Cycling and walking matters in London

As London’s canals have become more enjoyable places to visit and spend leisure time, the number of walkers and cyclists using the towpaths has increased dramatically. British Waterways wants as many people to enjoy the canals as possible. However, tensions can occasionally surface when the same stretch of towpath becomes very popular.

Improving infrastructure

This is where the towpath ranger’s role comes in. Dick and his team work to improve the towpath for both cyclists and walkers by bringing about both behavioural and infrastructure change. As a keen cyclist who lived on a narrowboat at Three Mills on the Bow Back Rivers for six years Dick is familiar with the canal towpaths of London and its users.

“The past few years have seen such a dramatic increase in cyclists and walkers it’s inevitable that there will be some conflict in such a constrained space,” he says. “The vast majority of towpath users are very friendly and polite - which is one of the things that make the canals so great - but a small minority aren’t and this is what we want to address.”

“We now have up to 500 cyclists an hour going through City Road Basin during the rush hour and the pressure needs to be relieved in several ways. It’s a 200 year old asset with a fantastic heritage but a very limited space. It’s also in Islington; which has far less green space than other London boroughs. We’ve been consulting with stakeholder groups on traffic calming measures around City Road Basin and promoting safer alternative highway routes for cycling. The towpath there just isn’t suitable for fast travel.”

Alternative routes

As cyclists wanting to travel faster are encouraged away from the towpaths, Dick is also working with local boroughs to provide alternative routes. Investment from the local authorities is key to calming the towpaths down as, until now, they have become a ‘soft option’ to absorb the increase in cycling in London. The boroughs now need to improve roads for cyclists who want to travel safely.

As well as towpath calming, Dick and the ranger team work to improve the towpaths so that all visitors can enjoy them. This can take the form of vegetation management, making sure signs are in the right place and improving the surface of the towpaths. In the last year over six million pounds has been spent on improving the capital’s towpaths. Dick will ensure that this funding continues.

Change in behaviour

Another way to improve the towpaths for walking and cycling is to bring about changes in behaviour. The Two Tings message ’Ting your bell twice, pass slowly, be nice’ has played a big part in this and over the past few years it’s become common place to hear cyclists ringing bells as they travel. The rangers hold regular events, meeting towpath users and offering them flapjacks and cups of tea while they chat about towpath matters and offer bells to those without.

“Most people do stop and have a chat. They are grateful that we’re paying attention to towpath users. Our message to those in too much of a hurry to pause for a moment is that you should probably be cycling somewhere else.

“We’re happy for cyclists to enjoy the canals responsibly alongside others. They must however remember that pedestrians have priority. They need to look out for children, dogs, swans, geese and everything else on the towpath. We know cyclists will understand that on the towpaths they are the ‘big guy’ moving faster than anything else. To use a well-worn phrase, with great power comes great responsibility so when you’re cycling on the towpath please consider others and slow down!”

Volunteers needed

Dick is currently looking for more volunteer towpath rangers to join his team. Rangers help with events, vegetation management, meeting and working with local community groups. Whether you can spare an hour a week or a week a month Dick would like to hear from you. For more information call 07899 837612 or email dick.vincent@britishwaterways.co.uk.

Last updated: 14/11/2011