City Park tree sprouts yet another bicycle

COEUR d'ALENE — Obviously, this tree grows bicycles.

Less than two weeks after officials removed a bike from a tree in Coeur d'Alene City Park, another one has appeared in the same tree.

Only this time, it was chained about 10 feet higher — 70 feet above ground.

Nearly every year for more than a decade, a bicycle has appeared in the same tree at City Park. There’s no rhyme or reason to when or why a bike is secured with a chain high up in the tree.

Although it might seem like a harmless but impressive accomplishment for a group of merry pranksters, city officials say it is anything but. Not only does the bicycle's placement in the tree create a public safety hazard, getting the bike down from the tree is a monumental challenge for city personnel as well.

In the past, the city has had to use contractors who remove trees or do other projects at City Park to get the bike down. The city paid about $165 to bring down the last bike.

There was no word Friday on how, or if, the city plans to remove the latest tree bike.