Yarra Boulevard - tacks - 6.3.14

[Strydz]

More than 600 wire tacks have been found strewn across Edinburgh Gardens.

my bet is this is the same person who is laying them on the Boullie. someone has gone to an awful lot of trouble here - that would have taken many hours to prepare those. demented.

That is seriously messed up but doubt there is a connection to the Boullie tack laying criminal, these are handmade and I have a feeling it is someone local who isn't happy with whats going on at the park.

[Bentnose]

What, people enjoying themselves? Might be Scrooge at this time of year ba humbug.

[jules21]

Haven't seen these type of tacks on the Boulie so you'd think different parties are at work.

That is seriously messed up but doubt there is a connection to the Boullie tack laying criminal, these are handmade and I have a feeling it is someone local who isn't happy with whats going on at the park.

they might be different people and speculation only, but similarities include:
1. use of tacks (or variants thereof)
2. demented persistence (making those caltrops would have taken a long time, same as laying tacks on the Boullie so frequently)
3. the caltrops were laid specifically on capital city trail a few days before being laid in those gardens
4. same general area (within a few km)
5. both types of tacks designed/selected for purpose.

[misterhorsey]

Haven't seen these type of tacks on the Boulie so you'd think different parties are at work.

That is seriously messed up but doubt there is a connection to the Boullie tack laying criminal, these are handmade and I have a feeling it is someone local who isn't happy with whats going on at the park.

they might be different people and speculation only, but similarities include:
1. use of tacks (or variants thereof)
2. demented persistence (making those caltrops would have taken a long time, same as laying tacks on the Boullie so frequently)
3. the caltrops were laid specifically on capital city trail a few days before being laid in those gardens
4. same general area (within a few km)
5. both types of tacks designed/selected for purpose.

Note that the caltrops (hadn't heard that word before - at least some good has come of this!) in Edinburgh Gardens were also located on grassy areas. I think mainly on grassy areas. Not exactly sure what you'd want to achieve out of that? There are a lot of young people having picnics, slack lining, frisbeeing in Edinburgh Gardens. Not to mention the dogs frolicking and children playing. Strange that it should also happen after Yarra Council basically locked down the park for NYE.

Sad to hear the boulie tacker is sporadically back in action. I've ventured back and am happy to report I did some laps without any issues (staying to the right of the white line). Short of gluing spikes to the road I'm not sure that the tacker can really make that area a hazard as the car wheels will naturally shed debris to the shoulder.

We should assume that the tacker(s) are reading these posts - so if you are, please keep your tacks in the shoulder. Thanks!

I do think its sad that whoever is doing this has some unresolved mental issues and doesn't appear to be getting the help they need.

[zill]

The only reason (I can think of) for the motivation of the tacks is that the thrower is a nearby resident of these areas and is extremely annoyed (for some reason) of the people/cyclists going up and down those roads/areas.

So if that is true then the tacks are thrown by two residents, one near Kew Boulevard and one near the Edinburgh Gardens. Given those areas are quite well off, I wouldn't be surprised if they paid someone to do it!

[Strydz]

The only reason (I can think of) for the motivation of the tacks is that the thrower is a nearby resident of these areas and is extremely annoyed (for some reason) of the people/cyclists going up and down those roads/areas.

So if that is true then the tacks are thrown by two residents, one near Kew Boulevard and one near the Edinburgh Gardens. Given those areas are quite well off, I wouldn't be surprised if they paid someone to do it!

Doubt anyone is paying somebody to lay the tacks but I doubt its only one person when it comes to the Bouile tacks, I think it started out as a single person but have a feeling copycats have come along once it became public.

[Velo_bandit]

I don't know why we don't just fight back and start having protest rides, turn it into an event, could even get support from local clubs or bike shops. With all the riders that use the boulevard, racers, recreational riders, commuters, I'm sure the numbers would be substantial, not counting anyone else who would stop on by to show support Being passive has not solved anything, and the worst that could happen is people have a really nice day where they get together and ride bikes, which would make the boulevard tack dropper angry and upset- maybe even careless enough to get spotted. It would be nice, but maybe people are too cowardly to do such a thing, worried they will incur the wrath of the mighty motorist, still, a boy can dream I suppose..

[m@]

I always wondered why somebody doesn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.

Good idea - go for it!

I think you're drawing a bit of a long bow equating not holding protest rides with being passive or timid however - there are many people out riding KB daily on group or training rides, or just commuting (I'm a regular after only riding it for the first time after hearing about the tacks and adding it to a training ride to give the metaphorical middle finger to the tacker). And of course there's other stuff going on that you might not see - sweepers, karma tubes etc.

TBH I'm not sure it'll do much to draw the tacker into the open - they're either very careful or supremely lucky - but as you say it's a win-win anyway.

[misterhorsey]

Now that I've returned to the Boulie I've definitely noticed the occasional police car and motorbike going on a lap or two.

Its not terribly regular, but its more than before.

Of course this is during daylight hours. You'd hope that the patrols also extend to PM when the cover of darkness may encourage anti-social activities.

I don't live next to the boulievard, but the lay of the land means that I do live within earshot when there is particularly loud car and motocycle hooning. Perhaps that police patrol the spot occasionally anyway.

[GTPilot]

Now that I've returned to the Boulie I've definitely noticed the occasional police car and motorbike going on a lap or two.

Its not terribly regular, but its more than before.

Of course this is during daylight hours. You'd hope that the patrols also extend to PM when the cover of darkness may encourage anti-social activities.

I don't live next to the boulievard, but the lay of the land means that I do live within earshot when there is particularly loud car and motocycle hooning. Perhaps that police patrol the spot occasionally anyway.

Don't kid yourself. The boulevard has been riddled with cops for years, they are not there looking for some peanut laying tacks, they are there booking speeding motorists, especially since the speed limit was reduced some years ago. They'll book you in a heartbeat too, if you do something wrong.

[jules21]

Don't kid yourself. The boulevard has been riddled with cops for years, they are not there looking for some peanut laying tacks, they are there booking speeding motorists, especially since the speed limit was reduced some years ago. They'll book you in a heartbeat too, if you do something wrong.

no they are definitely looking for the Boullie tacker too. they've been clear on that. it's just that they're unlikely to find them by cruising up and down.

[Calvin27]

http://www.nsnews.com/news/fromme-trail ... -1.1725728" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Interesting news. Maybe we need a kickstarter campaign to purchase some surveillance. I'm sure if the cycling community just holds off their next anodised purple bolt purchase for January, we'll get there in no time.

[Velo_bandit]

http://www.nsnews.com/news/fromme-trail ... -1.1725728

Interesting news. Maybe we need a kickstarter campaign to purchase some surveillance. I'm sure if the cycling community just holds off their next anodised purple bolt purchase for January, we'll get there in no time.

Trouble is the tacker is probably tossing them from a window as they drive by, it would be near impossible for a camera to capture miniscule tacks being tossed from a window, you can't even see them with your own eyes during the day.
Maybe we should hire a private eye to solve the case...

[misterhorsey]

http://www.ipi-online.com.au/ipi-thermo ... al-camera/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Could be useful as a training aid as well. Track your body temperature during a crit/boulie lap.

[Strydz]

TBH I'm not sure it'll do much to draw the tacker into the open - they're either very careful or supremely lucky - but as you say it's a win-win anyway.

Maybe its time for me to start using the Boulie again on my home commutes as being in the wee hours between 1-4am might be lucky enough to spot somebody, main reason I have been avoiding it on the home commute is that I'm usually shagged after work and the thought of changing tubes in the pitch black night isn't to appealing

[weldin_mike_27]

Anyone consider that the tacker could be one of us, with a James Bond-esq tack dropping machine on the back of a bike?

[Bentnose]

Anyone consider that the tacker could be one of us, with a James Bond-esq tack dropping machine on the back of a bike?

Maybe they don't like people drafting them?

[SuperSix]

More tacks today. A mate copped 3. Scumbag seems to be back in full swing.

[Gunlock]

More tacks today. A mate copped 3. Scumbag seems to be back in full swing.

Yep, loads of posts on facebook yesterday and this morning from people who have been tacked.

Not entirely sure what we can do about it, really, since the tacker has shown they're willing to keep it up over a sustained period of time.

[SuperSix]

It should be reported to police. They are trying to build a profile of when and where these attacks are occurring.

[jules21]

Not entirely sure what we can do about it

there is an easy solution. i won't keep repeating myself though

[Gunlock]

Not entirely sure what we can do about it

there is an easy solution. i won't keep repeating myself though

Riding out of the tack zone isnt really a solution.

Finding the one (or ones) responsible and rendering them unable to further throw tacks onto the road is a solution.

[jules21]

i agree but it's not an either/or proposition. it will be difficult to find the perpetrator. i dare say the sight of numerous riders stranded on the side of the road is serving as encouragement for them to keep it up.

[megalo]

More tacks today (Sunday 15th March) friend got tacked today and also last sunday. I was lucky

Spoke to some other riders and was told at leat another 4 at the time we were there.

Sad part is we can't do anything about it

[biker jk]

More tacks today (Sunday 15th March) friend got tacked today and also last sunday. I was lucky

Spoke to some other riders and was told at leat another 4 at the time we were there.

Sad part is we can't do anything about it

Why don't you ride on the road? Are the tacks thrown in the bike lane alone or also on the road?