From Newsgroup: uk.rec.cycling

rCLThis is a footpath completely unsuitable for cyclistsrCY: Councillor criticised for rCydisrespectfulrCO post about mountain biker killed after hitting low-hanging branch at night

The cyclist was tragically killed in January when he collided with a tree stretching across an Oxfordshire trail

by RYAN MALLON
FRI, FEB 06, 2026 15:58

A councillor in Oxfordshire was accused of lacking respect after warning cyclists to avoid using a trail designated as a footpath and deemed rCLcompletely unsuitablerCY for people on bikes, following the recent death of a mountain biker killed in a collision with a low-hanging branch.

The tragic incident occurred in late January on the Jubilee trail, located adjacent to the Hardwick Road, just outside Whitchurch-on-Thames, a small village in south Oxfordshire.

The cyclist, who road.cc understands was equipped with Exposure lights on
his helmet and handlebars, was riding with a group of four others along the trail at night when he hit a large branch stretching across almost the
entire width of the path.

Despite the use of a defibrillator by his fellow riders, the cyclist, who
has not yet been named, died from his injuries.

Mountain biker killed after hitting low-hanging branch at night on
Oxfordshire trail
Mountain biker killed after hitting low-hanging branch at night on
Oxfordshire trail (credit: Jim Donahue)

On Thursday, Jim Donahue, the chairman of Whitchurch-on-Thames parish
council, posted on Facebook about the rCLtragic accidentrCY.

DonahuerCOs post included a photograph of the branch in question, which has since been spraypainted and earmarked for removal, as well as a photo of a signpost indicating that the Jubilee trail is a rCLpublic footpathrCY.

Another photograph depicts a rCycyclists please dismountrCO sign, apparently placed on the path. An additional message, written with pen on the sign, seemingly in the past few weeks, reads: rCLHi, a cyclist died!! In January 2026. He hit a tree, so IrCOm posting this and hope it helps to keep everyone saferCY.

Sign on Oxfordshire trail after mountain biker killed after hitting
low-hanging branch at night
Sign on Oxfordshire trail after mountain biker killed after hitting
low-hanging branch at night (credit: Jim Donahue)

In his Facebook post, Donahue wrote: rCLFrom what I understand, some cyclists in their 50s were riding e-bikes at night and one of them hit a low hanging branch. The defibrillator on the village green was also used, which we
believed was by the same cyclists.

rCLThe village green team volunteers will be cutting back the branches in the area, but I need to highlight to anyone using the trail that this is an Oxfordshire County footpath and completely unsuitable for cyclists.rCY

Commenting on the post, one local praised Donahue for reminding cyclists
that the route is unsuitable, describing it as rCLvery dangerousrCY in daylight and rCLan absolute no gorCY at night.

Sign on Oxforshire trail where mountain biker killed after hitting
low-hanging branch at night
Sign on Oxforshire trail where mountain biker killed after hitting
low-hanging branch at night (credit: Jim Donahue)

However, one cyclist rCo a friend of the victim who regularly rode on the
trail alongside him rCo criticised DonahuerCOs claim that the path is dangerous for people on bikes, and his suggestion that the cyclists in question were exclusively riding e-bikes.

rCLWe have ridden that trail for years day and night, with the brightest of lights, which were being used,rCY the cyclist, who was not riding with the group due to an injury the night the tragic incident occurred, commented.

rCLSome on pedal assist e-bikes and some not (when riding in a group of mixed bikes the e-bikes are riding at the same speed, so why that is mentioned I donrCOt know).

rCLThis was a freak accident that unfortunately the circumstances you donrCOt know what happened fully, and you wonrCOt either.

rCLOur friend will be missed and we are still coming to terms with it, so please be carry on being respectful and donrCOt judge on what someone does or how. Many thanks.rCY

Police warn of 14-year-old cyclistrCOs lucky escape after riding into
barbed wire trap that rCLcould have killedrCY him

When approached by road.cc, the cyclist said the shocking incident was
rCLstill very rawrCY and that those who witnessed it are rCLstill completely in shockrCY, but did not wish to comment further.

Following his comment, Donahue replied to the cyclist, writing: rCLThanks for posting this. I am so sorry.rCY

<https://road.cc/news/mountain-biker-killed-after-hitting-low-hanging-branch> --
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