Commuter cyclists urged to avoid Regent's Canal

[2wheelsgeth]

Just as I was thinking that this might be nice alternative route...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-20782950

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Rarely use canals now but did in the 1990's.

 

[martint235]

It does apparently get very busy and some cyclists are cycling at speed along it. I wouldn't particularly want to cycle at speed next to an open body of water a couple of feet from me!

From what was on the TV this morning, there are talks about introducing more cycle routes in the area to take some of the pressure off the canal towpath.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Never really thought it was a suitable commuting route anyway,the one I would have used.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Tow-path cycling is rarely suited to fast riding but there's no objection to steady, considerate riding. Take it easy, ting-ting, and arrive more relaxed.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I'd agree 100% As soon as I got more comfortable on the bike I left the canal behind as a commuting route (not this one BTW Leeds/Liverpool formed part of my route) and migrated onto the road.

What they need to consider is are the routes 'in parallel' safe or interpreted as unsafe which may be driving people to use this route.

 

[fossyant]

You wanna ride fast = road. Canal paths are shared use and as such should be treated as so.

 

[ianrauk]

In the mid 90's I used to work in an office overlooking Regent's Canal in Camden.
Used to see a good few confrontations between cyclists and peds. Once saw a cyclist knock into a couple of peds and fall off. One of the peds picked up the bike and threw it into the canal. cue lots of screaming and shouting and handbags.

 

[Boris Bajic]

I used to live a few hundred yards from this waterway and enjoyd the odd walk along it.

That was in the 80s and 90s, before anyone had invented cool, arriviste cycling as a tool of social cool or conspicuous consumption, so bikes were few.

Whilst I realise that all of the lifelong cyclists who ride fast and selfishly along towpaths have all been doing 3500 miles a year since they were three, the thruth is nobody who had a bike back then remembers seeing them.

I thought then and think now that the towpath is a place for pedestrians.

I'm afraid I'm with the Waterways Authorities.

So... That's me making a comfy spot on the fencetop then.

 

[Glow worm]

In the mid- late 90s I used to commute 14 miles along the Brum- Worcester canal from Barnt Green to Central Brum and it was a total joy. I've always felt speed to be over rated and a nice gentle hour or so pootle at 10-15 mph suited me just fine. It was like a beautiful green corridor too.

I don't recall a single problem with peds, it was all very civilised and I'd often stop for a chat with regulars. I suspect folk just get along better generally there than London. There was one long, dark and very narrow tunnel near Five Ways that was a challenge! Put is this way, it was a choice between the horrendous A38 and the canal - the canal won hands down.

 

[oliver]

bike + people + speed + water = me swimming from my recent memory, I'm not sure I would want to anyway!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I must admit its been very a long time since I last rode on a tow path, I've never used one for commuting.

 

[ColinJ]

Once, I was walking along the Rochdale canal towpath near Littleborough when I heard "On yer ..." being shouted by a cyclist doing about 20 mph who was had suddenly appeared alongside me. "... left!" when he was 10 yards past me!

I indicated my 'approval' in the usual fashion ...