Towpath survey

[Ajax Bay]

Your link is identical to the OP.

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.

I suspect, from the tone of your post, it's not just on towpaths that you have encountered 'idiots' in your life: on the road? on the pavement? in shopping centres? on buses?
Rude: People are rarely rude unless there's a reason for it ie another party's initial behaviour or demeanour. Be sure that you're not acting as a catalyst for that rudeness. Be prepared to slow down; pass at a sensible speed leaving a sensible distance (taking into account the type of person you're passing).
Dogs/leads: Towpaths are great for walking dogs along. If one keeps one's dog on a 'long' lead, it's good practice to pull it in when you realise another user is passing you. But quite often the dog 'controller' doesn't realise that quickly, even if a bell or cheery greeting has been employed, and the faster user's expectation of swift reaction is dislocated. Cyclists should be content to slow down to allow time for action. Live and let live. Not an 'issue'.
Dogs/free: Towpaths are safe places for dogs to run free. If passing such dogs, cyclists should slow down: everyone's enjoying the towpath/canal.
Blocking chatters: Pedestrians/fishermen having a chat "blocking" the towpath often don't realise that a cyclist is approaching, even if a bell or cheery greeting has been employed. But when you get closer (and maybe repeat the 'alert') they do, and invariably give the cyclist space to pass. Why is that an 'issue'?
Agree dog faeces are a pain, and so are mooring lines.

 

[amasidlover]

Your link is identical to the OP.

I suspect, from the tone of your post, it's not just on towpaths that you have encountered 'idiots' in your life: on the road? on the pavement? in shopping centres? on buses?

Indeed and the paragraph I didn't and in my consultation response was that; its just life and that maybe a campaign to treat each other with respect would be far more useful than adding obstacles to prevent cyclists going too fast...

My issue was that the whole tone of the consultation seemed very much "cyclists and runners are the only problem what can we do about them" - rather than how can we make sure all tow path users are accommodated as happily as possible.

But yes, as in all areas of life, sometimes people do things that harm others, sometimes out of spite but usually out of lack of awareness...

[edited because too vs to was bothering me...]

 

[amasidlover]

Your link is identical to the OP.


Rude: People are rarely rude unless there's a reason for it ie another party's initial behaviour or demeanour. Be sure that you're not acting as a catalyst for that rudeness. Be prepared to slow down; pass at a sensible speed leaving a sensible distance (taking into account the type of person you're passing).
Blocking chatters: Pedestrians/fishermen having a chat "blocking" the towpath often don't realise that a cyclist is approaching, even if a bell or cheery greeting has been employed. But when you get closer (and maybe repeat the 'alert') they do, and invariably give the cyclist space to pass. Why is that an 'issue'?

Its only a very minor issue in the scheme of things, but what I've had on occasions is people stood in a group blocking the whole path oblivious to the fact other users might want to come through; I approach slowly (walking pace) and say "excuse me" and then get tutted at for some reason - I personally think that's a bit rude.

Dogs/leads: Towpaths are great for walking dogs along. If one keeps one's dog on a 'long' lead, it's good practice to pull it in when you realise another user is passing you. But quite often the dog 'controller' doesn't realise that quickly, even if a bell or cheery greeting has been employed, and the faster user's expectation of swift reaction is dislocated. Cyclists should be content to slow down to allow time for action. Live and let live. Not an 'issue'.
Dogs/free: Towpaths are safe places for dogs to run free. If passing such dogs, cyclists should slow down: everyone's enjoying the towpath/canal.

Personally unless the path is very wide I will always walk/scoot the bike past a dog on a long lead or free because I have had a small number of occasions where the dog suddenly lunges towards me, usually in a friendly greeting, but definitely in a way where had I been on my bike 'cycling' at any faster than walking pace rather than scooting/walking, then either I would have been in the canal/river or I would have caught the dog with my bike and injured the dog (and possibly then been, not unnaturally, bitten).

But yes; these are all minor inconveniences in the grand scheme of things and certainly I'd barely given incidents like these any thought at all until I come across a survey which implies there may well be yet more heavy handed attempts at slowing down thoughtless cyclists and runners coming to a canal / river which I previously enjoyed pootling along at not much above walking pace.

 

[mjr]

... had I been on my bike 'cycling' at any faster than walking pace rather than scooting/walking, then either I would have been in the canal/river or I would have caught the dog with my bike and injured the dog (and possibly then been, not unnaturally, bitten).

I think I'd be far more likely to end up in the canal from a dog lunging at me while I was trying to keep a loaded bike upright, or even from attempting to dismount it, so each to their own!

 

[TrishE]

Some cyclists don't understand that pedestrians do have right of way on towpaths and that riding into people and animals has resulted in the trust looking into what can be done. A bike should be walked past obstructions and that includes bridge holes I've had cyclists shout bike where is someone walking under a bridge supposed to go? My 83 year old mum has been shoved by a cyclist who got a shock when me and my sister rounded on her it's a sticky subject for boaters and its good that the trust have listened. I'm a boater, cyclist and pedestrian and yes fisherfolk are a problem with their equipment but they're generally much friendlier than the speeding cyclists who think the towpath is a cycle path and expect pedestrians to leap out of the way. The cyclists who tell pedestrians to eff off out of the way and just barge their way through probably aren't going to take any notice of anything the trust do, there has already been a share the space campaign aimed at cyclists for a couple of years and it's still a problem.

 

[Drago]

Pedestrians have priority in all scenarios, in all public places, simply because you will go to prison if you deliberately run them over.

In the traffic hierarchy sense there is no such thing as 'right of way'. There is only 'priority', a commodity to be given to others as is safe and appropriate, never blithely taken by oneself. A pedestrians priority does not extend to deliberately or unreasonably impeding the lawful progress of other traffic.

 

[Richard Fairhurst]

I wonder (genuinely, but only out of curiosity) whether there's any priority on towpaths - which are permissive paths administered by a statutory navigation authority - if I am "lock-wheeling" (cycling along to prepare the locks for the passage of my boat) and the other party is simply sightseeing. Would probably require checking the bylaws, maybe even the original canal Acts, to find out...

 

[Drago]

If people would simply behave like sensible adults it wouldn't be necessary.

 

[MarkF]

I live mins from the canal and use it several times a week, IMO it's middle aged tossers on MTB's, with hydration packs & god knows what else equipment needed to stay alive on a canal towpath, hurtling along with a zero regard for anybody else.

The towpath is narrow so it comes down to this for me. When I am cycling, walkers get on my tits. When I am walking, cyclists get on my tits.

 

[Drago]

I live a few hundred yards from the Grand Union, and the biggest impediment to safe and easy navigation along the towpath are the peace hippies who set up illegal residential berths, dump their crud on the towpath, and reek of cannabis. I challenged one once riding his motorbike down from the nearby road along the towpath to his boat. He got arsey, got off the bike to continue the discussion through, I suspect, the medium of a clenched fist, and then scurried away when the realised he was outgunned by 8 inches and 5 stone. I was tempted to kick the bike over into the drink, but as a (then) off duty officer of the law I rose above the temptation.

As we find on the road, idiots are born that way and do not suddenly become so because they walk, cycle or drive a car. We should also remember that the groups that complain the loudest are often those with the worst offenders among their own ranks.

 

[summerdays]

The towpath is narrow so it comes down to this for me. When I am cycling, walkers get on my tits. When I am walking, cyclists get on my tits.

My comment on the survey was that paths were very narrow and that may create problems.

 

[mjr]

Some cyclists don't understand that pedestrians do have right of way on towpaths and that riding into people and animals has resulted in the trust looking into what can be done.

Of course they understand. Some just don't care and almost no one is enforcing the current rules. That should be the first thing to try. If they litter the towpaths with obstacles or possibly ban all cyclists, then all it will do is give the irresponsible ones a clearer run and disadvantage everyone, both the people who couldn't/wouldn't use it any more and the few people who would still use it because there will be fewer people reporting the antisocial/criminal behaviour.

A bike should be walked past obstructions and that includes bridge holes I've had cyclists shout bike where is someone walking under a bridge supposed to go?

Nowhere. Aren't you meant to shout "wait" or similar to let them know you're there, that they should wait for you to exit?

It's odd to suggest they walk, as if it's too narrow for someone to cycle past a person, I don't see how someone walking next to a cycle is going to fit past!

I'm a boater, cyclist and pedestrian and yes fisherfolk are a problem with their equipment but they're generally much friendlier than the speeding cyclists who think the towpath is a cycle path and expect pedestrians to leap out of the way.

Never asked one to move their rod to let you past, then? If fish had ears, they'd fall off at their language!

The cyclists who tell pedestrians to eff off out of the way and just barge their way through probably aren't going to take any notice of anything the trust do, there has already been a share the space campaign aimed at cyclists for a couple of years and it's still a problem.

They'd take notice if some cautions and fines are handed out and publicised for the worst abuses of each type, but that seems never to happen. Continuing down the same bike-bashing path that boaters seem to have embarked on mainly discourages ordinary cyclists from using towpaths for fear of abuse and attacks by people who mistake anyone on a cycle for the irresponsible speeders.

 

[raleighnut]

Some cyclists don't understand that pedestrians do have right of way on towpaths and that riding into people and animals has resulted in the trust looking into what can be done. A bike should be walked past obstructions and that includes bridge holes I've had cyclists shout bike where is someone walking under a bridge supposed to go? My 83 year old mum has been shoved by a cyclist who got a shock when me and my sister rounded on her it's a sticky subject for boaters and its good that the trust have listened. I'm a boater, cyclist and pedestrian and yes fisherfolk are a problem with their equipment but they're generally much friendlier than the speeding cyclists who think the towpath is a cycle path and expect pedestrians to leap out of the way. The cyclists who tell pedestrians to eff off out of the way and just barge their way through probably aren't going to take any notice of anything the trust do, there has already been a share the space campaign aimed at cyclists for a couple of years and it's still a problem.

When I've been out on my mates boat (39' Dutch widebeam) very often fishermen would fire catapults of maggots at the boat (although it is possible they knew Malcolm of old bit of a dick )

 

[TrishE]

When I've been out on my mates boat (39' Dutch widebeam) very often fishermen would fire catapults of maggots at the boat (although it is possible they knew Malcolm of old bit of a dick )

I've never had a problem with fisherfolk have always slowed to tickover til the whole boat is past them or apologised if I can't as it's windy, and say hello are you having a nice day etc. I've heard about the maggot throwing too yuk better to be polite to them they're using the canal (and towpath too) On the towpath it seems to be the long poles they now use which are the problem as one end sits in the hedge I've had to step over or when cycling waiting for them to move it enough so I can pass which unless it's a fishing match isn't too bad. I suppose if a cyclist is hurtling along at speed they're going to get annoyed at the inconvenience of having to slow down and be considerate to other towpath users. Now dog walkers who let their dog jump up at me or stop to chat right outside my window very early on my day off arghhhh I've only shouted once when someone said they don't work you know

 

[rovers1875]

I use the canal towpath regularly several times per week for cycling, jogging and dog walking and and apart from one incident with a cyclist and my dog (50 / 50 blame). I have always found people to be friendly / polite. I pull my dogs to heel when cyclist / joggers wish to pass and I slow up when approaching others when I'm cycling. I have always found others do the same.
There are always idiots whether it is on the road / lanes / towpaths and they can be pedestrian / joggers / cyclist / drivers or anyone else not mentioned. Its usually best to let them pass / get out of the way once they have gone feel free to mutter curse and yhen go about your day and enjoy it, life's to short to worry about other morons