SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KMAX/KOVR) – Sharp metal barbs have been popping up on a popular bike path in Sacramento.
The barbs have been popping tires, as well as creating a hazard for people and pets walking on foot.
Officials said the barbs on the American River Parkway have popped the tires of two cyclists and of a county maintenance vehicle.
Vic Massenkoff with the American River Bike Patrol said he believes someone is placing the barbs on the path on purpose.
“They found at least a half dozen of these within the trail,” he said.
Fortunately, no one has been injured yet, but Massenkoff said the 30-mile trail is popular with families with kids and pets.
“You have people with pets. You have people with young children. Joggers. Walkers,” he said.
Bikers said they’re fearful, especially since it seems intentional.
“It’s kind of scary if people do that,” biker Nikolay Pavlidskiy said.
Samantha Castro walks her dog on the trail pretty much every weekend. She was terrified to find out about the metal barbs.
“We haven’t encountered that yet, but we hopefully will never,” she said. “I would be horrified if my dog stepped on that.”
Sadly, a case like this isn’t new to the area. Massenkoff said in November, in the same part of the trail, carpet tacks had been thrown out on the path.
Officials said the metal barbs look like they could be pieces cut off from barbed wire fencing.
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