Confrontation to make your point

CONFRONTATION is often the only way to make your point, it would seem writes Martin Howes.

We often cruise in groups from our Club, and have no hesitation socialising in a way that allows walkers, runners or considerate cyclists to pass. Oblivious to the shouts or multi-pings from the few who have bells does not cause any movement from us. Yes, there are often strong words, but with a few of us it goes no further.

Notice to dismount ignored

I remember pointing out to some cyclists at Kinver, when the water tap was across the towpath and I lifted up my hose (neck height) for cyclists to pass under that they had been asked by the notice to dismount and walk through the moorings. Their response was "every f***** knows what we ought to do!" Later that same week at Stewponey, seeing a group in Lycra come over the junction bridge, I again lifted up the hose. The first two stopped, the latter three crashed into them.

Motorcycles on towpath

There used to be an outfit who brought a trailer of motorcycles to the telegraph pole bridge at Norbury, together with a contingent of young lads who had paid for a rough riding experience which was taken along the towpath. We refused to move, and as things heated up, I called the police. Using the correct ‘alarm response' vocabulary, they attended very quickly.

This venture was a regular occurrence at one time, and passed by the then active British Waterways Offices, but they ignored it. Eight motorcycles on such a busy pedestrian towpath with such a lack of response was indefensible.