‘I was able to duck in time, just barely’: Cyclist narrowly misses wire across North Van bike path

The man who nearly hit a wire strung across a bike path in North Vancouver says he’s “very lucky” he saw the cable in time.

Mounties confirm they are investigating the incident, which reportedly happened Friday afternoon on the north end of the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge.

First reported on social media, one person says the wire was about four feet high. They detail the moment a cyclist “was able to duck” before the wire, which “hit his helmet.”

Nich Burnett was that cyclist, telling CityNews the Friday afternoon ordeal left him rattled.

“I’m very lucky that I noticed it,” he recalled.

Burnett says he had just left his house in East Vancouver when he was crossing the Ironworkers — a ride he does often.

“I was going probably 30 or 35 kilometres an hour off the bridge and then just 10 feet away from me, all of a sudden I noticed a wire or an aircraft cable right across the bike lane. I was able to duck in time, just barely. As I ducked, it struck the top of my helmet and I was able to stop safely.”

He recalls seeing another cyclist on the bridge, so he tried to signal to them to stop before the wire.

‘It was very scary and I’m shocked that anyone would do that’

Upon inspection, Burnett says the pair found the wire to be about 12 feet long, adding it appears to have been “taken from the fence separating the bike lane and the car lane.”

“It had been intentionally tied to a sign and to the fence, right at above head height,” he explained.

“Luckily, I was looking in the foreground. As a cyclist, when you’re travelling at a reasonable speed, you’re often looking, sometimes, fairly ahead of you. Luckily I had seen it. I think had I not, I would have struck it at neck or upper chest height, and probably would have slid into the fence and maybe even snuck through the fence into the car-lane exit. It was very scary and I’m shocked that anyone would do that.”

Burnett says they removed the wire to ensure no one else was caught by it, adding he then reported the incident to police.

The motive behind the wire placement is not known but the RCMP says it is “actively investigating and treating this seriously.”

“Somebody could have been seriously hurt had they not noticed this wire that was strung up there,” Const. Mansoor Sahak of the North Vancouver RCMP told CityNews Vancouver.

“Obviously it is extremely dangerous and we’re not quite sure at this point of the motive behind the person who did this. We’re asking the public to help us further our investigation,” Sahak continued.

Sahak confirms no injuries have been reported as a result of this wire, but he is urging cyclists to be aware of their surroundings.

“You want to have your head up on a swivel and ensure that you’re watching your surroundings, especially for cyclists. At this point, we don’t really know too much about this incident or the motive behind it. It’s so early in the stages and I don’t want to imply that someone’s out there trying to hurt any cyclists. But it’s all in the investigation. We obviously want people to do their due diligence, be safe … and report any suspicious activity,” he said.

Police are asking anyone with information about the wire or any other similar instances to contact the North Vancouver RCMP at 604-985-1311 or Crime Stoppers.

‘A very, very rare occurrence’: Cycling advocate shares bike safety tips

While reports of the wire have raised some concerns, Rose Gardner, director of bike education with HUB Cycling, says this sort of thing is not common and shouldn’t deter you from cycling around the region.

She tells 1130 NewsRadio she’s heard of a wire strung across a bike path one other time, through another person.

“I’ve been riding my bike in Metro Vancouver for over 20 years — I’ve never seen anything like that happen myself,” she explained.

“While it’s a very scary thought, I ride over the Second Narrows Bridge regularly with my daughter on the bike and I can’t imagine coming upon something like that. I hope that I would see it and stop in time. But, overall, I think it’s a very, very rare occurrence.”

Gardner says no matter what, you should always be prepared for hazards while you’re out cycling.

That includes checking your bike before you head out, using lights on your bike at all times of the day, and getting “street wise.”

“Get some training if you haven’t been biking before, maybe not as much lately,” Gardner explained, adding this can also help you choose the safest routes.

“In this context … the wire, it sounds really scary. But most of the time when you’re riding, the biggest hazard is car traffic and that kind of thing, so being able to choose the quietest routes, those with bike lanes that are separated from cars, it can make for a much more pleasant and safer ride.”

Gardner says you should always scan your surroundings when you’re cycling, and ensure you are watching for hazards that may appear in your path.

Other cyclists, pedestrians, holes, rocks, and tree roots are just some examples of things you may run into while out on your bike.

“Definitely, looking ahead at what’s coming and around you for any hazards that might pop up is pretty important all the time when you’re riding, which is why lights can really help as well,” said Gardner.

“On multi-use pathways, we coach folks to look out for things like other people walking, slowing down when you’re going by someone so as not to scare them or watching out for things like dog leashes, which is a common occurrence if you’re in a popular area for people walking their dogs.”

HUB Cycling continues to call for better cycling infrastructure around the region, including more separated bike lanes.

-With files from Srushti Gangdev, Maria Vinca, and Kate Walker