Bike Forum
Heads up Bristol - bike theft is getting nasty..
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Posted 5 months ago #
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While this sounds like a particularly nasty crime, I'm finding myself slightly annoyed by the coverage it's receiving. I live just up the road from the stretch of path where this happened and muggings and crime on it are thankfully rare. I've had two attempted muggings in around 10 years of using the path, both of which were unpleasant but slightly hilarious in their incompetence, and in both cases passers-by came to my aid. Compared to the number of times my safety's been endangered by thoughtless drivers (almost daily) those incidents were extremely unusual.
I can understand why it's beign widely reported, but there are probably a very limited number of local residents who will have seen something that can assist the police. However a lot of the people who read this story won't have been anywhere near it at the time, but will have their negative impressions of the path reinforced, and decide to avoid a pleasant (if somewhat circuitous) route into town, making the route quieter and probably less safe for the people who do keep using it.
Posted 5 months ago # -
gotta love their 'bike theft stock photo' though
Posted 5 months ago # -
oh god.. hope this isn't my club mate.
Posted 5 months ago # -
5lab, it's well-known that bike thieves like to do a bit of vogueing before they go about their dirty work.
Posted 5 months ago # -
oh god.. hope this isn't my club mate.
Has he just got a nice madone then?
Posted 5 months ago # -
28, check, served in Afghanistan yep, trek madone which he's raced on.. yep
trying to get hold of him now
Posted 5 months ago # -
Hate to say it TD, but it seems a reasonable assumption it's him, those are a pretty rare set of criteria!
I do know what you mean Mr Agreeable, but I think you're missing the point. Firstly there's an 'accepted risk' thing. I know that if I ride my road bike I am at risk of hapless motorists killing me, I accept that risk. If cyclists started to be killed in huge numbers on a certain road I'd avoid it. There's a huge random aspect to it though. Someone getting run over on the A1 in Newcastle doesn't affect me riding along the A24 in London.
This worries me a lot more, irrespective of the level of coverage it receives (which I don't think is unjustified). Particularly as I'd say this is the 'nicer' part of the path and not the bit I'd expect to get mugged along. Someone getting mugged in one particular spot makes it highly likely that it would happen in the same place again. It's a malicious act. A better road analogy would be a particular driver who had been found intentionally running cyclists over on a specific stretch of road! I'd avoid that road probably - just as I would now be avoiding that stretch of the path for a little while.
Looking back I can't believe I used to ride the entire path (right into Bristol) at 10pm on my tod in the depths of winter, never had any problems at all in 3 years.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Yep.. just spoke to him
8pm.. got knocked unconscious hitting wire at 25mph. Seems okay about it as he's been through some proper hard stuff in Afghanistan.
Was on cattle grid nr warmley section
Posted 5 months ago # -
This worries me a lot more, irrespective of the level of coverage it receives (which I don't think is unjustified). Particularly as I'd say this is the 'nicer' part of the path and not the bit I'd expect to get mugged along
Are there any reports of where it was? Doesn't say on the bikeradar article
EDIT: just seen it under the photo
Posted 5 months ago # -
Since the UK is destroyed, record numbers of young are without hope of a real job etc. This will become more commonplace.
The eyes of of the shafted generation(s) are green with envy or hungry for doughnuts and they are eyeing up your bling.
Still, as long as you get your Made In China bits eh? It can't possibly be related eh? lol
Posted 5 months ago # -
Someone getting mugged in one particular spot makes it highly likely that it would happen in the same place again.
Really?
I'd rather take risks based on measurable criteria then a feeling that somewhere is a "bad area" to be avoided, based on a few isolated but widely publicised incidents. Have a look at the crime maps on http://www.police.uk and the worst area for crime isn't the railway path, it's the city centre.
The Bristol-Bath path comes up time and time again as somewhere to be avoided, yet short of a private helicopter you won't get a safer, more pleasant, hassle-free way of travelling into either city.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Have a look at the crime maps on http://www.police.uk and the worst area for crime isn't the railway path, it's the city centre.
Of course it's not, but I'm not talking about 'crime' I'm talking about getting knocked off your bike and having it nicked by someone! I doubt many cars get broken into along there, I suspect there aren't that many other crimes, the odd assault.
Does it show attempted garrotting and bike theft incidents on the crime maps? I suspect not...
Posted 5 months ago # -
Does it show attempted garrotting and bike theft incidents on the crime maps? I suspect not...
It shows violent crime, theft and robbery separately if you choose, and surprise surprise the city centre is the worst place for all of these too. You're talking about "subjective safety" - a feeling that you're unsafe which isn't related to the amount of risk you're actually taking. Some people feel the same way about letting their kids walk or bike to school, or leaving their gated community.
Of course I want the cycle path to be as safe as possible, and I want the person or persons who robbed this chap to be caught, but none of this is going to be achieved by telling people to avoid the place. What gets me is that you say you've used it at night for three years without any incidents - just what are you basing your decision on exactly?
Posted 5 months ago # -
The fact that I was unaware of any incidents in that time. Had I been, I wouldn't have used it as much. I am now better informed to make a judgement, and that would probably be that I'd not use it.
I don't really understand your analogies about crime in the city centre, they strike me as rather flawed. There may be more violent crime in the centre, but I'd generally not walk through Stoke's Croft at 1am talking on my iPhone, whilst wearing my (theoreticalal) Rolex either! Nor would I go up to someone outside the Hippodrome and start telling him I'd slept with his girlfriend - ie attracting attention that is likely the catalyst for the crime, much like riding a £5000 bike along an unlit path frequented by bike thieves...
If you want to carry on using it then that's great, there's a good chance we'll hear no more of this sort of thing I imagine, but I'm more confident that by avoiding the path there's even less risk of it happening!
Posted 5 months ago # -
That's quite a simplistic view of crime. Do victims invite it on themselves by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, flashing bling, etc? No doubt there's a grain of truth, but it's far from the whole story.
What concerns me about the Railway Path in particular is that one of the reasons it's so safe is the number of users. If I was a mugger I wouldn't choose to operate in a location where lots of adult males were whizzing through on bikes every couple of minutes.
Posted 5 months ago # -
And I agree with you totally, but at 8pm that's not the case. I used to do a return trip to Bath and see maybe one or two people the whole time. At 5 o clock of course you're right, and had this happened in broad daylight in the afternoon/rush hour I'd have a different opinion but it didn't.
My point is that every single cyclist is 'inviting' crime by riding along, announcing their presence with very bright lights and being on board an expensive bike... A bit Daily Mail, but you are an easy target.
Do you leave your keys in the ignition and your headlights on when you leave your car?
Posted 5 months ago # -
My point is that every single cyclist is 'inviting' crime by riding along, announcing their presence with very bright lights and being on board an expensive bikeThey should be able to ride their bikes without it 'inviting' crime - much like women being able to wear what they like without fear of attack.
I'll start night riding in that area again then - just to keep an eye on things you understand.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Both times people have tried to mug me on the Railway Path (and as I say I've used it regularly, sometimes daily, for about 10 years now) have been during the day. One was during a sunny Saturday bank holiday. Once I was on my nice MTB with suspension forks, disc brakes et al, and the other time I was riding a shonky old GT with rigid forks, canti brakes and crime-against-fashion splatter paint job.
My conclusion is that modifying your behaviour to prevent a rare instance of questionably planned crime is basically a massive waste of effort.
Posted 5 months ago # -
They should be able to ride their bikes without it 'inviting' crime - much like women being able to wear what they like without fear of attack.
I did say my comment was a bit Daily Mail, but you know what I mean.
Mr A, I'm glad that you're not put off by this, but I would be, and wouldn't look to put myself in the situation of the victim, to me that's just a bit daft. City centre crime is more random, and thus irrelevant - this was an attack targeted at a very specific (and small) group, of which we are 'members' (god even I hate what I'm writing!). If someone was mugged and the attacker told them it was purely because they wore a blue hoody. I'd not walk down that street wearing a blue hoody. Perhaps you would; bravo. Like I said in my very first post on the matter it's about calculated risk and I'd not put myself in that position right away, just in case they thought 'wehay, that worked, let's do the same again tomorrow'.
Your attempts don't sound as planned - there was undeniably some pre-meditation here.
Again, glad you're not phased by it, but I would be (if I didn't live 150 miles away now).
Posted 5 months ago # -
My conclusion is that modifying your behaviour to prevent a rare instance of questionably planned crime is basically a massive waste of effort.
Indeed - after several nasty, and potentially even more nasty, incidents on the path, I now take my chances commuting on the roads again. This is a sad state of affairs indeed, but is the reality.
Posted 5 months ago # -
But that doesn't support Mr A's perspective, which is saying (without wishing to put words in his mouth) that avoiding the path because of acts like this is pointless. I disagree, I think it's common sense myself!
Posted 5 months ago # -
And how do you know why this person was targeted? Stringing a tripwire across a track doesn't sound like a targeted attack, it sounds like they wanted to immobilise or injure the next person who came along, whoever they were. And that's probably crediting whoever did this with more intelligence than they have.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Well, yes and no. Safe assumption they'd have only done it for a cyclist, with the intention of nicking their bike. Not much point in doing it for a dog walker. Cyclist with nice bright lights comes along, you set up, done. Easy job. Why would you not do it again?
I'm not saying this person specifically was targeted (that would worry me less), but cyclists as a group were targeted. As we are in that group that is reason enough for me to not want to make myself a target!
I'm not sure if I think your attitude is admirable or foolhardy!
Posted 5 months ago # -
Both times people have tried to mug me on the Railway Path (and as I say I've used it regularly, sometimes daily, for about 10 years now) have been during the day.
Compared to the number of times I've been mugged (none), seen a mugging (none) or had friends/family mugged (none) - this is across Northern Cities, towns, villages, the Big Smoke plus many, many countries of the world - it sounds like a pretty sh1t/troubled area.
Or am I wrong?
Posted 5 months ago # -
I didn't realise I was "inviting crime" every time i rode my bike
I'll stay indoors now and just look at it instead
Otherwise if I go out and get mugged - I'll no one to blame but myself
Posted 5 months ago # -
There are feckloads more criminals on the road than on the Railway Path. I wouldn't tell people not to use roads though. Really serious incidents on either are rare, that's the bottom line.
Posted 5 months ago # -
I didn't realise I was "inviting crime" every time i rode my bike
I did say (thrice now) that it's a sensationalist comment, but in this context (thieves specifically targeting cyclists) of course you are! If you didn't ride your bike, you wouldn't get mugged for it. Very simple concept that one!
There are feckloads more criminals on the road than on the Railway Path. I wouldn't tell people not to use roads though. Really serious incidents on either are rare, that's the bottom line.
Yes, but the crims on the road generally aren't specifically targeting cyclists in malicious attacks.
Posted 5 months ago # -
You're not inviting it. You are putting yourself in a position it can happen. It's a subtle but important distinction.
At the risk of sensationalism, it's the same difference between saying that a woman is inviting rape by wearing revealing clothes and saying that she may be putting herself in a position where rape is more likely. The first suggests that she's in some way to blame, the second doesn't.
Posted 5 months ago # -
b r - Member
Compared to the number of times I've been mugged (none), seen a mugging (none) or had friends/family mugged (none) - this is across Northern Cities, towns, villages, the Big Smoke plus many, many countries of the world - it sounds like a pretty sh1t/troubled area.
Or am I wrong?
Based on a sample of one (plus a few family and friends) you're absolutely right. I don't think you could write a scientific paper on it just yet though.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Clubber, I'd say your second statement reads more like a carefully euphemised version of the first. See you on the next Slut Walk?
Posted 5 months ago # -
You're not inviting it. You are putting yourself in a position it can happen. It's a subtle but important distinction.
Yes that's a far more eloquent way of putting it!
Although it's a fine line if we're talking about multiple thousand pound bikes in an area known for being rather unsalubrious and the bike-theft capital of the Western World
Posted 5 months ago # -
in an area known for being rather unsalubrious
You can get an idea of where bike thefts happen in Bristol by looking at the blog I run (scroll down for a map):
http://www.stolenbristolbikes.com/
The most popular tag by far for location is "city centre". It's rare enough to hear of people being mugged for their bikes (I can recall one such report) and very rare you hear of bikes being stolen on the Railway Path.
Here's an example of one of the "unsalubrious areas" you might come across on the Railway Path:
and the bike-theft capital of the Western World
We're fifth in the country last time I looked, behind Manchester and Cambridge: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2011/jun/08/uk-bike-theft-hotspots
Posted 5 months ago # -
Blimey..I was only trying to be helpful...
You would think I'd done something wrong?
Posted 5 months ago # -
OK . Enough debate , instead of going all Daily Fail , Why not do alot more to get this lad his bike back?
SO, it probably wont happen , but if enough people know about it locally , rewards offered etc .
This guy must have thought he was back on tour , not home , safe and sound back in the UK. Might have gone through hell out there , then some scroat nicks his bike a few days before chrimbo as well .
piccys of bike or similar as pics jog memories quicker / better than descriptions .
Spread word around aa the LBS that a para is on the lookout and would like his bike back .
Feel for the guy , but handbags at 30 keystokes really is not being helpfull ..is it?Posted 5 months ago #
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