Plans for a new shared-use path in south Wales have been approved despite residents’ objections that cyclists would disturb a territorial dog and cause it to bark excessively, as well as claims that the route would disrupt a van that has been parked in the area since 1990.
The scheme, signed off by Swansea Council, will run from Pentre Road at the northern edge of Rhydgoch Cemetery to Birch Rock Road and then to Bolgoed Road, linking the town to nearby Pontlliw.
The route will pass along the boundary of a former brickworks, cross a large water main, and follow an existing rear lane behind Pentre Road properties. Some trees will be cut down, though planning officers have required more trees be planted in compensation, along with a contaminated land remediation plan.
WalesOnline reports that five objections were lodged against the project, one resident warning that their territorial dog would be unsettled by passing cyclists, leading to “excessive barking.”
Another objector argued that vehicles had long used the rear lane, including a van which has reportedly remained in place for 35 years.
Others raised concerns about privacy, security, and the possibility of off-road motorcyclists exploiting the new link, while some questioned whether the project was needed given the presence of a cycle path at nearby Coed Bach Park.
However, there was also one letter of support from the locals, pointing out that the path would improve access for schoolchildren and create a safe route to shops. The letter added that the “overgrown land will be improved with the creation of the path, enhancing the local area’s appearance.”
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Council officers concluded that although there might be worries about privacy, security and quality of life, “based on the information available, it is not anticipated on balance that any perceived or unreasonable additional harm beyond the current situation would be caused by the proposed development.” They emphasised the wider benefits of encouraging fewer car journeys and improving health and wellbeing.
Pontarddulais councillor Kevin Griffiths said: “You’re always going to have people who approve and people who disapprove,” noting that existing paths in the area, such as through Coed Bach Park and linking Pontarddulais with Gowerton, were well-used by cyclists and walkers.
This latest decision comes just months after Swansea Council dropped a far more ambitious scheme — a £1.4m segregated two-way cycle lane along the A4118 between Sketty and Walter Road via Uplands.
That route was described by the council as “vital” and welcomed by campaign group Swansea Wheelrights, but it was paused in September 2024 and finally abandoned in February this year after a backlash led by former MP Geraint Davies and Uplands councillors.
While residents branded it “the biggest waste of money ever,” warning it would “devastate” the community, cycling campaigners in favour pointed to footage of the road clogged with traffic and argued the new design would have given cyclists safe, continuous protection, but their voices were drowned out.
One rider said they had “argued with the NIMBYs over this” and called opponents “impervious to reason and hostile as wasps.” Swansea Council has since redirected the funding to other projects, including upgrades to the Clyne Valley path and a park route in Landore.
> Irish farmers claim new cycle lane means road too narrow for combine harvesters, as local group angry at “North Korean-style project”
Just this week in Kildare, Ireland, opponents of a new 3km path between Moone and Timolin staged a road march with placards reading “Why not a unicorn lane too?” and “Bike 3 Cars 300 Logic 0.” The €1.6m scheme has been denounced by critics as a “North Korean-style project,” a “death trap,” and an “obstacle course,” with local farmers claiming it leaves the road too narrow for combine harvesters.
In Somerset last summer, councillors rejected proposals for a six-mile traffic-free greenway along the disused Grand Western Canal linking Taunton and Wellington. One said cyclists “will always want to use the road,” while others warned that those who did ride the path would force dog walkers and parents with pushchairs to “jump out of the way” as people sped past “trying to do Personal Best times” at 30mph.
Another councillor described the Bath to Bristol greenway as “lethal with dog walkers and pedestrians having to jump out of the way of cyclists who were trying to do Personal Best times.”
19 thoughts on “Owner of territorial dog opposes cycle path claiming disturbance from cyclists will lead to “excessive barking””
I object! Shared use path!
I object! Shared use path!
Happy to withdraw my objection a) if they can show the maximum projected flows are 30 cyclists and 5 pedestrians per hour (like many places shown here), or b) that in fact they will have clearly marked spaces for cyclists and pedestrians, surfaced in different colours / materials, ideally with a level change between. (What to do where is explained here).
How long until someone mentions the deletarious effect that cyclists will have on their ferrets? (As opposed to big vehicles going past – see “Another objector argued that vehicles had long used the rear lane”…)
Ferrets rarely receive the
Ferrets rarely receive the attention they deserve in planning decisions on cycle paths. It’s well known they become hypnotised by spinning wheels and can then be vulnerable to predators while they lay semi comatose and disoriented. If cyclists pass frequently some ferrets may never regain consciousness, they just lay there, on their backs, their poor little legs in the air…
The problem is especially severe for urban ferrets, already under pressure from climate change and development.
Someone has been using 10 m2
Someone has been using 10 m2 of public land for private ownership for free for 35 years. I would be surprised it has a valid MOT and insurance.
Strange how the dog would
Strange how the dog would only be impacted by passing cyclists, who generally make little noise on their rides, but isn’t by cars, HGVs, buses and the like.
I regularly cycle past plenty
I regularly cycle past plenty of dogs which go absolutely apeshit barking at me on my bicycle, but don’t react at all to passing cars. They probably see hundreds of cars a day, and only one or two cyclists.
Canine motonormativity.
And horses – apparently apt
And horses – apparently apt to get spooked by bikes and recumbents are kryptonite for them. (I have never experienced the latter – being forewarned I’ve taken extreme care to dismount and make loud conversation on the very rare occasions I’ve encountered a horse on my recumbent, in case they think I’m a hyena or something).
TBF horses are practically self-spooking, I think it’s remarkable anyone ever thought to get on top of one!
I occasionally have chats
I occasionally have chats with people on horses because I always slow right down and ask if it’s ok to pass before I try it. They tell me that some horses REALLY don’t like bikes, and especially having bike bells dinged when someone’s behind them. Hearing a voice is actually much better and they’re calmer during the pass.
Pedestrians too.
StevenCrook wrote:
I’m even more wary of them. Ring, speak, sing, make the bike make brake / freehub noises or just pass slow and wide – there is no rhyme or reason to what works and what will make them canter, kick or even bite…
Don’t have a bell. I always
Don’t have a bell. I always slow and freewheel in the hope they’ll pick up on the noise. One time I thought the loud noise from my wet disc brakes had given someone a coronary, thankfully not. If they don’t pick up on the bike noise, i just ask if I can pass. Sometimes they jump, but never yet had anyone be anything but friendly, certainly no biters (not even their dogs).
Around Poole harbour it’s more like the zombie apocalypse, they wander all over the place, never look, and seem completely bemused by bikes on the cycle path.
Are such horses safe to be
Are such horses safe to be used on the road though? Clearly many horses are perfectly capable of being trained to safely use the road and not endanger their riders or other road users, but some are not and surely it is the riders responsibility to ensure that their animal is safe to be used on the highway. Horses in road training should be clearly marked and appropriately accompanied.
Always a good idea to lower
Always a good idea to lower your sunglasses too so the horse can see your eyes and realise that you are, in fact, a human and not some weird carnivorous alien that’s sneaking up in order to kill and eat them!
Eyes are important. You can
Eyes are important. You can walk past a horse if you don’t make eye contact; if you do, expect some reaction. But overall shape is also important, I have seen a horse bolt when it encountered a kayaker caring a kayak on his shoulder ( think hammer headed ‘thing’ ). Best to expect ‘some’ reaction, but slow, wide and quiet, once the horse (& rider) know you are there, is probably best.
My neighbours’ African Grey
My neighbours’ African Grey Parrot chases the postman on his bike etc etc etc.
Don’t blame them – they didn
Don’t blame them – they didn’t choose to be here; now people are dressing up in rainforest-gaudy colours, flying about the place, trilling their bells. No wonder feathers get ruffled.
My own dog is utterly
My own dog is utterly uninterested in cyclists, skateboarders or any kind of motor vehicle. Cats and foxes are a different matter. One of his dog pals however hates runners and cyclists. This dog will be friendly to me when I’m with my dog, but will bark crazily if he sees me running or on my bike. The dog is a rescue and has a troubled past and is very protective of his owner, which explains his behaviour. What I’m trying to say is that dogs may be reacting in ways we don’t quite understand and for reasons we might not appreciate.
It would be interesting to
It would be interesting to see how your dog reacts to a fox on a skateboard.
When I was young we went on holiday to Jersey. The hotel owners had a Jack Russell which would steal and chew beer table mats from the bar. But it would only do this with mats in the shape of the island of Jersey advertising a local brew. It wasn’t interested in traditionally shaped circular or square beer mats.
Maybe some dogs detest Trek bikes, but are perfectly accepting of Colnago or Planet X.
Mr Blackbird wrote:
He’s in favour of skateboards in general, since my younger son is a skater. When he hears one, he stops and checks out whether it’s my son. But it so rarely is. But he really, really hates foxes. I think a fox on a skateboard might confuse him. There is someone at our local skatepark who has a dachshund that sometimes goes on a board. My dog is utterly baffled by this.
OldRidgeback wrote:
Your other observations chime with mine, and “sensible allowances for others”, but expanding this slightly to “accommodating animals *on* the route (dogs, horses) … doesn’t the same hold true of other road users e.g. drivers?
We certainly should try to understand – but at the end of the day people on “routes” want to make progress safely. And we need to get beyond “cycle routes are really for recreation / for kids” – most of these are / should be for transport.
Where it’s known that animals and people are not completely trained / will sometimes just go odd, perhaps they should not be out on the roads, or not without adequate supervision/restraints? And (for humans) just not driving…
Encouraging that Swansea
Encouraging that Swansea council passed this with little problem, but discouraging that they didn’t do the much more ambitious one. Uncontentious cycle routes are much more likely to be approved these days, but it’s time that local authorities bit the bullet and stopped listening to the nimby petrolheads, and put in the more difficult, but more useful routes.