Right of Way on a Tow-Path

[NeilEB]

Ok, this isn't the usual bikes v peds v dogs.

I was cycling along the Grand Union at the weekend. Lovely hot summers day so the tow path was busy with cyclists, walkers, families out for a stroll, people fishing etc.

Now in some places the tow path is narrow - wide enough to get a bike past a pedestrian (as long as the pedestrian moves to the side and the cyclist goes slowly).

But, what happens when two cyclists meet in opposite directions? In the wider parts, I had one guy signal that he was going to go to his left, a bit later on, another guy was clearly staying to his right. No problem with either, I just wondered if there was a common rule?

Also, on the narrow bits, who should give way? Both times it happened, I was happy to stop and pull over to the side as I was only going for a gentle pootle, but again wondered what the etiquette is?

Oh, also really happy to report that all dogs were very well behaved and cuased no issues for me whatsoever :-)

 

[wiggydiggy]

Honestly, I don't know. If a bike is coming the opposite way, and we're already on opposite sides whether that is left or right then I'll stay there and usually they do to. I don't think there is a rule for this but communication even if it just eye contact and a decisive movement to left/right is essential.

At narrow sections I judge use my judgment as to how close we are to the 'pinch point' e.g. if they are, I would yield or if I am I would prefer it they do but I have to read them carefully to make sure they will do.

Problems only ever arise for me when I want to pass a 'ped, but there is a cyclist coming the other way. Its often easier to hang back a bit and let them through although if its a big gap I'll nip by before they get there.

I suppose towpath cycling is kind of unique and some of the normal rules dont apply and other special ones do?

 

[LosingFocus]

Were English, so stay on the left; and as is the English way, both should stop and spend 5 mins saying "no, after you" "oh no, after you" "no, no, you first" "well thank you, but you first"....

 

[NeilEB]

Honestly, I don't know. If a bike is coming the opposite way, and we're already on opposite sides whether that is left or right then I'll stay there and usually they do to. I don't think there is a rule for this but communication even if it just eye contact and a decisive movement to left/right is essential.

At narrow sections I judge use my judgment as to how close we are to the 'pinch point' e.g. if they are, I would yield or if I am I would prefer it they do but I have to read them carefully to make sure they will do.

Problems only ever arise for me when I want to pass a 'ped, but there is a cyclist coming the other way. Its often easier to hang back a bit and let them through although if its a big gap I'll nip by before they get there.

I suppose towpath cycling is kind of unique and some of the normal rules dont apply and other special ones do?

Fair enough - sounds like I got it right then, just wondered if the others were thinking "damn noob, doesn't know what he's doing" (they probably were, but hey ho!)

Still, made sure I said thank you to the pedestrians who nicely moved out of the way. The only annoying one was a lady who had her headphones on and didn't hear me. Still even she apologies after I went up a steep bank to get around her :-)

(oh and if any of you saw a fat bloke in a bright green top who clearly looked like he was about to fall into the canal at any second - that was me)

 

[MontyVeda]

Were English, so stay on the left; and as is the English way, both should stop and spend 5 mins saying "no, after you" "oh no, after you" "no, no, you first" "well thank you, but you first"....

+1... i try to use this rule as a pedestrian too, but nobody else seems to.

 

[Number14]

It doesn't matter which side you go as long as you make it clear which one you've decided on.

One tip from past experience - always make the other guy go canal side. The water doesn't taste very nice and it takes ages to clean the canal debris off your bile after.

 

[_aD]

I'll always pull over if I come across a spot where I can and find that other cyclists do this as well. I'm usually laden with panniers so tend to defer to everyone anyway, as it makes my bum look big (and therefore in the way) :-)

 

[davefb]

couldnt find anything on the waterways website about right/left. Don't boats pass on the 'right' not the left , maybe its boating people who would pass the 'wrong' way

fwiw, the wierd thing about towpaths is generally cyclists dont have a right of way....... you have to apply for a free permit!
http://www.waterscape.com/things-to-do/cycling/permit


( apart from london and scotland according to that link )

 

[MontyVeda]

couldnt find anything on the waterways website about right/left. Don't boats pass on the 'right' not the left , maybe its boating people who would pass the 'wrong' way

fwiw, the wierd thing about towpaths is generally cyclists dont have a right of way....... you have to apply for a free permit!
http://www.waterscap.../cycling/permit


( apart from london and scotland according to that link )

It does say pass peds on the water side.

I doubt I'll be getting a free permit though, seems a bit daft to me.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I find towpath cycling to be the most pleasant out of all my routes, speeds are generally low (unless you can see clear a long way) and can be a perfect come down ride if you've knackered yourself out a day or two earlier on some herculean road marathon!

What I enjoy the most is the scenery, canals by their nature take very long meandering and strange routes that a path or road may not. Lots of nice pubs/cafes as well along the way and lot of history to view if you want.

The risk for me is always going further than I meant, distance is deceptive and more than once I've got somewhere and being fairly tired. Only to realise I have to turn around do the same again back, woops!

It does say pass peds on the water side.

I doubt I'll be getting a free permit though, seems a bit daft to me.

I believe the permit is more so that if British Waterways have to ban you from the canals, there is some paperwork they can use to enforce that?

 

[wiggydiggy]

DP sorry

 

[davefb]

It does say pass peds on the water side.

I doubt I'll be getting a free permit though, seems a bit daft to me.

hmm , i only read the permit application link ... not the code-of-conduct one


Only found this firstly because I used to work near a canal and we were 'discussing' rights of way on the towpaths .. must admit I was surprised that there was a different set of rights of way...

 

[NeilEB]

The risk for me is always going further than I meant, distance is deceptive and more than once I've got somewhere and being fairly tired. Only to realise I have to turn around do the same again back, woops!

I know what you mean - I got back from the Aquadrome, and was really tempted to head into Whippendell forest, but there were signs telling cyclists to dismount - which I was confused about as according to the brochure there's a cycle route. Maybe there's one further up or something. Oh well, maybe next week I'll go that way instead. Or better yet, drive to the Aquadrome and go to the forest from there

 

[HLaB]

Generally I always go to the left but if there's a 12ft deep canal on my left I might not be inclined too I dont know if there is a rule to giving way, it just works out, usually both parties give way at first (self preservation, nobody wants to fall in the canal ), followed by after you, no after you

 

[Norm]

I generally go left but I do go right sometimes. Last Saturday, for instance, I was coming up behind a group walking on the right so I pulled to the right behind them to let the cyclists coming the other way go past.