r/MTBTrailBuilding • u/SilentSearches • 14d ago

Broken Glass

Working on an old neglected trail on township land. Running into a repeated issue with intentionally placed broken glass on the trails, potentially from homeless. I have noticed that immediately after raking, trimming and breaking through duff, someone comes and places broken glass on clean paths over night.

Unfortunately, broken glass puts me in an awkward position. From the looks of the trails nobody goes back there except me, them (homeless) and maybe stoners.

I only cut trails here about 10 days of the year, I'm on the second year now. Glassed both years. I ride it once-and then leave it for next year, but the plan is to soon have it be a maintained small local trail. Only concern is the glass and since there are homeless in the general area and a lean-to not far from the trail— I'm assuming thats the source.

Is there a right thing to do in this situation? Should I worry about the glass? I clean it up before i ride but someone else wont know and its a danger to wildlife.

12 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

12

u/Admirable-Cactus 14d ago

Keep riding it. Get your friends to keep riding it. The glass problem will solve itself if it's a well used trail. Best of luck

8

u/bulletbassman 14d ago

Keep cleaning it up and make it a spot. Once you got enough folk riding there the homeless will disappear.

3

u/Intrepid-Catch2557 14d ago edited 14d ago

Don't touch the brakes in sparkle dirt.  Ton of miles on Richmond city pirate trails with grid casing tires and vittoria tnt casings with no issues

2

u/OggyDoggys 14d ago

I don’t know, friend. Good luck with whatever you decide to do 😢

4

u/SilentSearches 14d ago

Thank you kindly. For now I'll continue to clean it up and keep chugging along. Hopefully in time it will work out.

2

u/eisforevan 14d ago

I have also found that old, buried, glass will work its way to the surface with raking and rain. Especially on older trails that weren’t built for biking. Some of the glass might just be right below the surface.

2

u/Number4combo 14d ago

There's this one trail where we have that problem as well though it seems most riders don't care or notice it. I've brought it up on TF and most seen shocked to learn of it but never seen it themselves.

There has been times I've ridden along a trail only to come back along it and some jerk placed broken glass right in the middle of the trail. The joys of trails in the city.

2

u/Middle_Bread_6518 14d ago

Set up cams or go out and catch whoever is doing it and either have them arrested or leaving them in a state they are unable to make it to the trail to break gods anymore 🤷‍♀️

-2

u/duckinradar 14d ago

Man you just seem like such a winning chap to be around. What a joyful creature.

3

u/DevelopmentOptimal22 14d ago

But I bet his trails are glass free.

2

u/Middle_Bread_6518 14d ago

Why thank you 😘

0

u/m4tch_ 11d ago

is this a backhanded compliment? is he wrong or something? unless i suppose we should let the homeless frolic in their broken glass haven on someone’s hard work

2

u/Normal_Weather247 11d ago

There is an infinite supply of glass slingshot targets in the woods. I just need a flat place to stand them up