Cyclists have taken to moonlighting as private detectives in a bid to catch a "cowardly" culprit scattering metal tacks across a popular Melbourne bike route.

For the past 18 months, someone has been putting cobblers tacks along Yarra Boulevard, in the city's east, causing many a blown tyre.

Cyclists fear it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt or killed along because of the tacks.

VicRoads, the Boroondara Council and local police will meet this week to try to resolve the problem.

But in the meantime some locals have taken to the dead of night to set up cameras and hide in trees, in a effort to catch the culprit.

One of the private eyes is Kevin Russell.

He said was sick of being stranded on winter mornings and nights trying to change a punctured tube with freezing fingers.

Mr Russell turned to amateur surveillance, using a dashboard camera in his car at night time.

"Whilst headlights are on, you've got enough natural light, it's great, but it's pretty dark down here, not much street lighting, it's really difficult to capture an image," he said.

He said while he did not have high hopes of catching the perpetrator, he had to do something.

Mr Russell turned to amateur surveillance to catch the culprit, using a dashboard camera in his car at night time. ( ABC News )

"It's just part of the process trying to stop this from happening in the future," he said.

Earlier this month, a group of cyclists took part in a 24-hour ride along the boulevard in Melbourne to demand the installation of permanent security cameras on the six-kilometre stretch.

Mr Russell supports that idea.

"You do need hi-tech cameras to do this properly with good infrared because of the darkness of the location," he said.

Yarra Boulevard 'like a war zone'

Cyclist George Mihailides organised the 24-hour ride and another protest last month and he said the campaigns would continue until the problem was resolved.

"It does feel like a war zone, which is unfortunate," he said.

"Most motorists and cyclists get on well together.

"It's just the odd fringe element that have a problem with each other.

"I would describe what's going on here as guerilla tactics, cowardly attacks down in the stealth of night."

Thousands of tacks have been dumped on the road in the past 18 months. ( Supplied )

Disgruntled local probably to blame

Opinions vary about the reason for the tack attacks.

Mr Russell suspects the culprit is a disgruntled local, angered by the clacking gear changes of teams doing hill training.

"A number of people were training early mornings in the side streets and I think that might've caused a response," he said.

"That has eased off a lot, there's not as many doing that anymore, but the tacks persist regardless."

The problem is not going unnoticed by authorities.

VicRoads is conducting daily patrols for tacks along Kew Boulevard. ( ABC News )

The Boroondara Council set up puncture repair pit-stops along the boulevard and is considering setting up well-lit meeting areas for cyclists, away from houses.

VicRoads is now conducting daily patrols for tacks.

A long magnet is attached to the back of a car and dragged it along the boulevard to pick up the tacks.

This month alone that clean-up will cost taxpayers $20,000.

On the morning the ABC joined a patrol, a crew picked up a dozen tacks just in the first couple of minutes.

"There's a lot of other work we should be doing out here, fixing potholes and things like that, that really need to be done, than us wasting our time on tacks," VicRoads worker Jake Doherty said.

Senior Sergeant Mark Standish from the Boroondara police said it was one of the more unusual cases he had seen in his time.

He was reassuring riders police are putting a lot of resources into the case.

As for the culprit, they are facing anything from littering charges to possible jail time for causing injury.