Towpath ban for cyclists

Alex Gore • Published 7 Jul 2011 17:30 24 Comments

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FURIOUS cyclists demanding to know why they have been banned from a towpath have been told: "You shouldn't have been using it in the first place."

They have been hopping mad since 'no cycling' signs began going up on the Thames Towpath between Caversham and Reading bridges last week - National Cycling Week - but have now been told that since a 2000 public inquiry it has been legally designated a footpath in the Public Rights of Way network with no permitted rights for cyclists.

Many have defied the ban for years, leading to ugly run-ins with walkers on the south side of the river. But Reading Borough Council, which concedes there has been little in the way of enforcement in the past, is spending £40,000 to pave the footpath and has installed the signs to appease landowners who feared the new smooth surfaces would encourage more cyclists and faster speeds.

Council spokesman Oscar Mortali urged cyclists to use the designated national cycle network route on the opposite bank, and added: "New chicanes aimed at slowing cyclists down will also be introduced and will also physically stop motorcyclists, who have been spotted using the towpath mainly at night."

Alan Thorpe, 43, from Caversham, who has cycled along the towpath to work every day for the past eight years without incident or complaint protested: "The council is prioritising paving over safety. The effect of this ban is to push cyclists towards the TGI roundabout, which is anything but cyclist-friendly, The north bank route does not work either, as it is considerably longer and does not link up."

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 08 Jul 11

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Mary Contrary
Unregistered User
Jul 7, 17:48
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I'd love a longboat to enter my lock!

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gigngeryoshi
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Jul 7, 23:12
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To the people in the council who get paid to come up with these bans, do some real work! Keeping the cyclists on the tow path makes the roads safer (for both cyclists and drivers) and faster (drivers are not slowed down by cyclists).

If Oxfordshire council was in control of this footpath I'm sure they'd open it up.

However I'm not surprised by Reading council's planning department making a decision like this after the Shinfield Road disaster.

Recommend? Yes 85 No 5
Phil Lee
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Jul 8, 04:41
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Since this path was built for horses to tow barges, it would appear that the 2000 enquire reached an erroneous conclusion.

If it is any kind of right of way, it would be a bridleway, over which cyclists have rights.

Recommend? Yes 92 No 6
Huffmum
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Jul 8, 07:45
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I support the enforcement of no cycling rules especially where a confrontation or just a surprise could end up with some one in the water. It is a safety issue However, I do think that proper provisions should be made for cyclists. Instead of moaning why don't you wonderful fit cyclists to a sponsored cycle ride and raise funds to have a cycle path put in.

Recommend? Yes 7 No 91
ferret1
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Jul 8, 08:17
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Forget cycling, lets just all jump in our 4x4s and congest the roads and pollute the air for all those lovely little children who will be the adults of tomorrow - that is if they manage not to get themselves killed by being forced to cycle on such dangerous roads!!!

ps: As Sustrans have raised money and used their volunteers to re-open parts of the Thames Path, does that mean they should ban all pedestrians?!?!?! Funny how the cycling organisations allow for pedestrians but it doesn't go both ways?!?!?!

Recommend? Yes 81 No 5
George Tee
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Jul 8, 09:43
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Let's not forget, this is a Labour local government doing this, backed up by a supposedly pro-cycling "Green" party. It does a lot to show the true nature of the Greens, who'll basically do anything for a bit of power.

Recommend? Yes 5 No 58
Arnold
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Jul 8, 10:26
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Warsash had a similar "ban" instigated by the owners of properties. You can challenge this legally by proving that cyclists have used the path safely since its creation (or a large number of years), showing plans and history records that show bridleway usage (old photos, diagrams and maps for horse drawn boats). The council has to prove that people have been hit by cyclists, injured or killed.

They did this in Warsash. It wasnt successful there as horses never used it. Here its different.

@Huffmum - its already been paid for. Why pay more for something thats already been provided? A Nonsensical comment, I'm afraid.

Recommend? Yes 60 No 3
CommonSense
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Jul 8, 14:23
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I've cycled for years down the towpath without incident and even managed to avoid the mass of ducks and swans !

I would rather risk some form of fine than risk my life cycling down the lethal 2 lane Caversham and Vastern road area.

How about we ban prams also as they have twice as many wheels? What about running down the towpath is that OK for now? And we have the pedestrians that walk through dedicated cycle lanes and vans and trucks that can drive through pedestrian only areas where cycles are banned !

I will ignore these petty issues and unlike the council continue to use a good dose of common sense and tolerance of all users of the towpath and other shared areas.

Also this is another example of the council squandering our council tax (£40,000!) on non-essential projects !

Recommend? Yes 86 No 3
OnYourBike
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Jul 9, 10:33
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So we can't cycle safely on the road due to congestion & pot holes, the only cycle lanes on Oxford Road are across to junctions, one of which is already too narrow to support a cycle lane. If we use the tow path we're expected to use a 4 lane bridge to cross the Thames twice over. If we don't use that route we're advised to use another congested dual carriageway around the TGI Friday area, that's manic in a car as it is.

I know I'll drive, oh! I can't do that as Reading has got end to end traffic lights! Take a look outside Queens Road car park at 4pm, not even rush hour and there is a jam backed up over the IDR due to 1 set of lights.

Perhaps I'll catch the bus. NOT at £1.70 each way. The buses don' t even get through as every bus stop has a traffic island just behind the bus to stop overtaking, that means the slowest bus rules the road.

The £40,000 could have made the best of both worlds, how about a shared foot path? It works in other Countries.

Oscar Mortali (Council spokesman) urged cyclists to use the "cycle route", has he actually done so? Does he actually live in Reading to get first hand experience of the chaos?

Recommend? Yes 100 No 0
CommonSense
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Jul 11, 16:31
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I attempted the new suggested convoluted route this morning and found that when you get to the other side of the Reading bridge and up the steep slope to get back to the road you are faced with 2 lanes of traffic flying towards you with NO cycle path and a very narrow single path !

The only option is to wait for a gap in the heavy traffic and try to get some speed (which is difficult) up the hill back over the Reading bridge before the 2 lanes of traffic slam you from behind.

The other issue is that the path on the other side being a nice tarmac path with grass and a play area means that you are travelling at a higher speed and you have prams and children running about that you don’t get on the original rough gravel path. I had to virtually stop then detour off the path a fair way to avoid a young uncontrolled child that was randomly running around this morning.

So in summary this route is more dangerous for both cyclist and pedestrian! More so for the cyclist!

Sorry Oscar, but this really is not acceptable. I will continue to use the old route and put up with whatever abuse is thrown at me, which thankfully has never happened so far!

Also if last weeks debacle wasn’t enough, I cycled home today to find the towpath from Rivermead to Scours lane is closed as well as the Scours lane to Roebuck stretch.

Looks like it’s time to take on the Cow Lane and Portman Road madness which is the only place I have been T-Boned off my bike!

Recommend? Yes 66 No 0
pedestrian
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Jul 11, 17:22
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Thank you Reading. At long last someone is prioritising pedestrians / walkers over cyclists. Cyclists are undoubtably hard done by but is that any reason for them in their turn to bully and harass and - despite their protestations - injure the even more vulnerable pedestrians?

Most cyclists are reasonable, ride safely and with consideration for others but the still sizable minority who think that they can do just as they want with no consideration for the safety of pedestrians are dragging the reputation of all cyclists down. Is this what cyclists really want?

As a pedestrian I will support cyclists in improving their own facilities whenever possible but every time one wallops into me my resolve to give this support almost inevitably and against my wishes nose dives yet further. Please cyclists, clean your act up and pedestrians and others will then start to support you once again.

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cowslip
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Jul 12, 09:33
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It is no surprise cyclists are an assertive bunch. I just gave up my car as I can't afford it, and have to endure endless hassle to park anywhere near where I live. So I got a bike and use it to get everywhere now.

The trouble is that I have yet to find a decent cycle facility in Reading other than those alongside the rivers, (why this one is different to any of the others has got to be down to a selfish resident!)

I often have to compete with drivers who are anything other than tolerant!

But what a great thing, surfacing the path might encourage a few new cyclists. Isn't that what the council claims it wants?

Recommend? Yes 58 No 0
Alex M
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Jul 12, 11:58
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The National Cycle Network is currently using a temporary diversion on the north bank due to the councils inability to sort out the mess on the south bank. The NCN 5 'normal route' is on the south bank, as there is no cycling facililty over Readiong bridge which just adds to the confusion and poor cycling facilities.

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Hulk
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Jul 12, 22:04
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As a considerate cyclist to peds, slowing down and pinging the bell and saying Thankyou as I pass, I am now so angry at the ban. Today, I detoured onto the other riverbank, and there's usually more walkers on that side! Agreed that once you get to the other bridge, go up a steep slope to join a really busy road- toots and horns will be frequent from impatient drivers. I'll try the 2 lane Vastern Road tomorrow see how many cars come right up close to the back wheel and close to the side as they overtake, only to stop in the jam by the lights. It's only a matter of time when there will be more accidents along this road.

Oh and it's not fair that I see loads of cyclists ignoring the new signs.

Recommend? Yes 61 No 0
Cascas007
6 posts
Jul 13, 10:41
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I live very near the towpath in question: the reason why the no-cycling signs are erected are due to the machinations of two local idiots, tweedle dee and tweedle dum, for want of better terms.

Tweedle Dee put in a spurious claim that she was ran over by a cyclist on the towpath, when she wasn't. Tweedle Dum blindly follows whatever Tweedle Dee says, without any opinion of his own. Tweedle Dee lets her dog off the lead to encounter any cyclists going by, which also causes aggravation. Tweedle Dum jumps in front of cyclists, and has been cautioned formally for assaulting a cyclist.

While some cyclists do go too fast, it is these two, with nothing better to do, that have ruined it for a great many people. Perhaps Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum should be banned from the towpath instead of throwing loaded dice at Reading Borough Council

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thames side
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Jul 13, 11:13
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I also live on the path and can confirm that most of the issues have been caused by two people with nothing better to do.

They use the council to fight petty local disputes and make the life for the residents of the Thames path horrible.

Said people are still not happy with the signs and are currently making more trouble for the residents, pathway users and the council.

It is a pity that we can not ban Tweedle Dee and Dum.

Recommend? Yes 61 No 0
Zath
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Jul 13, 12:47
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What a load of tosh! I've been cycling along this section of river regularly for excess of 15 years, never have I seen anything I'd regard as an issue. Vast majority of cyclists and walkers are considerate and thoughtful towards each other.

Idiots will be idiots no matter what side of the river they are on, walkers and cyclists the like. Have there really been problem incidents here rather than the odd straight forward accident which can happen anywhere, I greatly doubt it myself. But even if that were so, then signage to request more consideration and slower speeds would be in order - not an outright ban.

The other side is clearly more dangerous given it is a park with dogs and kids off their leashes, not to mention this will mean overspill onto the very busy and inappropriate roads for cyclists.

And as for our Tweedle Dee and Dum friends, there is a river continently placed for them to go jump in. Stop causing everybody so much grief you two!

Recommend? Yes 59 No 0
Cascas007
6 posts
Jul 13, 13:18
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Someone will push them in the river, or there will be a terrible accident involving Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum: the crux of the matter is that Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum would cause fights in empty rooms. The vast majority of people in Thameside would now turn deaf ears and blind eyes to Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum: so egregiously awful has been their hectoring, haranguing attitudes to cyclists and the community in general.

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julia1000
1 post
Jul 13, 13:40
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I'm surprised at the cyclist comments of safety - I drive to work and there is a dedicated cycle route nearly the whole way and I rarely see cyclists using the cycle route which is always clear of pedestrians - they still use the road even though its a small road with a 40 mile per hour speed limit!! All the money spent on providing the signs and dedicating the routes is a complete waste of money.

They should start introducing tax for those that clog up the roads when the cycle routes are empty

Recommend? Yes 2 No 61
Hulk
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Jul 13, 19:34
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@julia1000 > not sure of the route you mean, but if the cycle paths were in good condition, I'm sure many cyclists would use them. Most are so bumpy with glass and thorns at random places.

As for the towpath route we are debating here, the south-side section is the most direct between the 2 bridges if you are commuting to TVP or towards Rivermead. It's probably why you don't see many cyclists on the opposite side.

My route now takes me to the exhaust filled streets of Richfield Avenue > the clogged up A4155 to the TGI Fridays roundabout where cyclists will undoubtly slow down traffic in the left lane > Vastern Road - where lots of people try to cross the road between the gaps of stationery cars > and to try to sprint off the junction without being knoecked over by speeders crossing the roundabout > via Tesco carpark which is a quiet rout towards the bridge to TVP.

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Ghost of Palmer
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Jul 16, 15:36
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Thankfully those who run the council look after the richer parts of the town. I can't see them doing this in similar paths in the poorer area's of Reading.

Good one Reading Council! Keep up the good work.

Why can't a common sense take place, I can understand that some cyclist's cycle far too fast and road hog some of these paths. Please cyclist have some consideration for walkers and please Reading Council have some common sense and don't deter people from cycling just because of a few idiots.

At worst just add cycling equivalent of speed humps to the new path

Recommend? Yes 3 No 29
dagriffi
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Jul 20, 09:25
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Of course cyclists are ignoring the no cycling signs - as mentioned many times above - there is no practical alternative. The tow path is the Reading east-west cycle route and has been for the last 100 years.

Recommend? Yes 16 No 1
Annoyed cyclist
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Jul 20, 20:46
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Phoned parks department today and spoke to a gentleman, by all accounts there is nothing anybody can do to stop us cycling along the tow path as its private property, apart from suing, the police can not enforce anything or fine you so I will keep on cycling along there, maybe take some abuse and say ok sue me, my name is Tweedledee, or may be Tweedledum!

Recommend? Yes 16 No 1
Hulk
Unregistered User
Sep 13, 19:18
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Hot off the press in today's chronicle, 13th Aug - 'Cycling ban was wrong' - Great news for the bikers out there! Reading transport bosses admitted being wrong putting up the wrong signs banning cyclists. In yer face lady with the poodle!

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