Paint attack on Bristol & Bath R'way Path - help please

alfablue

UPDATE
The Police have asked me to collate evidence about similar incidents (objects being thrown etc) so they can make a case to the council for a cage to be built over the bridge - please let me know of any incidents, and when they occurred - many thanks
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Last night at 7.45 I was cycling towards Bath on the Railway path with my girlfriend. As we went under the footbridge by Oldland Common station some kids dropped the contents of a large tin of gloss paint on to us. We missed it by inches, my girlfriend was just behind me and got a few paint spatters on her rear wheel and clothing. If it had caught us full on it would undoubtedly have made us crash, and could have caused even more harm if we had got the paint in our eyes or mouths. A lucky escape, but I was seething. I ran up the steps to catch the kids but they were gone.

I have reported it to the police, for what its worth, I don't suppose there is anything they can do. I think the solution would be to put fencing up on this bridge, but I don't expect that will happen. I'll be writing to Sustrans and the council. Any other suggestions?

It is not the first time that objects have been dropped or thrown at me from this bridge, but it is the worst incident, it could have been really dangerous. My girlfriend was more worried that it might have got in her hair :roll:

If you go that way, take care, if you see kids on the bridge, stop - I wish I had been more alert.

The paint!



You can see from my Sportstracker log how I was chasing round to find the buggers! :?

biondino

Holy crap, a pterodactyl!

grayo59

lol @ biondino.

Anything other than weekend daytimes makes me nervous on that path. Too many "ne'er do wells" within easy walking distance I'm afraid. Would prefer two or three riding together as a minimum for safety outside those hours.

Sad really as I'll happily use the Bristol to Pill path or the A4 Portway path on the other side of Bristol.

Tranced

Shocking little buggers. Where I come from they throw bricks at the cars from the bridges. Only a matter of time before the paint tin slips out of their hands & kills someone.

Out of curiosity, what's the Bristol to Pill route like?

redvee

The last time I did the Bristol to Pill path was on a weekday afternoon and saw approx 10 dozen other bods on the path, joggers, walkers and cyclists. Luckily the previous days had been dry with normal tides on the river. There is a sod of a climb at the end of the path up into Ham Green but doable, I managed the 1/2 mile 10% gradient on a SS.

attica

I've never ridden that path but have run the entire length once or twice, it's a nice path well used and quite open for a large part couldn't say what it's like of an evening though.

Alfablue, that's shocking, the kids, and their parents should be put in the stocks.
Will you be able to claim back on any insurance for the clothes?

glad to hear you're both in one piece though.

alfablue

Attica wrote:

I've never ridden that path but have run the entire length once or twice, it's a nice path well used and quite open for a large part couldn't say what it's like of an evening though.

Alfablue, that's shocking, the kids, and their parents should be put in the stocks.
Will you be able to claim back on any insurance for the clothes?

glad to hear you're both in one piece though.

Thanks Attica. I am a big fan of the path, I have been riding it since the early days, and I really like it but the night time is probably a bit risky. Last winter I rode it alone at all times of the night between Bristol and Bath without incident, but I guess I was lucky, I certainly don't feel like taking my girlfriend on there at night again, it could have been very bad. I am torn between quitting night riding there all together, and the thought that I should retain my freedom to ride whenever I want. :?

An insurance claim for the clothes would be a laugh - they were Aldi's finest!

The police got back to me this evening for further details, they are recording it as criminal damage and assault, and have referred it to the local officers. They suggested that maybe lighting should be installed on the bridge and that discussion could possibly take place with the council. That may have some deterrent effect, though I would like to see some wire fencing put up.

Tranced

They suggested that maybe lighting should be installed on the bridge and that discussion could possibly take place with the council.

Hope your council didn't have all their money in Iceland..... or there'll be no lights for if while...

hisoka

DAMN! That paint attack looks horrible. I'm just digusted at times what goes on, I know I used to do minor things but nothing of that ilk. I would say it it todays society BUT I did know of not too disimilar things when I was growing up, but it just seems more commonplace now then it was then. Was only about 15 years ago though.

gtvlusso

Kids eh! What can you do....Firm whack around the head (but I think that is illegal?!) I am sure I did that sort of thing in my yoof......

girv73

Nah if you whack them round the head, you get done for assault. Best to just kill them
and eat the bodies.

Sorry to hear of your trouble alfablue. On the bright side, you weren't hurt I guess.

I always get edgy when there's kids on bridges that I'm going under, especially in the car on the motorway. Nothing's ever happened to me personally, but there have been enough incidents here with things being dropped off bridges causing crashes and even deaths to make you careful.

attica

Thinking back, the main experience of the Bristle to Bath Railway Path was when I lived for a while in Downend and worked at the Hippodrome, as you can imagine I travelled up and down that path at all manner of times of night and never once had a problem.

This was about 10 years ago though, sad how times have changed

N4PALM

I'll look out for that splash when I go down there later!

TBH I'm always weary about that path after dark. There have been a few attacks on cyclists around the Easton area this summer. Not just muggings but serious motiveless attacks. It was good to see a high police presence at that time but it would seem the police patrols have thinned out again, I havent seen a copper along there for a while. Mostly I prefer to get my riding on that path done before schools home time, particularly around Easton. Once it has gotten dark I'll ride on the roads between the city and Fishponds. I havent heard of much trouble ever happening between Mangostfield and Bath.

I saw a motorcyle, not a scooter or a dirtbike but a fully faired road motorcycle with pillion passenger riding down the path at Fishponds the other day.

Docsavage

I have had bottles dropped on me there, nearby, a car tyre rolled down the bank into my path, and some yoofs tied a piece of orange nylon cord across at neck height
(not all at the same time you understand)

Add to this the baseball bat gang and I wonder exactly what the Police need to see happening to take some positive action.

I find spending my time dodging the glass, tree root lumps, dog walkers, iPod wearing pedestrians, and the whizzkids who think they have the divine right of way to bomb it makes that path just not worth the bother anymore - shame really.

N4PALM

I just got back from a ride on the path, I saw 2 coppers patrolling in Easton and one South Glos copper on a bike near the old Mangotsfield station. Avon and somerset police are in charge up to the Staple hill tunnel, beyond that is a South Glos area and I think as u get close to Bath the juristiction changes again.

Oh and finally those workmen have resurfaced under the bridge at lawrence Hill.

Inncidently did anyone notice when the Suitcase sculpture got stolen from Mangostfield? I reported it to the police and Sustrans who were surpried but really didnt seem all that fussed. I just got an "Oh really? Thats a shame!" from them. It made me feel like a bit of a do gooder Ned Flanders for reporting it. Well if no one else cares, what hope do we have huh? Cyling city? With them lot in charge?

Docsavage wrote:

some yoofs tied a piece of orange nylon cord across at neck height

I forgot all about that one, I'm sure that actually took someone out too. Not "took out" as in "killed" but "took out" as in "took out".

Docsavage wrote:

I find spending my time dodging the glass, tree root lumps, dog walkers, iPod wearing pedestrians, and the whizzkids who think they have the divine right of way to bomb it makes that path just not worth the bother anymore - shame really.

I know what u mean. Down in Easton by the school u get hordes of kids at home time that dont want to move over for you. Today I had to squeeze myself past this kid weaving about with big headphones wrapped over his head, oblivious to all around him. On wednesday there was this guy walking his 2 dogs, but not paying any attention to what they were doing, which was running around all over the path making it near impossible to get past.

The other day I was riding down the path with a friend, we were side by side but only taking up half of the path unlike most of the weekend walkers. A guy was behind me waiting to get past, I knew he was there so I made sure I gave him plenty of room to get past. This commuter-boy-racer was so impatient waiting to overtake he placed his front wheel between me and my friends rear wheels, with mere inches clearance. Honestly I could have reached around and slapped him. Who's journey is so important that they have to get closer than peleton close to a stranger on the way home?

As for the weekend, thats just a pain in the ass full stop, its difficult to enjoy the ride when youre constantly on the look out for dogs and children who's owners pay no mind to what they are doing.

I'm ok with blasting down the path at 25mph but you gotta give way to other people and ride safely. Which is obviously lost on the majority of the "faster" commuters. In the day time most people are are out getting fit and fresh air, enjoying the ride, people ride more sensibly. At 5pm-6pm that all changes, theres this "get out of my way" attitude that comes over everyone, "my journey is more important than yours".

What really gets me are the ones who are walking along, paying no attention taking up the whole path. You ding your bell and they practically leap into a bush "ooh sorry". I just sigh and move on but there are times u just wanna say "no need to crap yourself love, try paying attention, other people use this path too". I never used to ride with a bell, I was forced to fit one because I spend so much time on that path.


I find the best times on that path are early mornings before the commuting rat race and in the evenings after 6pm when the rush hour is over and people are going out for their evening fitness runs/rides. The trouble with that is that at this time of year that means using the path while its dark.

alfablue

YOUR HELP WANTED

Well the Police are on the case, they have suggested that a cage needs to be built over the bridge in question (Oldfield Common) and I agree - they want evidence of other incidents to help make a case with the council, if you know of any incidents could you let me know the brief details, and when it happened please? It will be a great help!

UnworthyPapaLazaru

[quote="alfablue"

An insurance claim for the clothes would be a laugh - they were Rapha's finest!

.[/quote]

I get in a claim for that...

alfablue

UnworthyPapaLazaru wrote:

alfablue wrote:

An insurance claim for the clothes would be a laugh - they were Rapha's finest!

.

I get in a claim for that...

My girlfriend is more Assos than Rapha 8) :shock:

UnworthyPapaLazaru

Awesome.

Whats the web address!?? My GF is about to be...

alfablue

Assos Uma LL bib tights a bargain at £145 from Ribble, it is just a notch up from Aldi! :shock:

Kieran_Burns

I've said it before and I'll say it again - the assos ladies cycle clothing section is nothing short of cycle porn.

and I LOVE it :P 8)

alfablue

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I've said it before and I'll say it again - the assos ladies cycle clothing section is nothing short of cycle porn.

and I LOVE it :P 8)

I know, and the great thing is my girlfriend loves it too - I hope she likes her xmas pressie - I will!

Now, back to the [strike]porn[/strike] paint attack appeal for help!

redvee

Met the kids from the Academy on a couple of times when I've had the misfortune to be on the path at the wrong time and they don't bloody move, even when I've slowed to less than walking pace and said/shouted 'excuse me', got a few strange looks from those that did choose to hear me. Others in the minority have been polite and moved across to let me pass which got a 'Thank you' from myself. When I used to ride to Fishponds I was on the path at the same time as they were going to school and I could make eye contact with them and for them to see my waterbottle in my hand mad e the scene like Moses and the parting of the Red Sea

N4PALM

Arg those academy kids really annoy me for doing that. I find myself planning rides so that I dont have to go past there between 3 and 3:30.

virtuoso

A small stone was thrown at me from one of the bridges (I forget which one) and I heard kids laughing but didn't bother stopping or looking up, too interested in getting home after a long days work.

There are lots of annoying people who use the path selfishly, but if I got stressed everytime I had to slow/swerve I would go loopy. It's the price you pay for knowing that you aren't going to end up under a lorry.

..and as for the glass and roots, not a problem after I bought marathon plus tyres.

N4PALM

Not related to those bridges but..

My friend was coming home from work along there today between 5:30 and 6pm and was nearly pushed off of his bike by a couple of yoofs on mountain bikes. They were riding slowly up the path between the Academy and Fishponds where apparently they went to Morrisons.

They had tried it with several people and had been heard to say stuff like "Oi thats my bike" while trying to knock people from theirs.

alfablue

N4PALM wrote:

Not related to those bridges but..

My friend was coming home from work along there today between 5:30 and 6pm and was nearly pushed off of his bike by a couple of yoofs on mountain bikes. They were riding slowly up the path between the Academy and Fishponds where apparently they went to Morrisons.

They had tried it with several people and had been heard to say stuff like "Oi thats my bike" while trying to knock people from theirs.

Oh god, that's bad! I think I would go ballistic over that! (I will end up doing time I reckon ).

I usually cycle between Bath and Morrisons (my work is at Fishponds), and from what I have heard (such as serious assaults in Easton area earlier in the year), beyond Morrisons towards the city centre is really the "wild west", I don't think I would venture there. (Actually I don't even know where the Academy is - that's a school I presume, rather than the music venue).

typer13

About 2 weeks ago a stick was thrown at me. I was in the area of the path next to the 5-a-side pitch/Basket ball court in Easton. Not sure whether is came from the left or the right as I only saw it at the very last minute, just before it clipped my helmet. There are bushes on one side and it looks like kids hang around in them as there are tracks leading into them.

From what I saw of it, the stick would have been 9-12 inches long and two or three in diameter, so could easily have done some serious damage if it had been 6 inches lower.

Yesterday evening three young lads decided it would be a good idea to deliberately jump out at me as I cycled along, hoping I was going to swerve or fall off. This was also in the Easton area, near the bridge over the railway line. Not as serious as the previous incident, but still it goes to show you have to be cautious.

redvee

alfablue wrote:

(Actually I don't even know where the Academy is - that's a school I presume, rather than the music venue).

The Academy is on Russel Town Avenue, which you get to by leaving the CP just before the railway overbridge which is after the basketball/5 aside courts mentioned above.

Nick6891

im younger than most of you so i just give them a look asif to say, do anything and i will kick the **** out of you and most of them dont do anything, but im at an age where they are younger than me but wouldn't risk getting beaten up, they are just a pain in the ass, why couldnt they just be polite like normal people and let you ride past

peanut

sorry to hear about the attack. We should do something about it collectively as cyclists like carry big sticks and beat the crap out of them.

Wouldn't advise anyone splits up in these instances . Best to stick together in case its a diversory tactic.

Love the tracker picture what GPS hardware do you use? and how do you incorporate it into googlemaps ?