Avon & Somerset Police have warned bike riders using the Bristol and Bath cycle path to be extra vigilant after a cyclist was left unconscious, and his bike stolen, after being brought down by a clothes line strung across the path at wheel height.
The incident happened at around 8pm on the evening of Monday 12 December, with a passer-by finding the 28-year-old man, a soldier who has served in Afghanistan, unconscious.
The cyclist’s bike, a blue and black Trek Madone which he uses for races, was stolen, presumably by the person or persons who had put the clothes line in place.
The victim, who comes from Kingswood, was treated by paramedics at the location of the incident, which took place as he headed towards a bridge in the Siston Common area, shortly after he had passed Mangotsfield station.
There have been similar incidents on the Bristol and Bath bike path in the past, and we at road.cc are aware of a number of actual incidents and near misses.
In 2004, the Bristol Observer reported how a cyclist was left with lacerations on his neck as he rode his recumbent – which would put the height of the trap at a similar one to the clothes line used in Monday’s incident.
That article can be found on the website of the cyclist involved, Danny Colyer, also of Kingswood, found a second snare the following morning and a third when he returned there with a journalist from the newspaper.
Located on the route of a former railway line, the path was put in place for cyclists and walkers between 1979 and 1986, giving birth to sustainable transport charity Sustrans along the way, founded as Cyclebag in 1977.
Most of the path, which is 13 miles long, is owned by Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire Council or Bath and North East Somerset Council.
Anyone who has information about Monday’s incident is requested to contact South Gloucestershire CID on 101, or Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
Am I advocating the total removal of abortion? No. There are cases where it's necessary. It sounds like there could be many cases. I'm willing to...
Exactly. With the wind and poss circumstances, the right rider could gain minutes as early as stage 2... Before we even consider cobbles. All bets...
I'm sure there's going to be blokes creating lookalike fairings in garden sheds across the country now. Probably a bit more affordable.
I dont think its the RTA thats the problem here, as you cant walk through as a pedestrian and be served in drive-thrus either. It will be the...
WMP did the first Op Close Pass and started the pilot to allow cam footage to be used in evidence in 2015/16. You have Andy Cox in Lincoln and Kev...
Yes your right, I found that the spikes loose and tightened, I've been riding bikes for many years and never ever had a problem with wheels untiL...
1x11 SRAM
I suspect that not all valves have an external thread and I'm not sure they are a standard thread size, especially on non-removable cored inner...
I agree. ...
Or they could do what triathletes do, and draw the numbers on their skin with Sharpies.