Pressure is mounting on the City of Stirling to remove bollards along a coastal bicycle path after a prominent WA family said the barriers distressed their disabled son.

Former Olympic swimmer Deane Pieters said his son Ben, 18, had trouble navigating the newly installed bollards on his tricycle.

The West Coast Eagles executive general manager and Netball WA president criticised the council’s approach to slowing cyclists near Mettams Pool.

He said the tight chicane design was “senseless for people with disability and special needs” including his son, who has delayed motor and mental skills.

Camera Icon The City of Stirling installed a series of bollards on a section of the duel use path along West Coast Highway in Trigg. Credit: Supplied.

“It is absolutely ridiculous what they’ve come up with in terms of design,” he said.

“I hope some common sense will prevail and they come up with a practical solution that addresses the problem.”

Mr Pieters said for the past decade his son loved to ride along that stretch of path, just 400 metres from their family home.

Ben’s purpose-built tricycle can manoeuvre through a gap between the bollards but not without help from others

“He hasn’t stopped talking about it, saying what are they doing to address the problem,” Mr Pieters said.

He said rumble strips or speed bumps might be a more viable option, but the City of Stirling said bollards were the best approach.

City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin said would talk to anybody with a better solution to fast cyclists causing accidents along the path and did not see a need to remove the bollards.

“The one thing we know is bollards work — we acknowledge they are not the prettiest or best solution and we are happy to work with anyone who has got a better solution to ensure people are safe,” he said.

“So far no-one has come up with a better solution.”

He said he found it “hard to believe” some people could not traverse the poles because there was at least one metre between them and two metres between the bollards and the road.

Volunteer group Cycling Without Age last week said it was unsafe to navigate their trishaw rides through the bollards and accused the council of changing its plans after consulting the group on the design.

Mr Irwin said he was not aware of any design change by the council after its consultation with the group.