ARIZONA OFF-ROADERS, OFFICIALS FIND DANGEROUS REBAR SPIKES IN TRAILS

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Federal authorities in Arizona are warning off-highway-vehicle riders to be wary of trails in the Coconino National Forest near Happy Jack, Ariz., the American Motorcyclist Association reports.
This past weekend, trail riders reported the tires of their all-terrain vehicles and off-road motorcycles were punctured by rebar spikes, sharpened and partially buried in trails heavily used by responsible enthusiasts and their families.

No injuries were reported. But the sabotage endangers riders, hikers and even animals.

“The end of the rebar has been flattened and sharpened to a point, and the exposed point has been painted to blend in with the road surface,” Mogollon Rim District Ranger Linda Wadleigh said in a statement. “The objects pose a serious threat to everyone, and that doesn’t just mean people recreating on a motorcycle or OHV, it includes people walking, hiking and even wildlife. We are taking this very seriously and asking the public to keep an eye out and report suspicious activity in the area.”

Forest officials want anyone with any information about who set the spikes to call U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers at (928) 527-3511.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.