The need for speed

I HAD a most welcome visit from Richard Parry a few days ago. Its not often that you get to have a direct one-to-one chat with the boss. He spent some time with us on the boat and we had a good chat about this and that. Writes Mick Fitzgibbons.

I'm not going to elaborate on the contents of our conversation. Because much of it was given in confidence both ways. I still think Richard has much to offer, though I think the honeymoon period is now over.

Different approach

It's often not recognised that there has been a totally different approach brought about, certainly when dealing face to face with the punters. He has possibly met and spoken to more of the waterways users than anyone else within the trust. It's a refreshing change when compared to his more recent predecessors. He knows well that I am a friend if somewhat critical of the Trust.

However, there was one issue, that I can comment about. That is the increasing problem of cyclists travelling at speed along the towpath. I told Richard about our recent towpath experience, which was one that I had attempted to report to the Trust as a near miss. It is important to stress that all such incidents should be diligently reported directly to the Trust.

A report to the Trust

After the incident I rang the Trust and spoke to a lady. I gave a brief synopsis of what had happened and said I wanted to report the issue as a near miss. She said that she would pass me on to whoever was in charge of that area. However, she came back after a short while and said that no one was available, but she would get someone to ring me back. Four days later while talking to Richard, I said I was disappointed in the lack of a response from the Trust. I think Richard was also disappointed in the outcome. It will be interesting to see when the return call (if ever) comes.

As you will read later, it is essential that boaters are proactive about reporting the issues. However, I shall report this and any further incidences by email to ensure that the issues are recorded correctly. The email address to use is:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The Telephone number is: 0303 040 4040

System is pathetic

The current reporting system is pathetic. It seems to have been designed to reduce the number of reports by fobbing-off, rather than fast tracking issues and producing a proactive response to any safety concerns raised. Boaters are the eyes and ears of the waterways yet it seems that what we should be encouraged to do, to report what we see, is actively being discouraged.

This set me to thinking about the problem. Complaining is one thing, but learning is also an important outcome. Had someone from the Trust been in touch, I would have been happy to address the issues. The Trust through collating near misses would be able to identify potential incident and accident black-spots. It would also be able to learn from the experiences of people who were there.

Ideas for improvement

For instance, at a visitor mooring site and in the vicinity of a lock, maybe a 'drop your pace' message on the towpath would help to remind both the boater and the cyclist of the increased dangers in a shared space. The painted on surface warnings are certainly harder to vandalise than notices. I was able to tell Richard of the 'Cyclists must dismount' notices at Autherley Junction that were smashed to pieces. I wonder to myself who would have done that.

Maybe even an open 'lychgate' chicane on the visitor moorings approach where all cyclists would have to dismount to pass through, while pedestrians would be able to walk through without a problem, would also be appropriate.

Identify black-spots

In locations where incidents and accident reports identify a potential black-spot, if appropriate, cyclists could (and possibly should) be directed away to the nearest road as an alternative cycle route. The safety of cyclists moved off the road should not take precedence over and certainly should not be allowed to compromise the safety of pedestrians on the towpath.

Alternatively speed calming measures could be built into the upgraded surfaces at the time of construction. I pointed out to Richard that the issue of high speed cyclist is a growing one on social media: that there is a ground swell of opinion calling into question the Trust's handling of the whole issue. We even talked about the 'duck lane' on the towpath. I'm in favour of off the wall ideas for addressing towpath issues. If nothing else it makes you stop and smile and then hopefully the irony strikes home.

So, what happened to us?

We moored the boat up for the day at Autherley Junction. The towpath is reasonably wide and a good surface compared to other sections. It was one of the better days that we have had so far this year. Mags, my partner, was sat in a fold-up chair at the back of the boat reading a book. Two other boaters who were returning back to their boat from the small shop at the junction had paused to have a chat. While we were chattering several cyclists had come past without any problem. One even doing the 'two tings' warning.

The two cyclists who we became involved in an altercation with, however, approached unobserved from behind along the towpath at high speed. There was no warning of their silent high speed approach. We were completely unaware of their presence until they were almost on top of us. The first cyclist deliberately tried to ride over Mag's feet. Actually missing her by a couple of inches. The second cyclist then stopped about 50 feet further on and began to a torrent of abuse.

The language was appalling and included the advice to get off the 'cycle track'. Before he peddled off again at high speed pursuing his companion. That is where the nub of the problem lies—cyclists do not see the towpath as a shared space. They see it as a 'cycle track' and what are cycle tracks used for—that's right, racing cycles on.