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LET ME make this clear right from the beginning, writes Ralph Freeman; I am not against cyclists using towpaths. After all, many boaters use bicycles on the towpath to go to shops for supplies, or to perform the traditional task of lock wheeling.
I have never had any problems with what I call 'recreational cyclists'. Families out for weekend ride, locals using the towpath as a short-cut and the like. These people I've found, are in general prepared to 'share' the towpath with other users and if that means stopping on occasions and 'giving way', then so be it.
Situation changes completely
 The nature of the towpath, in its 'natural' state, will have bumps, hollows, mud and grass which deters speeding, and makes the towpath unattractive to the 'Lycra Brigade'. Once The towpath is converted into a smooth, mainly flat, metallised cycle track the situation changes completely. The smooth surface makes speeds in the region of 15-20mph easily achievable on a modern mountain bike. The cycle track is now the domain of the cyclist, not the fisherman, walker or boater.
As regards speeds, if I've done my calculations correctly, if you spot a cyclist doing 15mph 20 yards away (about the length of a cricket pitch), then you have less than three seconds to get out of the way! And get out of the way you must because at many locations the newly formed cycle track will be less than half the recommended width for 'shared usage'! If 'shared usage' is such a good idea why are cyclists banned from pavements and public footpaths?
Aggressive attitude
 The cyclists causing the problems may be a minority, but it only takes one to put you in hospital! These cyclists are convinced the cycle track is their domain so why should they have to slow down or stop? I suspect some of this aggressive attitude is premeditated.
If this breed of cyclist can intimidate other types of users and ultimately convince them that the ex-towpath, now cycle track, is dangerous, then eventually they will have the cycle track to themselves. It will have cost them nothing to create this new facility and cost nothing to use or maintain it either. Job done! [Cartoon by Chip Smith.]
Aiding and abetting
BW is aiding and abetting these cyclists (and their behaviour) by continuing to convert towpaths into cycle tracks, Whether this is because BW personnel do not realise what is going on or just do not care is not the point. I think it's tragic that towpaths are being destroyed in this manner. Cyclist have roads and cycle tracks provided for them by local authorities and Sustrans. They do not need to use ex-towpaths for 'timed runs' or high speed commuting.
Boaters, on the other hand, have to use towpaths around locks and in particular on flights of locks. Locks often have bridges and narrow passageways associated with them so the last thing you want to meet in that area is a fast moving mountain bike! Also whilst mooring up a boat on a lock mooring your attention is on the boat, not scanning the cycle track for fast moving bikes.
Do not care
For some reason BW do not seem to care about the personal safety of boaters in these everyday situations. Has my, and other boaters, personal safety been sacrificed merely so that a few, well paid, BW senior executives can add to their income via bonuses?
Perhaps that is a good question to ask MP's who have with these converted towpaths within their constituencies?
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