Towpath time-trials gaining momentum

WITH the the better weather, more and more cyclists are taking up time-trials on canal towpaths, attempting to better their speeds, making them more and more dangerous for walkers, boaters and family cyclists.

Notwithstanding Canal & River Trust's Chief Executive, Richard Parry, promising to 'educate' such cyclists, this has been a dismal failure as on one stretch alone 38 more cyclists have taken up the challenge to increase their speeds with 86 attempts in just a few weeks.

Frightening

It was our Ralph Freeman who raised the issue, and he has confirmed that the Bath to Bradford-on-Avon segment of the towpath of the Kennet & Avon Canal, from 1,102 attempts by 542 people, now stands at a frightening 1,188 attempts by 570 people.

Yet this is only one section that is operated under the Strava system that allows cyclists to record their speeds by the use of an app on their mobile phones over a set distance of towpath.  As published in narrowboatworld (Seven more towpath time trials) there are many other canal towpaths where such time-trials are taking place.

Ideal for high speed racing

These time-trials are held on the upgraded towpath surfaces that are ideal for high speed racing, with cyclists averaging a recorded 19mph, meaning of course at times this will be nearer 30mph, which is extremely dangerous for other towpath users.

It was Tom Crossley the Editor of narrowboatworld who brought this matter up at a Press Briefing held at Hatton earlier this year, but was told by Richard Parry that the Trust would 'educate' them and produced a leaflet stating that towpaths are for all and cyclists should respect other users.

Complete failure

This has been a complete failure, as more and more cyclists have taken part at all the eight Strava towpath locations, attempting to increase their speeds, and offering them a leaflet and/or 'slow down' notices will have no effect on someone whose sole intention is bettering his/her speed and particularly that of his/her competitors.

Tom suggested that more action is needed such as an enforced speed limit, but this of course would mean that CaRT admits there is a problem, which of course reflects on its urge to get more and more people using its 'safe' towpaths, so the suggestion was rejected out of hand.

As things are, there will be many accidents as more and more towpaths are used by cyclists for dangerous time-trials, with more and more speeding cyclists taking part.