I agree with Andrew. Just like how a shift towards cyclists avoiding riding on the roads will only make the issue of road sharing worse, avoiding riding on the trail will probably only make this type of random act more likely for those who still do. We have safety in numbers, even when we're not riding together. So scary that this happened though. I was out alone on a different section of the trail last night.

Has there been any response from the Gainesville PD about trail safety in general, that we know of? Will they do any patrols of the area?

On Tue, May 22, 2018 at 1:42 PM, Andrew Stanfill <xxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote:
At the risk of starting a debate on a large listserv, I would like to say please don't let this incident change the mentality of cyclists who use Gainesville's major trail. Stay aware, but this is a highly trafficked area that we should not let become isolated due to a rogue act. 

On Tue, May 22, 2018 at 1:02 PM, xxxxxx@cox.net xxxxxx@cox.net <xxxxxx@cox.net> wrote:

Thank you for letting us know....that stretch is one of the areas where I have felt safe to ride alone....but not any more.

It is still light out at 7 PM, too.

Carol Glavin

On May 22, 2018 at 11:12 AM John Donnelly <xxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote:

JD from Bike Works here.  On Friday evening, one of our customers was held up at gunpoint on the trail.    She was riding alone back towards Depot Park from Sweetwater Overlook, around 7 PM when the incident occurred.    A man walking towards her pulled a gun on her as she tried to ride around him.   He demanded her bike, wallet, and phone.  She's shaken up, but ok.   

Be careful out there!     

JD                         
Bike Works

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Joan M. Meiners | PhD Candidate in Interdisciplinary Ecology
School of Natural Resources & Environment | University of Florida, Gainesville
Ernest Lab (http://ernestlab.weecology.org/) | Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation