Trail bike riders are being reminder to stay off local parks after complaints that riders are ripping up turf and harassing pedestrians at Carss Bush Park.
Local residents have written to the Leader complaining about the riders who they say are riding around the park without a helmet and almost hitting other people.
A local business owner, who did not want to be named, said they had noticed a significant escalation in the last six weeks.
‘’Over the years we’ve had riders come through every now and again but it’s usually just them using the park as a thoroughfare,’’ he said.
‘’It has escalated over the past six weeks and now there’s four riders who seem to be doing burnouts and tearing up the grass.’’
He said the riders looked to be teenagers and the school holiday period could explain the noticeable increase.
‘’It’s not just riding across the fields. Now they’re riding near the playground,’’ he said.
‘’On the weekend there’s lots of kids and families about and that’s a concern.
‘’It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.’’
A Georges River Council spokesman said they were aware of the issue.
‘’In instances where Council has been called, rangers have gone down to the park to locate the trail bike riders. However, on these occasions, when the trail bike riders sight the rangers they exit the park,’’ he said.
‘’Council has sought the assistance of St George police to help stop this behaviour by requesting they patrol the area around the park.
‘’Georges River Council has had the issue raised a number of times over the past 12 months and, in that time, council has been working to solve the issue with the help of police.
‘’The damage caused by the trail bikes to the grounds has fortunately been minimal, with council needing only to patch small sections.’’
He said the cost to repair the grass had been minimal so far.
He reminded residents that it was prohibited to ride trail bikes through any parks and sports grounds in the local area.
