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  1. Oh they missed the turn and went straight…. Wow. If more people had to conduct themselves like a professional driver and look five minutes down the road constantly there would be fewer incidents like this in the world today. Look ahead people!

  2. They are cyclists. They are entitled creatures. They probably thought the gate will move out the way of them because they are the most important people in the world.

  3. Possible Legal Theories for Cyclists:
    A. Negligence

    To succeed, a cyclist would have to prove:

    Duty of care (did the property owner owe any duty, even to trespassers?)

    Breach (was installing the gate without warning unreasonably dangerous?)

    Causation

    Damages

    General rule: Property owners owe limited duties to trespassers—but not to willfully or recklessly injure them.

    If the owner installed the gate without signage, lighting, or reasonable warning—knowing cyclists frequently pass through at speed—a court may find constructive knowledge of risk, and thus negligence in failing to mitigate foreseeable harm.

    B. Reckless Endangerment / Willful Misconduct

    If the gate was constructed:

    Suddenly

    With awareness of frequent high-speed traffic

    Without any warning,
    then this could be deemed reckless disregard for safety, which can lead to liability even toward trespassers.

    Some jurisdictions would consider this an “ultrahazardous condition”, akin to booby traps, which are clearly impermissible.
    C. Attractive Nuisance (less likely)

    More commonly applies to children, but if the shortcut was a long-standing, obvious and appealing path, some courts might extend a limited duty—especially in urban/suburban settings.

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