From dirt bikes to even an SUV: Lincoln man reports illegal vehicles on Rock Island Trail

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A Lincoln man says the Rock Island Trail is getting bogged down by vehicles that aren’t supposed to be there.

Clint Solano lives along the trail near 33rd and South streets.

He and his wife often sit on their back patio, which faces the path.

Over the past few years, they have noticed a concerning increase in traffic.

“Some of the bikes we’ve seen are full-out dirt bikes like you’d see on motocross,” Solano said. “But then you see the homemade jobs that you can tell people welded in their garage, and they’re gas-powered, but they come in all shapes and sizes.”

He’s also seen many noisy motorcycles drive by.

Solano even captured a picture of someone driving an SUV along the path a couple of weeks ago.

“Wasn’t speeding, but obviously, you don’t want a vehicle that size on the trail at 4 o’clock in the afternoon,” Solano said.

A vehicle driving on Rock Island Trail in Lincoln.

Courtesy: Clint Solano

All of the vehicles he described are prohibited on Lincoln’s trails.

But Solano said he hasn’t seen the rules enforced in his area, though he admits it would be hard to put a stop to it.

“If I were to call the police, these individuals would be gone in a matter of seconds,” he said. “But I guess it takes a community, I would think.”

He said his main concern is for families who use the trail daily.

“I would just hate to see someone pay the ultimate price for someone else driving recklessly,” Solano said.

Channel 8 reached out to the Lincoln Police Department to ask about the number of tickets that have been issued on bike trails, but LPD wasn’t able to provide any numbers.

Solano said he hopes enough people working together can make the trails enjoyable for everyone.

“I am disappointed that more people don’t take the responsibility to think of the greater good, and a small portion of the population is ruining it for everyone else,” he said. “Truly, that’s what it is.”