Man crashes bike after hitting 'deliberately' placed rocks on Wellington's Te Ara Tupua path

4:19 pm today

The cyclist picked up six large rocks off the track.

Photo: Supplied

Large rocks on Wellington's new Ngauranga to Petone shared path have caused a local firefighter to come tumbling off this bike.

Both the firefighter and New Zealand Transport Agency believe the debris was planted deliberately.

The long-awaited Te Ara Tupua path opened one month ago, and has been highly praised by local cyclists, walkers and runners.

Clark Townsley, who works at Newtown Station, was biking into work in the early morning when his front tire hit a rock.

"Next thing you know, I'm lying on the ground, and then I look back behind me and there's a rock sitting right in one of the dark spots," he told RNZ.

Townsley tossed about six rocks from the path he estimated to be between five and seven kilograms, and 25 to 50 centimetres wide.

"There's no doubt in my mind they've done it [deliberately], probably thought it was a bit of a joke at the time.

"Either way, it's not a particularly smart thing to do."

Townsley said he sustained light injuries, with a sore elbow and grazed hit.

"It could have been a lot worse."

Townsley and a runner coming from the opposite direction cleared the track, throwing debris aside.

The cyclist estimated that rocks up to 50 centimeters wide were on the track.

Photo: Supplied

In a statement, the New Zealand Transport Agency said it was extremely disappointed, given the danger the debris posed to those using the path.

"The Ngauranga to Petone shared path has been enjoyed by thousands of people since it opened last month and it is deeply frustrating that anyone would choose to behave in such a way."

The agency thanked those on the path for clearing the debris, helping to keep the route safe.

"The shared path has traffic cameras installed for safety purposes, and NZTA/Waka Kotahi is prepared to refer incidents like this to police," it warned.

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