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Cycle permits no longer required in London

Regent's Canal

British Waterways’ current policy on cycling is that we support and wish to encourage cycling where it is safe and sustainable to do so and the way British Waterways has given permission to cycle along the towpath has been to issue a permit to cycle.

From 14 May 2007 British Waterways London will give blanket permission to cycle on its towpaths (unless signs specifically prohibit it) and there will not be a requirement for cyclists to hold a permit. The abolition of the permit system in London is a pilot for abolishing the permit nationally.

The reason why the permit is being abolished is because British Waterways does not have the resources to enforce the permit system and the increased numbers of cyclists on the towpaths in London has made it even harder to enforce.

The effectiveness of the physical improvements that have been carried out along the Regent’s Canal will be monitored as well as the adherence to the new Code of Conduct before reviewing the need for a permit nationally.

As well as giving permission, the permit system also gave British Waterways the opportunity to ask cyclists to use the towpaths in a considerate way and details of where the towpaths are unsuitable for cycling.

This communication is being replaced with a new Code of Conduct which is being widely distributed and promoted through a Two Tings campaign with towpath events, direct mail to permit holders, posters, plus leaflet inserts and ads in the London Cyclist magazine.

NB London towpaths are defined by those waterways within BW's London Business Unit, which are:

  • Grand Union Canal Mainline from Thames Lock at Brentford to Stockers Lock in Rickmansworth;
  • Slough Arm;
  • Paddington Arm;
  • Regent’s Canal;
  • Hertford Union Canal;
  • Limehouse Cut;
  • River Lee Navigation;
  • River Stort Navigation;