A dangerous incident occurred on July 23 in Gloucester when a red car was driven down a cycle path along Cheltenham Road, Longlevens, barely missing a cyclist.
The event was recorded on dashcam by another motorist and subsequently shared on the Longlevens Noticeboard, a local community group. The footage showed the car travelling westward for a considerable distance along the new cycle path beside the main road. At one point, the vehicle passed a cyclist who looked back in disbelief as the car continued along the designated cycle route.
The car then turned left into Old Cheltenham Road while still on the cycle path, raising further safety concerns. The individual who posted the video chose not to report the incident to the police and preferred to remain anonymous.
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In the post, the motorist described the event: “Nobody was hurt thankfully. This guy pulled out of the Esso garage and drove all the way down Cheltenham Road on the cycle path!” They also pointed out a design flaw at the garage exit, stating, “It’s not the best design when you exit the garage to be fair. A simple bollard would stop this.”
Several commenters suggested that the driver of the red car may have mistaken the wide cycle lane for the main road, with one noting, “It did look like a genuine mistake, like he mistook the wide cycle lane for the carriageway when he turned left out of the garage. Thankfully nobody was hurt!” However, others indicated that similar incidents have occurred before.
The cycle path, completed by Gloucestershire County Council in June 2025, is part of a 26-mile route intended to connect Stroud, Gloucester, Cheltenham, and Bishop’s Cleeve. It is designed to promote safety and encourage active travel by providing a dedicated space away from vehicular traffic.
The incident prompted some commenters to express frustration over drivers not respecting cycle paths, with one stating, “The person should know that you cannot drive down a path and cycle path. If they don’t, they shouldn’t be driving.”
Councillor Roger Whyborn, cabinet member for sustainable transport and road safety at the county council, expressed concern: “It is concerning to see a vehicle being driven on a route intended for people walking, wheeling and cycling. Facilities such as this are designed to improve safety and encourage more people to choose active travel by providing space away from traffic. We would encourage all road users to act responsibly and be considerate of others at all times.”