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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 17:18:28 GMT
It'd be great if there was some sort of legal backup to it but to me the signs look more like a way of the council relieving themselves of the liability problem if an accident occurs.
And I still think 5mph is counterproductive.
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Post by kris on Nov 6, 2017 17:27:04 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 17:32:39 GMT
Any activity which is unregulated and the cause of annoyance to others will unfortunately be taken up by self centred antisocial idiots. They seek this sort of thing out because that is their only reason for existence.
Think noisy generator at 10pm in a popular area. Same problem. Idiots.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 17:37:24 GMT
That last bit (which I didn't see as you added it) is interesting. I think councils should take over responsibility for towpaths. Not just because of bikes but because it makes sense. Even more sense if they are able to give towpaths park status and impose limits on cycling idiocy. That would be a victory for ordinary people who just want to enjoy the amenity value.
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Post by kris on Nov 6, 2017 17:42:43 GMT
That last bit (which I didn't see as you added it) is interesting. I think councils should take over responsibility for towpaths. Not just because of bikes but because it makes sense. Even more sense if they are able to give towpaths park status and impose limits on cycling idiocy. That would be a victory for ordinary people who just want to enjoy the amenity value. I've added another link since you quoted me. Even though they are cycling biased sites they seem to be quite even handed. Anyway it seems a council can impose bylaws if it so wishes. The idiots still won't abide by it, so it comes back to how would it be enforced? But at the end of the day I think at least it might make the "Lycra loonies" think about their speed. Just in case anybody is in doubt I am a cyclist and have done tens of thousands of miles cycle touring. So am in no way anti cycling.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 17:51:13 GMT
Another way to control problem cyclists on towpaths is to educate pedestrians and considerate cyclists to not jump out of the way as soon as a fast cyclist appears with a "dingdingdingding i've got a bell so get out the way" attitude problem. The last thing you want to do is encourage this. No need to push them in the cut but also no need to alter your own walking trajectory. And encourage more pedestrians and considerate cyclists. Its easy enough to give way in a mutually agreeable way to cyclists which may involve the cyclist slowing down (shock horror).
I'm not anti cyclist either I think bikes are great but they cause problems on towpaths. Fact.
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Post by kris on Nov 6, 2017 17:58:57 GMT
I'm not anti cyclist either I think bikes are great but they cause problems on towpaths. Fact. I completely agree, especially the increasing number of large groups of cyclists. The problem is that crt seem to still be in denial about the situation and their duty of care.
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Post by bargemast on Nov 6, 2017 18:23:27 GMT
When I'm in the UK, i'm often on my bicycle following the towpath on the look out for nice boats, I'm always very careful and go really very slow if there are other towpath users around, but if the towpath is empty as far as I can see, and no blind bends, I'll go a bit faster, as there not the slightest danger for anyone else.
If you ever see a weird looking guy on a bike, it may be me, but I'll never wear lycra stuff, also normally if you see me, I should see you too, so I will have slowed down already, and I don't think I've ever gone faster than about 20kms/h on a towpath anyway.
Peter
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 18:27:50 GMT
Mr Stabby ? With a hedge laying slasher. That's likely to get a better result than a handful of drawing pins
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Post by thebfg on Nov 6, 2017 18:28:27 GMT
Surely a speed limit should be related to the width of path available and whether there are separate zones for 2 wheel vehicles and bipeds/quadrupeds. If a path is 1.5m wide then anyone traveling at 12mph is putting others at risk and basically being a cunt. IMO. My personal opinion is that sustrans, although they trying to do good are actually making things worse. They seem to think that cycling should be slow, that's great for families but some people want to commute. They need to be going fast otherwise they will just drive to work. Some of us want to do 100-150 miles a day, this needs to have a good average speed. The problem begins when sustrans and councils decide to spend money on cycle routes. Instead of doing this properly they just put little blue cycle signs up on a pavement. They then look to bypass fast roads with a detour through a path or park or as we know a local tow path. Pedestrians hate them, cyclists hate them but what's the alternative? Cycle on a road. But then the abuse just comes from driver's, what's the typical one. My council tax paid for the cycle path so use it. So will do some close overtaking to make their point. But cyclists and pedestrians do not want cycling on what was once just a footpath. With this park had sustrans and the local council provided proper cycling facilities, then cyclists would not have to use the parks at all. But it's easier to blame the user than the poor designs. I hate shared paths and very very rarely use them because A as you say 12mph is too fast but also far too slow for the cyclist. I was agreeing on your last point but apologize for getting into rant mode
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 18:30:56 GMT
^very good post thanks for that.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 18:32:48 GMT
I have no idea why, but Kris's thread made me look for this 👍🍻😀
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 18:34:15 GMT
Only thing I would question is whether cyclists coucil tax pays for towpaths to be used as commuter cycling routes. That seems less clear.
I'm in London so obviously there is unusually large traffic volume but I know cyclists who deliberately avoid towpaths because they can not achieve the speeds they desire without being arseholes. Others seem happy to be arseholes. Takes all sorts I guess.
Maybe towpaths should be closed to pedestrians between certain times of day (giggle)
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Post by thebfg on Nov 6, 2017 18:37:25 GMT
Your right speed limits on roads only apply to mechanically propelled vehicles which exludes cycles. However I agree with the jist of this thread that bylaws could and should be used to control speeds on off road cycle paths. AFAIK the only other time a cyclist can be in trouble for their speed is of there is an accident involving serious injury or death.
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Post by kris on Nov 6, 2017 18:38:04 GMT
When I'm in the UK, i'm often on my bicycle following the towpath on the look out for nice boats, I'm always very careful and go really very slow if there are other towpath users around, but if the towpath is empty as far as I can see, and no blind bends, I'll go a bit faster, as there not the slightest danger for anyone else. If you ever see a weird looking guy on a bike, it may be me, but I'll never wear lycra stuff, also normally if you see me, I should see you too, so I will have slowed down already, and I don't think I've ever gone faster than about 20kms/h on a towpath anyway. Peter This is similar for most cylists on the towpath Peter, unfortunately there's is an increasing number of people who don't seem to be able take into consideration other people. The problem arises from the fact that successive governments of the uk have failed to invest in infrastructure for cycling and concentrated on the motorcar instead, unlike the Netherlands.
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