Wires have been found strung at neck height across the Brynmenyn cycle path near Bridgend. After receiving three calls in two days about the wires, police have launched an investigation.
Sergeant Jonathan Ridd said police were taking the matter very seriously and warned whoever was responsible that they were committing “a serious offence which could cause very serious harm to somebody.”
Speaking to Wales Online, he said: “We have increased patrols in the area and are considering other measures that will help us identify who is responsible. For now, it is important that people who legitimately use the area such as walkers, joggers and cyclists, are aware of this issue and remain vigilant.”
Concerned that the wires may be the work of young people who don’t appreciate the seriousness of their actions, police have also visited local schools to speak to children from the area.
In January, a cyclist rode into wire stretched across a path in Cambridge. The wire caught Garry Seddon across the chest and he said had he been on a bike with drop-handlebars or aerobars, it could have connected with his throat.
More recently, a barbed wire booby trap was found placed at chest height across a bike trail in Wormshill, Kent. Daniel Webster spotted the wire while riding uphill. He said had he been approaching from the other direction, he “never would have stood a chance”.

8 thoughts on “Welsh police investigate cases of wires being strung across busy bike path”
I’ve cycled many paths. There
I’ve cycled many paths. There’s always an uneasy equilibrium between dog walker, ped, jogger and cyclist.
Save for this one where everyone gets along. Which makes it all the more upsetting.
I have to say locally I can’t
I have to say locally I can’t remember having a problem on shared use tracks. Canal towpaths – more problematic IME.
Oh god now they’ve given the
Oh god now they’ve given the kids ideas 🙁
Incidentally I would be amazed if this behaviour is kids sounds much more likley to be a miserable old git walker or a miserable dog owner or similar
On a slightly more humerous note (but extremely painful) when out on my mtb last year I was caught in the face by a ivy vine hanging across a bridleway (not deliberately placed). Fortunately I wasn’t going too fast , but it still caught under my nose and left me flat on my back on the floor with a massive nose bleed. It took my mates about 5 minutes to stop laughing – bastards
Having experienced that, a thinner man made wire or string is unthinkable.
balmybaldwin wrote:
Seconded.
balmybaldwin wrote:
Does Matthew Parris live around there? http://road.cc/content/news/3069-what%E2%80%99s-smug-and-deserves-be-decapitated%E2%80%9D-matthew-parris-gets-most-press-complaints
“Concerned that the wires may
“Concerned that the wires may be the work of young people who don’t appreciate the seriousness of their actions”
There we go. Any possibility of a conviction for attempted murder out of the window.
Matt_S wrote:
I wouldn’t wish that on a child – we all did stupid things as teenagers. Adults tho should have the book thrown at them
balmybaldwin wrote:
I wouldn’t wish that on a child – we all did stupid things as teenagers. Adults tho should have the book thrown at them— Matt_S
Can’t say that I ever tried to kill anyone when I was a teenager.