Tack-dropping since Feb 2014 in inner Melbourne, no end in sight

[Shut Up Legs]

Hi Victor - can't believe it's still going on!

However, I suggest a strategy.

Find someone with 2 cute golden labradors.
Pose pictures of one of them with a wounded foot (blood on a bandage) and the other one looking sad.
Release a story about how the wounded one got a potentially deadly infection from picking up a tack deep in his paw and may not live.
Extra pic of the healthy dog refusing food or lying down looking sad, being fruitlessly encouraged by its 12-year-old owner who has raised them from a pup.
Express outrage.

Might work, the Aussies are like the Pommies where animals are concerned....

Seriously though, what the police have said they are doing is majorly pathetic, striding about visibly and asking people instead of surveillance.

It's already occurred. At least one dog got a tack in its foot since this started. Also, at least one cyclist has crashed as a result of picking up a tack, and then losing control of the bicycle. Whoever's throwing these is (are?) a messed-up person.

Several people over here have commented that if there were this many tacks thrown onto a motorway, outrage would be huge, and justice swiftly exacted. Australians love their cars. (Yes, I know, I'm Australian, but I'm a cyclist, which makes me atypical).

 

[Ganymede]

It's already occurred. At least one dog got a tack in its foot since this started.

I just think you need to up the dramatic ante: "Fluffie's gonna DIE"... I'm half serious... Good luck!

 

[jarlrmai]

The longer this goes on the more likely it's about the thrill of doing that is something causing all this fuss and getting away with it than it is about the act itself.

 

[jefmcg]

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2015/03/a...on-yarra-boulevard-whats-being-done-about-it/

The ‘Boulie tacks’ have almost certainly been placed on the road by a local resident, deliberately to inconvenience cyclists
[..]
While it’s hard to determine whether rider numbers on the Boulevard are down as a result of the tacks, it’s clear, at least anecdotally, that many riders have been and still are hesitant to visit. One group that has started avoiding ‘the Boulie’ is Blackburn Cycling Club, which has been running time trials along much of the 6.6km stretch of road for years.

This is the worst part; not only haven't they been caught and punished, but that they have apparently achieved their aim of driving cyclists away. I dare say a time trial outside your house is a bit annoying, and that's not happening anymore.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

The latest development, a planned protest ride soon. This post from a local cycling forum
https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=26910&p=668148#p668144
mentions that the media, our State Premier and the local parliamentary member have been contacted.

 

[classic33]

Petition now been started, to try and get it stopped.

 

[jarlrmai]

At least people are talking about it at some level, who started the petition?

 

[jefmcg]

Some guy

https://www.change.org/p/please-sign-the-petition-stop-the-tacks-on-kew-boulevard

He's also organising a protest ride.

http://noboullietacks.com/

 

[jarlrmai]

Oh I got confused I thought someone had organised a petition to stop the protest ride.

 

[jefmcg]

Oops lots of TMNs to @Shut Up Legs Somehow I didn't read his posting properly.

@jarlrmai anyone who wants to stop the protest ride will be out the night before with tacks

 

[Shut Up Legs]

More developments:

1. Local police issued a media release: http://vicpolicenews.com.au/news/6574-police-investigate-tack-attack.html
2. An Australian cycling website issued their own release: http://cyclingtips.com.au/2015/04/r...oulevard-this-sunday-in-boulie-tacks-protest/

Meanwhile, the planned protest ride is still on for this coming Sunday. Personally, I think it should be on a week day during peak traffic times, because not enough people will even notice it on a Sunday, except for a few locals and the tourists who drive through Yarra Bend Park.

 

[classic33]

More developments:

1. Local police issued a media release: http://vicpolicenews.com.au/news/6574-police-investigate-tack-attack.html
2. An Australian cycling website issued their own release: http://cyclingtips.com.au/2015/04/r...oulevard-this-sunday-in-boulie-tacks-protest/

Meanwhile, the planned protest ride is still on for this coming Sunday. Personally, I think it should be on a week day during peak traffic times, because not enough people will even notice it on a Sunday, except for a few locals and the tourists who drive through Yarra Bend Park.

Would a peak time protest play into the hands of those who are throwing the tacks into place?

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I just updated the thread title, to better reflect this sorry state of affairs. I can't believe it's been 14 months, and the problem still continues.

 

[classic33]

I just updated the thread title, to better reflect this sorry state of affairs. I can't believe it's been 14 months, and the problem still continues.

And the ride, still going?

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Some media coverage of the protest ride this morning:
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/s...sts-say-enough-is-enough-20150503-1myqjk.html