Canal towpath etiquette ??!!

[greenstiles]

Went on my 1st towpath ride today into Worcester :? .......it felt all wrong.....the path had lots of cash spent on it yet it was still only wide enough for 1 bike most of the time.........then there was the walkers , runners, dogs, and OTHER bikes coming the other way....phew hard work, then the bloody brick things on the hills (for the bardge peeps, foot grippers) leading down to sharp turns in slippy narrow tunnels.... :shock: ..........i'm used to Welsh rocky hills and mountains and i found this hard work....oh and i can't swim !

 

[cyfa2809]

doesnt sound like its worth ts money :?

i think our old railway tracks are around 4 bikes wide which is plenty - plym valley

 

[Bensherman]

Wait till there's a fishing competition on, we had to wait nearly everytime we passed an angler as they all had rods that could reach the otherside
:shock:

 

[greenstiles]

THERE WAS .....2...fishing contests..... i must have blocked it from my mind, with their long long poles and sidways glances :twisted: oh and there was a lady in a motorized wheel cheer who pulled into some nettles and said '' don't worry i can't feel my legs anyway !!! :shock: was very kind of her and i did have a ping bell on my bike today ( used it quietly passed the fishermen )

 

[uktyler]

Its a nice stretch of canal that, I've ridden it up to Brum before now.

However spring and summer weekends are hectic in town, as soon as you get 2 miles out of Worcester the tow path is empty again.

I wouldn't worry about swimming either, the cut is only 4 foot deep at best.

I just ping the bell and smile at people as I ride past slowly and no one has pushed me in yet.

 

[barry2017]

Just 'cause it's in the countryside, doesn't mean it's good for cycling.

Speaking as someone who lives on a boat, I couldn't think of anything more frustrating than riding a bike fast down a towpath.

For fun on a canal, may I suggest:

 

[highlandsflyer]

The secret to cycling on any pedestrian path is to consider yourself as a pedestrian, just with a set of wheels to get you between the other pedestrians. You can't expect them to give way to you all the time.

One thing I find annoying is all the cyclists ringing a bell and carrying on at twenty past you. Especially all the mountain bikers who could just go round you.

I am frequently drunk on the towpath; don't consider me to have deliberately stepped aside, nor to remain there.

 

[greenstiles]

If anything me and wifey pulled over for most others..it made the journey a bit longer time wize......i don't think all places are suitable either....when back in Wales i mapped out all the bridal paths in a 50mile radius for a survey for a chap..........if bridal paths went though farm yards etc i would deem them not suitable in ..respect for the farmer and his livestock, even though by law you could ride there.

The whole point of riding a bike for me is to feel free not cramped up .........i think next time i will take the alturnative route along the country lanes......it is very nice along there though, maybe will try futher out of town ( makes sence to go away from, not towards ! )

 

[barry2017]

If I was one for rules, which I'm not, I point out that you aren't allowed to ride a bike on most towpaths. They are seperate and distinct from bridleways.

It's not that British Waterways are anti-cyclist (really, they arent), it's just that bikes are not really compatible.

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

Around here is pretty good. The canal goes straight out into open countryside with unmade up paths. Be careful of those poles, some cost more than your 'good' bike! I've never had a cross word with anglers. Like I said though plenty of room along ours.