West Yorkshire Police have issued a warning to cyclists to be vigilant after drawing pins were found scattered on a route used by bike commuters in Leeds.
An officer who patrols the north east of the city revealed on Twitter that he stopped to help a female cyclist who had punctured on the Meanwood Valley cycle path this morning – and subsequently realised that he, too, had picked up a drawing pin in his own tyre.
Anyone who commutes along the Meanwood valley cycle path – Beware – helped a cyclist out who had a drawing pin in her tyre there this morning. Now I find I have one in MY tyre, which I can only imagine I got from the same place – someone’s idea of a joke, I think!1 pic.twitter.com/HEPzer675H
— 8486 Ali Mac (@WYP_8486AliMac) December 7, 2017
He subsequently added that a friend had picked up four drawing pins at the same location this morning.
Leeds Cycling campaign also tweeted about the drawing pins, saying that one of its members had picked up no fewer than 150 of them.
https://t.co/JbcFuDfsH5 Super Allan, one of our members, has now picked up all of these (150). Hopefully police will take seriously. Had potential to cause serious injury. https://t.co/JbcFuDfsH5
— LeedsCyclingCampaign (@LeedsCyclists) December 7, 2017
A huge thank you to Allan from all us cyclists
I hope he had a big magnet & didn’t have to hand pick them all up?!— PC Matt Guy (@PCMattGuy)
11 thoughts on “Drawing pins scattered on Leeds commuter cycle route”
Why do the police think
Why do the police think something that can cause a serious incident is a “joke”?
Typical response, if that were similarly effective nails being scattered on a main trunk road the police would react far differently.
BehindTheBikesheds wrote:
They don’t – or rather he doesn’t – seem to. The phrase “someones idea of a joke” tends to mean exactly the opposite.
fukawitribe wrote:
He may not think it’s a joke, but not much evidence of taking it seriously or trying to find the criminals responsible.
oldstrath wrote:
Much evidence from what ? The only thing we have to go on about that so far from this article is the link to ‘Beware’ warning tweet he put out.. presumably he took it at least somewhat seriously don’t you think ? Beyond that you and I don’t know, unless you have some further information in the matter; in which case share it.
It’s all fun and games – till
It’s all fun and games – till a wheelchair or handcycle picks up a pin.
And can’t dismount.
Can’t get out of the way.
Often can’t do a tube change on their own – and rarely able to use a pump.
Serious dick move.
Crippledbiker wrote:
This route is used by a charity group with accessable bikes at weekends to give people with learning difficulties opportunities to ride bikes, so as above, this is really annoying
…
…
Anti Darwinism
Anti Darwinism
Yay, free stationary!
Yay, free stationary! 🙂
Deeferdonk wrote:
That actually works on more than one level…
I regret my remark has given
I regret my remark has given rise to the misinterpretation that police are not taking this matter seriously or that we are disengaged from the cycling community, especially since I was also punctured! The purpose of the tweet was to warn other cyclists, rather than to report on action being taken.
I am happy to reassure you that we have taken the matter seriously and responded proportionately (I didn’t get the helicopter out).
Here’s what the police did/are doing.
Off-duty officer assisted at scene (cyclist); officers (cyclists) posted alert & engaged local cycling community via twitter; incident reported; evidence seized for forensic examination; Neighbourhood sergeant for the area (competitive cyclist who also leads on Operation Close Pass) made aware; he engages local cycling organisations and the council who sweep the path the same day; has organised for Police cadets to carry out further work on part of the path that is overgrown; directs further overt and covert patrols into the area.
Investigation continues and we will be looking at taking positive action for criminal offences such as criminal damage / endangering road users.