Sharing Towpaths

Q10 Do you think there is anything missing that should be included as part of the principles?

Answered: 1,779 Skipped: 369

Yes

No

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Answer Choices Responses

49.41% Yes 879

50.59% No 900

Total 1,779

# If yes, please give details of what you think is missing Date

1 Guidelines for appropriate behaviour and safety should be prominently displayed for all those using the towpaths. 5/10/2014 2:22 AM

2 Access points from highways and other 3rd party land should be designed to reflect the range of users in a way that takes account 5/8/2014 7:19 AM of their safety, this should be done in conjunction with 3rd parties where appropriate.

3 There should be a specific policy on the education of users of the towpath. Specific priority use should be clearly identified and 5/7/2014 1:20 PM publicised (e.g. walkers take priority over cyclists; cyclists/mobility scooters should warn others of their approach; boaters should be give space to bend down and tie up their boats without risk of being mown down by a bike; anglers should move keep nets quickly if a boat is approaching a recognised visitor or mooring).

4 That towpaths should retain their character and the use for which they were built, as horse towpaths, whilst still being 5/3/2014 9:59 AM available for considerate use by other users including horse riders. They should not be opened up for motorised use. Motorised use should only be where there are existing access rights.

5 Ensuring the banks are able to be used as a tow path for horse boating cutting down trees that have grown in the way. Giving 5/3/2014 12:36 AM pedestrians the right of way over bikes

6 All potential users of towpaths should be permitted access, provided their use is in keeping with the history, tradition and 5/2/2014 2:46 PM tranquility of the waterway. This includes walkers, joggers cyclists and horse-riders, but not users of motorised vehicles. If specific users are excluded from certain sections towpaths (cyclists or horse-riders), a clear explanation and justification for the exclusion should be provided . There should be no blanket discrimination against any particular type of user, provided the use is in keeping with the aforementioned features.

7 It is important that each category of user recognise the equal right of other categories to use the towpath and that there are no 5/2/2014 2:41 PM privileged users, that the amenity is SHARED. (Unfortunarley some pedestrians still berate you for cycling on the path and consider they have special rights and will not make any accommodation to let cyclists past. Still too many don't understand the concept of SHARING amicably. On the other hand you will have to puzzle out methods of addressing that one in ten crazy speeding angry cyclist who gives us cyclists such a negative profile. Wardens with power of fining????

8 Horse riding should be encouraged on towing paths where they are suitable such as those on the and River 5/2/2014 1:40 PM Trent. it baffles me that this is not a priority.

9 Horse Riding needs to be catered for on towing paths 5/2/2014 11:14 AM

10 There should be greater emphasis on the speed of cyclists, 5/2/2014 10:26 AM

11 The upkeep of the canal paths as many are in poor repair 5/2/2014 10:03 AM

12 Boaters' code for use of towpath 5/2/2014 9:22 AM

13 Who has right of way? 5/2/2014 9:21 AM

14 consideration and respect for those that live on or adjacent to the canal 5/2/2014 9:10 AM

15 One of the principles should relate to the different ways in which boaters use the towpath, and how other users need to be aware 5/2/2014 9:03 AM of them, eg, stepping off the boat onto the towpath to moor up, letting a crew member off to go and set a lock, stepping off a moored boat to go shopping, et