Bristol-Bath Path

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mgarl10024

Über Member
Location
Bristol
Hi all,

I live in North Bristol and regularly cycle to work on the outskirts of Bristol.

I'm currently considering a job change to a position which is in the Centre of Bristol.
My first thought was about the lines of cars queuing down the M32 - yuk.
My second thought was that I could make use of the Bristol-Bath path and could keep up the cycling.
My third thought was about some not-so-great stories I've heard, often nearer the centre, and what if I were commuting late one night, or how safe I'd be carrying a laptop. I'm not the quickest of cyclists so perhaps that would make me more of a target?
Google searches reveal details of incidents, but with the police/council insisting that 2 million people use it per year and that this represents a handful of cases (but they probably would say that!).

What are people's thoughts and experiences? Honest thoughts welcome.

Thanks,

MG
 
Can you team up with a mate/mates and recce the path at various times to see who tends to hang around those areas you are concerned about? The evenings are getting lighter so you could make them training runs too. A small group shouldn't get much bother and you will have a good insight without risking your laptop. Maybe take a small camera with you and if you see dodgy people about stop well beforehand and discretely take a photo or two. Just ideas. Do this for a couple of weeks before you take the job and you will be much more confident not just only about vandals, vagabonds and footpads, but the path itself.

Bill
 

Brommie77

New Member
Location
Crewe
My cousin cycles from Bath to Bristol on the path every day, ususal commuter times, and apart from some idiots placing nails at the Bath end now and again has not had any trouble in three years. I don't live there now, but used to and used it regulary with no issues.
 
I used it *every day* from Staple Hill in to Brizzol for twelve years up until about three years ago, at every time of day and night. In all that time I was shot at with an air rifle (it missed) and heard one or two tales of local youts threatening (but not actually harming) cyclists. You are more likely to come a cropper with an encounter with the militant doggists who let their mutts roam out of control all over the path even during commuting hours and the few tw@tty cyclists who think its acceptable to race along at top speed on a shared facility without any consideration to peds.

In truth its a lovely amenity. Ever six months or so I'd get bored of using it and take to the road - taking my life in my hands, the bus lane down Fishponds Rd is a nightmare for cyclists - and I'd soon be back on the path. It's quiet, safe, green and perfectly graded to the lay of the land (as a former rail bed).

And all year round - particularly from Easter to October - it's busy with cyclists and walkers - you're not going to get mugged on it that's for sure.
 

oliglynn

Über Member
Location
Oxfordshire
Used to live in Bath, and would often ride to Bristol & back every time I felt like expending a bit of energy.

Mostly no problems on the path, the one incident I do recall was some kids had left a large branch across the path and were standing up on a high bank (waiting presumably to laugh at / throw stones at / mug any passing cyclist unfortunate enough to have to stop). I managed to hop over the branch as I was on a mtb at the time, but it would have caused a road bike to have to stop. It was broad daylight, and by the time I was on the same stretch on my way back they'd upped and left.
 

summerdays

Cycling in the sun
Location
Bristol
I've used it at various times of daylight but me personally wouldn't use it at night (outside main commuting times), but then in the dark I prefer to stick to slightly busier routes/less isolated routes since I'm a wimpy female. It is a lovely cycle path and I've used various bits of it ... in the depths of winter outside peak commuting times it can be quiet - at other times it's a bit like the M32 except it is bikes and pedestrians and dogs and school kids etc. Some of the problems have come from people dropping things from the bridges that cross it. I think the problems when they have arisen have been localized and if you got to know it you could avoid bits of it and join further along. I've seen police patrolling it (well having a lazy stroll or cycle - probably a nice skive for them). Even when it was snowy there were two lines of cleared snow caused by the tracks of the numbers of cyclists flowing each direction. Don't know if it was gritted or not but certainly it was icy going across the bridge over the road near Greenbank Cemetery.
 

david1701

Well-Known Member
Location
Bude, Cornwall
don't stop and if you do use the d lock as a self defence weapon (I generally go for lightstand for this as they're pretty disposable and good weapons, tripod good too but dearer if broken on skull)

oh and insure the laptop :tongue:
 

the_mikey

Legendary Member
I use the Bristol-Bath cycle path regularly with few problems, although there are things to look out for:

Glass in an underpass between the A4174 bridge crossing the ringroad and Mangotsfield station, seems there is new glass there on a weekly basis.

Dog walkers, unpredictable dogs off leads, and in the evening when it's dark it's common for dog walkers to be on the cycle path with no lights or hi-vis.

During the summer it can get very very busy on the cycle path, you may find it quicker on the road.

There is no lighting on the cycle path at night other than in the staple hill tunnel, make sure you have adequate lighting (but leave the 1200 lumen daylight replacement device at home, it blinds oncoming cyclists).

The surface is becoming worn and potholed on sections between Bitton and Saltford, and the section starting from Warmley station, slow down!

There are two cattle grids to negotiate between Warmley station and Mangotsfield station.
 

the_mikey

Legendary Member
Even when it was snowy there were two lines of cleared snow caused by the tracks of the numbers of cyclists flowing each direction. Don't know if it was gritted or not but certainly it was icy going across the bridge over the road near Greenbank Cemetery.

It can get messy immediately after autumn thanks to all the leaves, although the council usually clean it up eventually.
 

cookd

New Member
I started using the cycle path twice a week from July last year. Haven't had any problems, although there does tend to me glass on the Warmley junction. I guess this is from car drivers chucking it out of their cars. The cycle path is now lit between the Staple Hill tunnel and the center, but beyond this you will need a decent light. The days are getting longer now, so you should be alright for a few months. I can't say what it is like from Fishponds to the center since I get off just past the Staple Hill tunnel.

It is fantastic path. Very pretty in places, even in winter.

Enjoy!
 

Banjo

Fuelled with Jelly Babies
Location
South Wales
Put the laptop in a scruffy rucsac that doesnt look like a laptop bag. I am amazed at the people i see walking / cycling around with obvious laptops.
 
I think a lot of this comes down to knowing your path and sixth sense. You soon get a feeling when something isn't right or someone is acting suspiciously Trust this intuition
 

mooseracer

Guru
Location
Nr Bristol
Used to commute on it daily from Keynsham. Never had a problem when using it at 'normal' commute times, but a few anti social behaviour issues when I changed to shifts and was cycling back in the dark at around 9pm.

I now live in Yate and would have no concerns using it to get to the centre at the usual 9-5:30 times
 
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