It's one of the reasons why I don't cycle along the canals here. Some local kids hang out under the bridges, smoke dope and drink. I've once had a close call with them, after which I switched to riding on the roads (this was about 18months ago). Most people you will meet on the towpath are nice enough, but if someone decides to target you there is very little place to go, and normally no-one else around.
Please elaborate on the close call, what happened?
Was cycling along the towpath with my kids in their trailer (it was a wide path section) and I noticed a bunch of kids ahead of me (about 5 of them, 3 blokes two girls all about 14-16yrs old). As I got nearer I could see they were drinking. I thought I'd just go slowly and go round them, but they blocked the path and sprayed me and my boys (3 and 1 at the time) with beer. I shouted and swore at them, at which point the smallest (baby faced boy) pulled a knife out of his pocket. I turned round quickly and cycled off at top speed in the other direction.
I did report it to the police immediately, but they couldn't find them and nothing became of it. That was the last time I went cycling on the towpath. Some kids are just totally ferral round here (and I guess in most big cities), are out at all hours drinking and smoking and their parents just don't give a f***. Makes me so angry.![]()
Was cycling along the towpath with my kids in their trailer (it was a wide path section) and I noticed a bunch of kids ahead of me (about 5 of them, 3 blokes two girls all about 14-16yrs old). As I got nearer I could see they were drinking. I thought I'd just go slowly and go round them, but they blocked the path and sprayed me and my boys (3 and 1 at the time) with beer. I shouted and swore at them, at which point the smallest (baby faced boy) pulled a knife out of his pocket. I turned round quickly and cycled off at top speed in the other direction.
I did report it to the police immediately, but they couldn't find them and nothing became of it. That was the last time I went cycling on the towpath. Some kids are just totally ferral round here (and I guess in most big cities), are out at all hours drinking and smoking and their parents just don't give a f***. Makes me so angry.![]()