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I read Amy Dickerson's article with interest. My family and I tried our first towpath cycle ride last month, venturing from Bath to Bradford-on-Avon, and enjoyed it immensely.
We wore no lycra and we slowed down for dogs (and humans!). The route we used is designated as a national cycle route by Sustrans, presumably after discussion with relevant local authorities, waterways authorities etc. I am sorry to see Ms Dickerson taking such a belligerent attitude, both towards cyclists (she admits "I had dared to call him a 'speed freak' and questioned his parentage") and to the whole issue (evident from her use of terms such as "aggression ... ‘our world' ... day of action"). I think her approach is misguided. It will at the very least lead to unpleasant confrontations.
Whatever the history of towpaths, it is clear that, in today's crowded Britain, they have been adopted as amenity routes open to many, including narrowboaters, pedestrians, anglers, cyclists, dogwalkers, motor boaters, birdwatchers and others. I am sure that I could think of reasons to dislike the behaviour of members of every one of these groups if I tried! Of course there are 'bad' cyclists just as there are bad drivers and, dare I suggest it, bad users of the waterways. Surely energy could be better used promoting dialogue and action between the relevant authorities—BW, Sustrans etc—rather than engaging in turf wars?
Ironically, I found the narrowboatworld site today only because I was following a link to the dreadful news of the attack in Stalybridge on a group of charity walkers. Ms Dickerson, taking the matter into your own hands is not the answer!
Tim Synge. Bursar, Badminton School |
