Towpath survey

[Richard Fairhurst]

The Canal & River Trust (the people who run the canals) are doing a survey to find out how different towpath users get on with each other.

Would be good to have a balanced view including cyclists rather than it just being dominated by get-off-my-canal types. So if you've got five minutes (it's an easy one to fill in)...

https://canalrivertrust.citizenspac...for-everyone/running-and-cycling-on-towpaths/

and there's a draw for a voucher at the end of it.

 

[Banjo]

Done.
Sadly I think the only ones going too fast are some cyclists. I thought the option to say walkers were too fast a bit ridiculous.
The main culprits for obstructing the path are in my experience anglers .

I came across a women recently near Gloucester carefully cutting thorny bits out off the hedgerow with secateurs and laying them across the path. It wasn't a muddy bit so she wasn't doing it for any usefull reason.I asked her if she would enjoy seeing someone get a puncture but just got a look that said everything.

By and large I find the vast majority of people I come across to be friendly and considerate.

 

[Drago]

Done. I'm a regular towpath user as a cyclist, runner and walker. In my experience speed isn't a problem, it's a tiny proportion of people of all categories behaving like thoughtless twots.

 

[Inertia]

Done, and I learned a new word, gongoozler!

 

[fossyant]

Done. Rarely see anyone at 7 or 8pm on a dark night.

Never have a problem even at busier times. Only issues are dogs not on leads or stupid extending ones. The problem is the owner.

 

[summerdays]

I've done it, though I'm not a regular user of canal paths, apart from occasional social outings. I've not really experienced any problems though some of the paths I've been on were very narrow which may cause conflict sharing such a small space or worried parents if they have taken their children for a ride along a canal.

 

[Oxo]

Filled it in. I try not to use them at the weekend when they can get busy.

 

[Kajjal]

When it is drier I use the canal all the time as it heads out into the country in both directions. No problems at all.

 

[Alan O]

Done, and I learned a new word, gongoozler!

Yes! And it seems I am one

 

[Ajax Bay]

Done. Just ride and empathise with the other users, slowing down as much as necessary without any resentment about 'slowing me down'. Enjoy the different surfaces.

 

[NorthernDave]

Done. As anyone who has ever seen my stats will know, it's not all about speed.

 

[Slick]

Looks like it's rumble strips and speed bumps then

 

[Dayvo]

Done, and I learned a new word, gongoozler!

Me too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gongoozler

 

[Banjo]

The cuttings didnt make good Pooh sticks.

 

[amasidlover]

This may be a duplicate thread, but I've just filled this in https://canalrivertrust.citizenspac...for-everyone/running-and-cycling-on-towpaths/

Its rather biased towards the expectation that there will be plenty of responses from people who think cyclists and runners are all going too fast...

Whilst I have encountered idiots on tow paths my main issues have been:

users who are rude,
users who let their dogs run free/long leads,
users who leave dog faeces,
users who stand chatting blocking the whole tow path,
users who run mooring lines right across the tow path,
users who set-up cooking areas opposite their boat thus blocking the tow path,
excessively narrow chicanes that won't even fit adult bike handlebars through without having to lift a bike laden with camping kit over a fence...
closed sections of tow path with insufficiently signed/mapped diversions.
[Mod moved into main discussion]
[Alex - oops - I did search, obviously not on the correct terms... Sorry!]