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It seems the well deserved embryonic protests have stirred up the cyclist lobby to protect their 'right' to harass boaters and pedestrians.
 Having been hit by a cyclist on the Kennet & Avon Canal towpath, and witnessed the 'ting ting—get out of my way' brigade in London over the last few weeks I find his protestations just too much. I also want to know where he cycles—there are plenty of places where a pedestrians only way out is to jump into the bushes/nettles/rushes, writes Tony Brooks.
[Which is clearly shown in Ralph Freeman's photograph of the lack of safety to pedestrians getting out of the way of cyclists on the cycle track that is only half the recommended width on the Staffs & Worcs Canal. With the one below showing the danger to boaters—or animals—stepping off their boats on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, with no sign of the required four feet from waterway to cycle track, as directed by Sustrans.]
 If cyclists really were 'mainly nice people', I would not have witnessed a cyclist ringing his bell and shouting "get out of my way". I would not have heard a constant ting, ting, ting between about 07.00 and 20.00 each day. I would not have seen a mass organised cycle ride (Skyride) being run over weekend towpaths crowded with pedestrians. I would not have seen the vast majority of cyclists ting, tingling through every blind bridge hole and past every lock without even slowing down.
Refused risk assessment
Now if the cyclists are such nice people why did the Skyride contact refuse to give me the risk assessment they did for that weekend ride and why did they refuse to even give me a contact name for the person responsible for doing the risk assessment? Also why does their website not give a proper set of contacts.
I got fed up with being ting, tinged, and told one female cyclist (I did not know she was female until I turned round) that if pedestrians had precedence (wording as per the BW notices) then ting, tingling them is only rude, because slowing down and politely saying excuse me, would be far friendlier. I am sure most of us can guess her response, apparently I am bigoted against all cyclists and she is entitled because she pays her taxes. What is particularly galling about this incident is that a wide park drive was perhaps five metres the other side of a fence and running in the same direction. However taking that route would have involved a couple of road crossings (with lights) so it was easier to intimidate boaters.
No response
I have also emailed BW asking about their risk assessments relating to mixed use of towpaths and allowing mass cycle rides to take place over their property, their enforcement policies and practises, a contact to enable me to discuss a new set of regulations for cyclists, who should receive formal warning about the dangers so when someone is killed or injured BW can not deny they knew about the problem and finally who to address my FOI request to. I am sure Allan knows the response I have had to date.
Unless someone is willing to challenge BW, Transport for London and its country equivalents, and so on in the courts there is little prospect of anything altering—see the cyclist's post for their attitude and they have the big monied boys on their side.
The towpath rules for mixed use should be:
- Pedestrians always have the right of way.
- The maximum cycling speed will be a slow walking pace.
- Cyclists will always dismount when passing locks, bridges and other obstructions in width or sight.
- Cyclists wishing to pass a pedestrian will stop and say 'excuse me, may I pass?'
- Ringing a bell in all but a dire emergency will be an offence.
How will it be enforced—well as BW have seen fit to allow cyclists onto the towpaths with no form of identification or registration the only form of enforcement would be to put the offending cycle onto a work flat at the cyclists own risk until a substantial fine is paid. As far as I am concerned its the likes of Transport for London, Sustrans, etc who should be paying for the enforcement.
I wonder, are boaters being discriminated against in that they are the only waterways users who have to clearly identify themselves?
Tony Brooks |
