, oddly enough, which made some riders suggest it could be another rider on a safety crusade but I'd hate to think a mountain biker would do something like that. All efforts to involve city council have been fruitless. A number of people have tried, including myself and it's a brick wall of vague responses, missed meetings and eventually non-replies.

Edited February 2, 2014 by Rata Del Spruit

[Vetseun]

Not a case of needing the soil as it's a difficult spot to get to (the launch would have been easier as it's on the road side of the ditch) and it looks like the soil was just tossed into the trench.

That is so futtup. The effort involved. I hate it when people damage others stuff.

[(Deon)]

It's happened at that jump a few times, oddly enough, which made some riders suggest it could be another rider on a safety crusade but I'd hate to think a mountain biker would do something like that. All efforts to involve city council have been fruitless. A number of people have tried, including myself and it's a brick wall of vague responses, missed meetings and eventually non-replies.

 

..no good!

 

If it's anything like the stuff going on here, it's not a biker but a "concerned citizen".

 

I feel for you guys.. the process here in SANParks land is excruciatingly long and tedious and expensive. I can just be thankful it is being entertained..

 

Cape council support for cycling needs to blow up your way... Council is also starting to see the light, albeit on the higher levels for now. The guys on the ground still have the glazed look when breaking down fun for the kids in the area.

 

Safety is NB!! Tables are more work but forms a bond with those concerned about injuries. If you can win the people in the area, you win.

[beanz]

I'd say it's some bike-hater who's been skrikked once too many while walking the dog.

You can't be too careful on the spruit - you just can't assume that manhole cover, bridge or landing is where you last saw it.