Assault on Riverside Cycle Path (01/05/2019)

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Just been alerted to this and asked to share:

OEA14O5.png
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
I always feel like I'm taking a chance walking along there , (often doubled back and gone around a longer route) but won't go that way again after reading this.

Glad the woman wasn't seriously injured, but must be so
shook up .Hope the b*stard who assaulted her is caught soon!
 
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ATJ

Well-Known Forumite
I walk down there all the time and have never felt unsafe, so I'll continue doing so.

The police did door to doors across the whole area today. They seem confident they know who did it. There were lots of people about and the assulter was chased by a bystander. Seems like a lot is going into reassurance.
 

PeterD

ST16 Represent.
My wife has used that path from work, but thankfully wont now. She said the young lady was back in work yesterday, shook up but OK.
 

PeterD

ST16 Represent.
I think it's important to remember that this is an isolated incident. There is no reason to believe that this path, once the scumbag is caught, will be any less safe than it was before.
I agree to a certain extent, but I was always wary of her using it anyway, as I would be with any isolated place.
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
I agree to a certain extent, but I was always wary of her using it anyway, as I would be with any isolated place.
I'm always wary going down there , but quite often risked it to save some time. I always look off Riverway bridge before going down those steps though, and if I see anyone down the path (quite a few sit drinking or whatever at the bottom of the steps) I go the long way around the roadway instead. I try to go part of the way over the carpark at the back of Asda rather down the foot/cycle paths (Once made a bit of a spectacle of myself trying to climb through the fence at the end of the carpark that had suddenly appeared once, but that had gone the last time I walked down there)

I walked down the path in front of the new cinema the other day for the first time on my route home, and didn't feel safe down there with no-one else in sight except for a bloke who was walking close behind me. Decided in those couple of panicky minutes to only walk by the busy roadways in future.
 

Frontal

Well-Known Forumite
I think it's important to remember that this is an isolated incident. There is no reason to believe that this path, once the scumbag is caught, will be any less safe than it was before.

This.

I mean people get assaulted/mugged all over the town centre. I know someone who was mugged at the castle. Can't avoid everywhere a random crime was committed, and its quite a bad thought process to get into.

Obviously though if you get a bad feeling or someone is following you, then act appropriately.

(and I'm aware I have a certain amount of bias due to been a 6'7 giant and rarely feeling 'threatened')
 

ATJ

Well-Known Forumite
Let's also bear in mind that it isn't a particularly isolated footpath - it's heavily used by dog walkers, families, cyclists and commuters. That's one of the reasons this scumbag isn't going to get away with it, there are numerous witnesses.
 

Zylo

Well-Known Forumite
This isn't exactly a new path it's been around for ages, stupid to be scared over 1 incident, be alert but not using it at all? wow, letting one person affect you that you've never met or dealt with?

Not for me i'll keep using it.

Or just don't leave the house "just incase" something might happen, because it could always happen, heck even in your house, do you really want to live like that?

We're still in stafford, not gang-riden areas of london.

One incident really doesn't make it a dangerous area, there's a lot worse places even in stafford.
 
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Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Now i appreciate it is easy for me to say 'oh, like, don't be influenced by one bad thing' and everything, because i'm a 6'7 giant or something...

But please don't be deterred, because this is our way into town - there will be someone along that way pretty soon.

On a bike, with a dog, with some dogs, in a hurry, on their phone, there will be someone along that way soon and they'll be with you.

And they'll be all like - wtf?

Don't Panic.
 

PeterD

ST16 Represent.
I would have no fear of walking that route in the day, regardless I wouldn't be happy my wife or daughter walking that route alone. Understand that this is a single isolated incident, but it was only a matter of time.
We don't live in the bronx but let's not pretend that women are not at danger, they are. More danger than me, an average build male.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
I always thought I was safe as I could be anywhere when I walked my usual cut-through route past the Wildwood duck pond one afternoon ages ago. Followed a 'normal' looking bloke part of the way around the ringroad beforehand, he went down the path in front towards the pond and I followed. Ended up doing a rapid about turn feeling threatened by the bloke who suddenly turned round shouting and waving his fists . Don't know if the bloke was having a go at me, or having a funny turn, but nearly sh1te myself (Maybe the bloke felt threatened by me and thought I was following him ...... ) .

I rang son whilst retreating ,describing him incase my body was found floating in the pond.Got a good telling off for going down there alone in the first place, but never even occured to me that anything would happen down a well used route in the middle of the day. Got me a bit wary since then!
 

PeterD

ST16 Represent.
Yeah I get it. I can take your stick I worry about the females in my family as quite frankly a lot of men are silly billys. No chain and I do have perspective.
 
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