Bristol to Bath Cycle Path - latest problems

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Teenagers, some armed with baseball bats, have carried out a spate of 14 attacks in one week on the Bristol to Bath cycle path.

One victim has had his jaw smashed and another his nose broken by the youths carrying out random attacks - often for nothing more than the "kick" of injuring a passer-by.

Since May 27, there has been a series of attacks on the path and residents have told the Evening Post that some of the attacks are being carried out by children dressed in school uniform. Police have stepped up patrols in Easton.

Anyone with information should call the Bristol robbery team on 0845 456 7000.

See http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=20796264

[Chris from Nailsea]

Another incident, unfortunately:

Six cyclists robbed a man on the Bristol to Bath cycle path. Police say they are hunting the gang who rode off on their bicycles after a mugging a cyclist on the path in Longwell Green. The attack, which happened on Sunday morning, comes after ... police stepped up patrols following a spate of muggings on the cycle path.

See http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=20991559

[Chris from Nailsea]

"Police have reported a marked reduction in the number of robberies on the Bristol to Bath cycle path after five arrests and measures to make the route safer.

Patrols were increased along the Easton stretch of the path with officers on foot and using bikes and motorbikes to cover the route which saw 14 attacks in a week in May.  The city council's parks department has cut back shrubs so there are fewer places where muggers can hide and it has meant the lights along the path have a further range.  The council also plans to improve lighting under a bridge.

Five people were arrested and four have been charged with robbery."

For full details, see http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-Bath-cycle-path-robberies-reduced/article-299114-detail/article.html

[bemmy]

This is most welcome.

When the cycle path was built (by the forerunners of Sustrans) it was expected to only be used by leisure cyclists during daylight hours, and no thought was given to security at all. To begin with there were no lights, not even in Staple Hill tunnel.

Over the years we've got lights in places, and bit by bit it's been tarmacked as far as Mangotsfield. It is now accepted as a commuter route and soon (I believe) the Bristol end will be extended all the way to Temple Meads.

When the Avon Ring Road was built, following an outcry a new section of cyclepath was made with a bridge over the dual carriageway.

Twice it's been threatened, first by the Avon Metro  , then the recent plans to turn it into a bus lane. I'd be amazed if such a thing happened, because its importance today is far greater than the benefits it brings to thousands of users every day... it's Bristol's only real cyclepath that's more than a few hundred metres long, and looks good on publicity material saying what a green city we live in.

Finally, after years of muggings and other incidents, its security is being taken seriously by the police, as befits an important transport route. I'm sure there will still be some muggings as the police can't be everywhere, and it passes through Lawrence Hill and Easton, two areas with more than their share of social problems. But every day the vast majority of users experience no problems, and it's great to see how cyclists, pedestrians and wheelchair users can get along fine in the right environment.

I just wanted to say all that so that people don't get the idea that the cyclepath is beset with problems... it's thriving and it's actually something Bristol can be proud of.