He assumed it was a weapon, Bloomington Police Department Captain Joe Qualters said.
He was then robbed of his wallet and reported the robbery to the police.
A similar incident happened days later with a female cyclist on the trail around the same time of night.
In response to this criminal activity, the Bloomington Police Department has increased patrols of the downtown trail. In a press release, the department announced it will be expanding police patrols to have a “noticeable increase in law enforcement presence.”
A Bloomington staple, the trail was completed in late 2011 and runs from Adams Street on the north side of town to Country Club Drive on the south side. The 3.1-mile course features both human- and pet-friendly drinking fountains as well as art installations by local and national artists.
“We recognize that this trail is very popular,” Qualters said. “We want to encourage people to use it.”
These are not the first instances of crime occurring on or around the trail. Last year, a woman was reportedly sexually assaulted on the trail in the middle of the day, according to WTIU, sparking conversation about the safety of the trail.
“We’ve always had officers that are assigned to the trail,” Qualters said.
The trail is already a part of three patrol districts. Officers assigned to those districts are responsible for patrolling it along with the downtown resource officers that typically patrol the trail’s intersection with Kirkwood Avenue and other downtown locations.
“What we’re doing with the increase in patrols is we’re supplementing those officers,” Qualters said.
Although recent incidents have occurred at night, patrols will increase police presence throughout the day and night to assure the trail remians safe for all users.
The police plan to patrol the trail on foot, bicycle and with the department’s all-terrain vehicle.
IU senior Rachel Johansen said her favorite part of the B-Line trail is the area over by the train tracks, near the location of the Bloomington farmer’s market. Johansen is a member of IU Run Club, which meets every evening in the fall and spring.
Although Johansen runs at night in other areas, she said she stays away from the B-Line trail at night.
“I generally try not to run too late over there just for safety reasons,” she said.
Even when running in other locations, Johansen tries to stay in the well-lit places and always runs with a buddy.
The BPD also issued several tips for staying safe while running or walking on the B-Line, including carrying a cell phone for emergency use, using the “buddy system” when possible or staying reasonably close to others using the trail, avoiding use of the trail late at night and not visiting more remote locations on the trail with lower populations.
The department also reminded those who frequent the B-Line that the trail’s light poles are numbered to aid runners and walkers in identifying their location in the event of an emergency.
Ultimately, individuals using the B-Line trail are encouraged to report any suspicious activity or people to police immediately, according to the ?release.
