Sussex cyclists warned to look out for wire strung across paths in Brighton

Sussex police have warned cyclists and pedestrians to look out for wires strung between trees in Coldean Woods, Brighton. Police officers have been working with Brighton and Hove City Council rangers to remove the wires which appear to have been deliberately placed.

Half a dozen wires had been discovered strung across paths, reports The Argus. Sergeant Alison Penny, of the East Brighton Neighbourhood Policing Team, said that they appeared to have been placed deliberately.

“There is a real risk that someone could run into them and suffer serious injury as a result. It is an extremely foolhardy thing to do and those responsible can expect to be dealt with robustly. Extra patrols are on the look-out for offenders.

“Meanwhile, I would urge people using the woods to take care and also to report any suspicious behaviour without delay.”

Mark Strong, a city cyclist and transport consultant with Transport Initiatives, believes that cyclists are the targets and described the culprits as “vigilantes”.

“It is very depressing, very disappointing. It has been a growing issue in the New Forest and some other parts of the country and it is usually linked to anti-cycling sentiment.

“Tripwires can be fatal, it is conspiracy to murder – there is no justification for it especially with the children’s events which can happen in Stanmer – this is at the thin end of a wedge of anti-cycling sentiment.”

Earlier this year, Suffolk cyclists were warned to be on their guard after wire was found stretched at head height across a bike path in Kesgrave. On that occasion, no-one was injured, but in 2011 a cyclist on the Bristol & Bath Railway Path was left unconscious and had his bike stolen after being caught by a clothes line strung across the route, while in late 2013 a cyclist in Edinburgh was left “bleeding and dazed” after coming off his bike due to a clothes line placed across the city’s Roseburn path.