RoA
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Hello all.
I imagine there are a few members who spend time commuting or enjoying the gentle climbs that come with riding the canal and river towpaths. I do a bit of cycling between locks as it can be easier than hopping on and off the boat. Being as my main pastime now is cruising my boat around the inland waterways. And to a point I have sort of retired from a whole multitude of other pastimes including dog walking, horse riding, cycling, rambling, fishing and bird watching. I also used to enjoy swimming, but that’s not a pastime I would recommend for our canals and rivers. Especially after coming to realise - in some cases witness - what ends up in them! In case you're wondering about whether horses should even be on the towpath – the towpath was after all constructed for horses to tow boats!
Contrary to what you might think, boating can provide some good exercise even if its only winding up and down the paddle gear and opening and closing lock gates. I can always incorporate any willing volunteers for a day as junior lock slave. ;-) I might well bump into some of you (not literally I hope) as you enjoy a day out doing your own thing along the rivers and canals. I'm not being a killjoy when I say, if you are a cyclist (I have experienced a few 'close encounters' of the wrong kind) please let us know in good time when your passing. I had a recent experience of a cyclist on a narrow bit of towpath going between me and the boat at a good lick. Unfortunately the front wheel of the bike was written off when it hit one of my steel mooring pins. I was just about to attach a mooring line to it. Luckily no one was hurt at the time. And the bike missed my paintwork!!
But this year I have come to the assistance of, a pensioner who fell in while walking his dogs. A fellow boater who tripped and fell into a lock. (its easy going in but its hard work getting yourself out) One cyclist who was down with a broken collar bone and dislocated shoulder. (had to stop his mate from trying to lift him up, poor beggar passed out from the pain) Plus another cyclist who came off on some gravel, with the usual effects of gravel rash. Bruised and battered and with the aid of a few items from the first aid kit he was able to continue on his way. Every year I seem to render some assistance to a few people, who have either tripped, fallen or crashed.
However, now you have a feel for the towpath. I’m going to tell you about a worrying item that should be on the watch list of all towpath cyclists. But first a bit of background. Most people will have heard of British Waterways, a name that was pretty explanatory about what BW is or was. Most people however will not know that things changed a year ago. When British Waterways metamorphosed into a charity. This was brought about in the main due to what was described at the time - as the governments 'bonfire of the quangos'. The old BW was judged at the time to be a quango ripe for burning.
So now we have a whole new 'charity' that's in control of much of the inland waterways. The name of the new charity is the Canal and River Trust. Now under their guise as a charity, certain worrying changes are taking place. Most of the changes relate to boaters. However there are some changes that should raise some concerns with non boating waterways users.
The Transitional Order creating the Canal And River Trust specifically grants to the new Charity (exceptionally and it should be pointed out contrary to House of Lords advice) the power to draft secondary legislation which includes the power to draft bye-laws.
At one time you might have enjoyed a day out walking along the towpath. Taking the kids for a walk or dog walking, horse riding, cycling, rambling, fishing or even doing a bit of bird watching. Doing any one of those activities in the future might just turn you into a criminal unless you have purchased in advance a licence or permit.
Up until recently (unbeknown to many cyclists and others) you needed to get prior authority to ride a cycle along the towpath. That requirement was removed and many of us thought that that was a step in the right direction. However, it seems that it was a general bit of tidying up being done of the old requirements. Prior to the introduction of a much more stringent environment.
In what has been described as a bizarre action. The transition from quango to charity also included the right for the charity to create a whole by-laws. A 'draft copy' of the proposed new bylaws is in circulation. The effect of the introduction of the new bylaws if instituted would be draconian. If you for instance took a shortcut and walked along the towpath to get to a bridge over the canal. You could be breaking the law unless you had 'due authority' purchased from the new charity. This would presumably be a licence, because you would have to produce it on demand to a lawful officer. Not having the authority, permit or licence would on prosecution render you a criminal.
You can find a copy of the draft regulations to download here.
http://noproblem.org.uk/blog/links/draftbyelaws.pdf
Most of the draft regulations as you might expect concern vessels upon the waterways. However the proposed regulations start to address what can be done upon the towpath as well.
In conjunction with regulation 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. For instance, section 56 and 57 concern horse riders and cyclists. Section 62 and 63 concerns dog walkers. Section 76 swimmers and section 77 water skiing, parachutes, wet bikes etc. 79 covers models such as aircraft and boats. Sections 80-81 cover fishing and 82 camping.
Section 7 makes it clear that there will be permit, permissions, licences and approvals that a charge can be levied for such permit, permissions, licences and approvals.
Recently the charity has been building up the numbers its enforcement team. There are various numbers being bandied around. The latest of which is 50 individuals. So that would give each enforcer around 50 miles of canal and river towpath to monitor. Obviously there are many towpath hotspots that attract visitors. These would probably provide the 'honey pot sites' (a phrase that has been used to describe various locations on the waterways) where criminals cyclists could be caught. So while its free to ride the roads, soon it will - if the charity have their way - that cyclists will require a licence.
The proposed changes will have to be ratified through parliament and the minister for the waterways will have to give his or her consent. Last time they tried to get the powers as a quango it was turned down. Now as a charity seeking to raise revenue it might just go through on the nod. The latest info is that the draft regulations are being reviewed. So it might not be to long before the change is sought.
regards all.
Mick
I imagine there are a few members who spend time commuting or enjoying the gentle climbs that come with riding the canal and river towpaths. I do a bit of cycling between locks as it can be easier than hopping on and off the boat. Being as my main pastime now is cruising my boat around the inland waterways. And to a point I have sort of retired from a whole multitude of other pastimes including dog walking, horse riding, cycling, rambling, fishing and bird watching. I also used to enjoy swimming, but that’s not a pastime I would recommend for our canals and rivers. Especially after coming to realise - in some cases witness - what ends up in them! In case you're wondering about whether horses should even be on the towpath – the towpath was after all constructed for horses to tow boats!
Contrary to what you might think, boating can provide some good exercise even if its only winding up and down the paddle gear and opening and closing lock gates. I can always incorporate any willing volunteers for a day as junior lock slave. ;-) I might well bump into some of you (not literally I hope) as you enjoy a day out doing your own thing along the rivers and canals. I'm not being a killjoy when I say, if you are a cyclist (I have experienced a few 'close encounters' of the wrong kind) please let us know in good time when your passing. I had a recent experience of a cyclist on a narrow bit of towpath going between me and the boat at a good lick. Unfortunately the front wheel of the bike was written off when it hit one of my steel mooring pins. I was just about to attach a mooring line to it. Luckily no one was hurt at the time. And the bike missed my paintwork!!
But this year I have come to the assistance of, a pensioner who fell in while walking his dogs. A fellow boater who tripped and fell into a lock. (its easy going in but its hard work getting yourself out) One cyclist who was down with a broken collar bone and dislocated shoulder. (had to stop his mate from trying to lift him up, poor beggar passed out from the pain) Plus another cyclist who came off on some gravel, with the usual effects of gravel rash. Bruised and battered and with the aid of a few items from the first aid kit he was able to continue on his way. Every year I seem to render some assistance to a few people, who have either tripped, fallen or crashed.
However, now you have a feel for the towpath. I’m going to tell you about a worrying item that should be on the watch list of all towpath cyclists. But first a bit of background. Most people will have heard of British Waterways, a name that was pretty explanatory about what BW is or was. Most people however will not know that things changed a year ago. When British Waterways metamorphosed into a charity. This was brought about in the main due to what was described at the time - as the governments 'bonfire of the quangos'. The old BW was judged at the time to be a quango ripe for burning.
So now we have a whole new 'charity' that's in control of much of the inland waterways. The name of the new charity is the Canal and River Trust. Now under their guise as a charity, certain worrying changes are taking place. Most of the changes relate to boaters. However there are some changes that should raise some concerns with non boating waterways users.
The Transitional Order creating the Canal And River Trust specifically grants to the new Charity (exceptionally and it should be pointed out contrary to House of Lords advice) the power to draft secondary legislation which includes the power to draft bye-laws.
At one time you might have enjoyed a day out walking along the towpath. Taking the kids for a walk or dog walking, horse riding, cycling, rambling, fishing or even doing a bit of bird watching. Doing any one of those activities in the future might just turn you into a criminal unless you have purchased in advance a licence or permit.
Up until recently (unbeknown to many cyclists and others) you needed to get prior authority to ride a cycle along the towpath. That requirement was removed and many of us thought that that was a step in the right direction. However, it seems that it was a general bit of tidying up being done of the old requirements. Prior to the introduction of a much more stringent environment.
In what has been described as a bizarre action. The transition from quango to charity also included the right for the charity to create a whole by-laws. A 'draft copy' of the proposed new bylaws is in circulation. The effect of the introduction of the new bylaws if instituted would be draconian. If you for instance took a shortcut and walked along the towpath to get to a bridge over the canal. You could be breaking the law unless you had 'due authority' purchased from the new charity. This would presumably be a licence, because you would have to produce it on demand to a lawful officer. Not having the authority, permit or licence would on prosecution render you a criminal.
You can find a copy of the draft regulations to download here.
http://noproblem.org.uk/blog/links/draftbyelaws.pdf
Most of the draft regulations as you might expect concern vessels upon the waterways. However the proposed regulations start to address what can be done upon the towpath as well.
In conjunction with regulation 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. For instance, section 56 and 57 concern horse riders and cyclists. Section 62 and 63 concerns dog walkers. Section 76 swimmers and section 77 water skiing, parachutes, wet bikes etc. 79 covers models such as aircraft and boats. Sections 80-81 cover fishing and 82 camping.
Section 7 makes it clear that there will be permit, permissions, licences and approvals that a charge can be levied for such permit, permissions, licences and approvals.
Recently the charity has been building up the numbers its enforcement team. There are various numbers being bandied around. The latest of which is 50 individuals. So that would give each enforcer around 50 miles of canal and river towpath to monitor. Obviously there are many towpath hotspots that attract visitors. These would probably provide the 'honey pot sites' (a phrase that has been used to describe various locations on the waterways) where criminals cyclists could be caught. So while its free to ride the roads, soon it will - if the charity have their way - that cyclists will require a licence.
The proposed changes will have to be ratified through parliament and the minister for the waterways will have to give his or her consent. Last time they tried to get the powers as a quango it was turned down. Now as a charity seeking to raise revenue it might just go through on the nod. The latest info is that the draft regulations are being reviewed. So it might not be to long before the change is sought.
regards all.
Mick
I use the canal towpath every day, as do 100's of Aire Valley commuters. I have always been aware that cyclists need a permit, but I don't have one, neither does anybody else (AFAIK) and in over 10 years of cycling on the canal I have never seen a BW employee other than lock keepers or the occasional maintenance guy. In fact, there was a Canal & River Trust set up at Saltaire last Sat/Sun giving out "advice" to towpath users, I only wanted a free luminous ankle band but Iistened to the advice so as not to appear rude, no mention was made of permits.
