The popular cycling and walking path between Bristol and Bath may soon be getting major safety upgrades, including investment of £1 million and 20 CCTV cameras to tackle robberies and bikejacking attacks.
We first heard word of the plans last year, South Gloucestershire Council since undertaking 12 months of planning and consultation and now confirming to Bristol Live that there has been “a strong level of interest” and that a full business case was submitted to the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority just before Christmas, with a decision expected “in the coming weeks”.
If approved, works could start later this year, plans including the installation of CCTV cameras along the Bristol & Bath Railway Path between the former Mangotsfield station and Staple Hill tunnel.
The 15-mile off-road path connects Bristol and Bath, the route a much used commuting corridor for cyclists and also popular with walkers. While crime and anti-social behaviour are nothing new on the path, last winter saw numerous reports of dangerous riding by a “speeding” e-scooter gang, as well as more violent bikejackings and robberies.
Cyclists reported not feeling comfortable using the path at night, one rider saying the violent bikejackings had turned the route into the “wild west” and that users “feel safer” on the road “between buses and cars”.
During one incident, a Deliveroo rider was ambushed by three men on “very fast e-bikes” who pushed the victim off his bike and threatened him with a knife. Two days later, another cyclist reported being robbed at knifepoint on the path.
In response, the council installed some CCTV cameras and a robber was caught by police within 24 hours, the council now applying for approval and funding for more investment in surveillance cameras on the route.
“We know there are people who want to use the path, or use it more often, to get around but currently feel there are barriers stopping them,” South Gloucestershire Council said. “These improvements are designed to remove some of those barriers. The installation of CCTV will help reduce anti-social behaviour and deter incidents of crime along the path. Removing some physical barriers and street furniture will improve accessibility and make the path an easier, more comfortable travel route for all users.”
“These locations have been chosen because of an increase in reports and incidents of anti-social behaviour and criminal activity. They cover entry and exit points of the railway path and there will be two cameras on each column pointing in either direction of the path,” the proposal stated.
South Gloucestershire Council says it hopes, along with reducing anti-social behaviour and crime, that the installation of CCTV will make the route “more attractive” to users and, in turn, boost the number of people using it for leisure or commuting to work or school.
1 thought on “Popular cycling path’s “wild west” bikejackings could be tackled with £1 million investment and 20 CCTV cameras, after riders ditch route and report feeling “safer between buses and cars””
Assume this happens late at
Assume this happens late at night; I’m on this path quite a bit, all year round, and haven’t experienced any problems. Normally at commuting times so there are other cyclists, school-children and pedestrians about. Perhaps they could tackle the recent presence of illegal ebikes; travelling too fast and weaving dangerously past other path users. In the summer, electric motor bikes have appeared as well. I’ve had to commute to different places over the years and the B2B cycle path is a brilliant piece of cycling infrastructure; negative press just gives people another excuse not to leave the car at home (just a bit). “I couldn’t consider using a bicycle; too dangerous on the B2B bike path”.