RALPH Freeman has certainly highlighted the growing problem of usage of our canal towpaths, writes, R. T. Lang.
The ever increasing demand to upgrade towpaths by Sustrans and Canal & River Trust so they can be used by cyclists in time trials, and now such a cyclist engaged in a time trial getting compensation from a walker for coming off his bike and cracking his head (though I should add, not on a towpath) leaves everything wide open for the injury lawyers.
Too fast to take evading action
I walk my dog on many towpaths as I cruise the waterways, and though he is well trained, there is always an occasion when any dog espies something and makes a dash, and the possibility of getting tangled with a cyclist who is of course going too fast to take evading action is all too real, as it seems the one who had compensation could not. It was a pity the walker did not put up a fight, but I expect she just passed it on to the insurers who settled.
During the summer I cruised the Erewash Canal during a Sunday, and the upgraded towpath was chaotic, with cyclists, obviously going flat-out flying past families obviously out for an afternoon stroll or cycle. It was a wonder someone was not hurt.
In the cart
From reading your subscribers, it it clear that Canal & River Trust has its head well and truly in the sand over this, but as owners surely it is going to eventually find itself well and truly in the cart should one or more of those injury lawyers get their sights on it for compensation for an injury, or even death.
It really is time for common sense in controlling these speeders undertaking time trials on the towpaths, for at least they will be putting walkers off from using what really are dangerous towpaths, so will prevent Canal & River Trust getting its 500,000,000 visitors a year!