Jos reported the knife wielding man on the trail. It just makes me sad how many violent and scary things are happening with the homeless and mentally ill on the trails around here lately. I blame all the new and improved homeless services, and food coalition grants that have come our way in the last year. Utah is far too friendly to criminals and derelicts because they want the federal money that comes with caring for this group. Since last fall there have been 4 serious incidents that I am aware of on the trails. I don't have the means on this end of the trail to head up safety campaigns like I did where I lived before. If there were weird things going on (homeless people starting to camp out or drug addicts sleeping the nights on the sides of the trail) I'd start telling the neighbors to get out there with their dogs, kids, strollers, friends in droves--to call the cops when they saw druggies, or drug deals, wandering homeless, or cars parked overnight. I am without a doubt socially liberal and have mercy for the less fortunate...but when it comes to protecting the sanctity and safety of public outdoor space I am a heat packing, vigilante, and minuteman. I don't feel equipped to do anything on this side of the trail. Too many people come for different reasons and from different places (to long board, bike, run or walk). Maybe I'll start N. Rivertrail vigilante community that --save our trail, take our trail back group through Orem and Provo City. I'd totally volunteer to ride my bike up and down the trail twice a week during peak crazy hours looking for trouble. We used to have cops on bikes trolling the trail. I haven't seen those guys in over 3 years. | 