Boise is working on becoming a more bikeable city. There are quite a few barriers to that coming to fruition, not least of all being the small but mighty goathead. Also known as puncture vine, this invasive plant presents a serious challenge to any bicyclist. The nutlets on the plant burst many-a-tire every season, which can get expensive to replace and make biking around town difficult.
A determined joint effort against the goathead has resulted in an annual festival and parade known as the Boise Goathead Fest. It’s slated for Aug. 19, but there’s plenty of work to do before then.
This is a heatmap of where goatheads are most likely to cause issues, so places like paths, parks, and schools. (Goathead Fest)
The festival’s team is working with the city to pull 15,000 pounds, or seven and a half tons, of goatheads this summer. And they need help!
There are best practices for picking, as well as ways to track what you’re pulling, and the rewards for how much you pull.
So get out there, pull some goatheads, win some prizes, and help eliminate one of the bicycling community’s most annoying obstacles.
