Canal towpaths at night

[Alan Whicker]

There's a couple of stories on the LFGSS forum about nocturnal 'encounters' on London's canal towpaths. I wouldn't go near them after dark, if only for the fact that if you do end up in the drink, there'll be nobody about to help.

 

[Stingy]

apologies, Ive never lived in London, but arent the roads alot quieter at that time of night?, meaning there is less reason to go via the towpaths in the first place?

Ive cycled around the streets in Manchester at those sort of times and more or less had the roads to myself.

 

[taxing]

I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

 

[MacB]

I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

very good

 

[battered]

Up to you but they are hazardous places. Too many lightless youths coming the other way for starters. As for any aggro, it depends who you are. Aged 25-40, 6 feet tall, male and better than 14 stones? Nobody's going to mess with you, let's be honest. Smaller, older or younger and worst of all female, you'd have to be daft.

 

[marafi]

Personally i see the canal at night a good crime scence place. And like the parks in the night i avoid them as much as possible. Though, thankfully for the folding bike i would jump on the bike or the train if it is dark already or it is getting dark.

 

[Globalti]

Never had a problem on the Leeds-Liverpool around Blackburn or Burnley though I'm always in a group ride at night. My brother and I once blundered into a drugs deal on the towpath under Manchester Piccadilly - I don't know who was the most nervous; us or the druggies but one of them sprinted out of the tunnel past us, which was what made us realise something naughty was going on so we turned round and scarpered pretty fast.

 

[Paul_L]

I commute from Shipley to Leeds on the tow path on the Leeds Liverpool canal, but when it's dark i stick to the roads. I'm not particularly fond of the dark (if i can admit to that in a public place!) and the thought of any low life being able to see you from half a mile away because of good bike lights does worry me.

 

[potsy]

Found a good alternative route to work a few months ago, really enjoyed the almost traffic free run but I don't do it after dark, not worth the risk imo, only have to be in the wrong place at the wrong time once and it could end in a swim in the river

 

[snapper_37]

I'd feel nervous doing parts of the Wolvo canal stretches in the day so night time would def be a no no.

 

[Globalti]

I saw a flasher on the Leeds-Liverpool on the Burnley Embankment, one of the seven wonders of the canal world. Sadly I didn't realise what he was doing because he had his back to me and I wondered why a couple of women had suddenly ducked back down a path off to the side. Wish I'd realised; i could have cycled silently up behind and pushed him in as he was standing right on the edge.