Cyclists on towpaths should take extra care

THERE HAVE BEEN many accidents between cyclists and towpath walkers over the years, but now the cyclists should be extra careful.

For should an accident occur, it could result in a much longer prison sentence than in the past.

Brought in line

A government amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, that is currently going through Parliament, would see cycling offences brought in line with driving offences, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).

Currently, cycling offenders can be imprisoned for no more than two years under an 1861 law originally intended for drivers of horse-drawn carriages.

The changes would mean serious injury caused by dangerous cycling, or death by careless or inconsiderate cycling, could incur punishments of five years in prison, fines or both.

The picture above is of people objecting to the speeding cyclists on the Regent's Canal towpath and their every increasing number. the one by the side is of Judith Norris who had to be taken to hospital for her injuries after being struck by a speeding cyclist who wasn't looking where he was going and so struck her knocking her over.

A DfT spokesperson told updating the more than 160 years old legislation would ensure that the tiny minority who recklessly disregard others face the full force of the law.

Speeding cyclists

The speeding cyclists and towpath walkers have to share a narrow towpath so walkers and boaters attending to their boats are susceptible to injury, as has often been reported in narrowboatworld, so perhaps the towpaths will become somewhat safer with such penalties hanging over the speedsters.