Sadly what too many cyclists on towpaths don't know is that while it is a shared path walkers have priority over cyclists. It's the cyclists responsibility to slow down and if necessary to patiently wait behind the pedestrian until a safe place to pass arrives. While many pedestrians do it, cyclists shouldn't expect that pedestrians step on to the grass verge or even off the path for them. Just as drivers are expected to wait behind a cyclist, especially on a narrow country road. If you're in a hurry as a cyclist find another route, the towpaths are for relaxation, not speed.
@ArminGrewe just typical entitled bikeys, they think they have priority over everyone and use every road or shared path as their own personal race tracks. It is unusual to see someone respectfully using them, as Ash does. Big stink at the moment from bikeys refusing to ride at or below the speed limit in Royal parks, despite already killing one pedestrian. Parks police are trying to get authorisation to enforce bike speed limits, but the lawless and those who purport to be responsible are all fighting it. I had the unfortunate experience of being in Croydon last night. A fat copper had been sent out to police the bikeys. There are no lycra boys, they would get mugged & get their bike stolen, it is full of diversity, most delivering junk food to fat people. Copper could not stop a single one of them, they were just ignoring his orders to stop & swerving round him as he tried to inspect their bikes. He resorted to just shouting at them about their lack of lights and illegal e-bikes. Very comical. They have no respect for the law when it is standing in front of them, so how does anybody expect them to behave when the police are not there.
Or accept that, when you're on a tow-path, you're already saving time versus going around the longer (or more dangerous) route, so you can spare a few seconds to wait for others using it.
I was a disabled cyclist and loved canal paths before I had to get a more adapted bike as I worsened. An electric trike. And it really limited where I could go with it. That and theft of parts I couldn’t afford to keep replacing. So now I drive a car. Sad isn’t it?
3:29 I see that Ashleys chauffeur is shadowing his movements ready to pick him up as soon as he finishes filming, the glamourous UA-camr life being what it is 😁
Eh what? [Re-watched] Oh! That made me chuckle, thank you. How does Ashley keep his eyes on the road from the back seat? Who am i kidding, he'd be driving just to see how peoples driving style change beacuse of the vehicle he's in, with no L-plates fitted.
I rode Lancaster to Leeds with full camping gear a good few years ago, and did a lot of the run into Leeds on the Leeds-Liverpool. But every 50 metres, acrosss the towpath, was a zig-zag gate obstacle that was impossible to get through with panniers. Had to remove panniers, snake through the gate, reattach. Some cyclists (with lighter bikes) were dismounting and swinging round the gates over the water, bike in one hand, gate in the other. The barriers were clearly there to stop motorbikes but they did a heck of a job discouraging cycle tourists as well...
I live in Warrington and my nearest canal side bike ride is Sankey Valley Park which follows the remains/course of the St Helen's Canal from that town to Widnes via my home town. The upper part passes under Stephenson's Sankey Viaduct while the section which is the canal's towpath between Warrington and Widnes is part of Trans Pennine Trail. When cycling I ring my bell when approaching a blind bend blind summit or concealed entrance just in case there's someone coming the other way I can't see.
Last year I cycled from London to Hemel Hempstead along the canal and it was one of the best bike rides of my life (100k there and back). I wouldn’t mind doing that Liverpool-Leeds route
Great video, Ashley. Just a small tip: when you're approaching a bridge or tunnel, it's a good idea to ring your bell or sound your horn to alert others coming from the opposite direction and avoid a head-on collision.
I have two options on my commute to work. I can take the main road straight out of the town or I use a Riverside path and country lanes which joins on to the main road about halfway along. I opt for the river route because of very low traffic and it's flatter than the main road because it goes under the motorway rather than over it.
I cycle the Leeds end quite a lot - my office is near the river! Path gets a lot worse as you go into the penines. Not sure about the western end but it's basically a mud path west of Gargrave. Glorious scenery and a fantastic experience but nonetheless you'll need some sort of mountain bike. We took a boat from Skipton to the Lancashire border. I'd probably allow 3 days for the 127 mile trek. Fortunately you pass a lot of places with railway stations for getting too/from home like Colne, Skipton etc. Wigan had a lot of locks on the map so that looks like fun!
I use the Leeds Liverpool canal from the Leeds end. Some good mountain biking places just off. Calverley woods, Buck woods, Esholt etc but what was that rattling sound??! Who needs a bell?😎😎
From Aylesbury I cycle a circular 15 mile route nearly all off road taking in cycle paths and the Waddesdon Greenway. There is a lot of HS2 work going on but it's not a huge problem on the bike. Enjoyed this video!
When we lived in the midlands, I cycled on the towpaths into work everyday, about 16 miles each way. There was never many people about in the morning or evening at the time, and electric bikes weren't a thing, with very rarely an issue with motorbikes. However, those I did meet, I always gave plenty of warning to, and was happy to stop or change my positioning as and when needed. I've never had a bell, I find a loud voice more effective. Now though, I tend to ride mainly on the road, with an occasional foray onto the Montgomery canal.
I agree canal paths are for everyone. However, I walk the dog along the canal in West Yorkshire and although there are canal an river trust signs stating that walkers have priority, there are lots of cyclists who either haven’t read them or ignore them. This morning I was met by a group in full cycle gear riding at what seemed like full speed and no one slowed down. They approached from the rear - there was no indication they slowed at all. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon and is a constant gripe from many walkers. I am a cyclist so I have nothing against them but it often spoils my morning walk.
Very similar experience for me. While there are many well behaved cyclist who even stop to let me as a walker safely pass, there are far too many rude and even dangerous cyclists (incl on e-bikes). If drivers behave like that towards cyclists they would be up in arms.
I often gently ring my bike bell and walkers will be starled and even walk into each other in bewilderment and confusion. As if the sound of a bike bell was the most unusual thing they had ever heard and was maybe the last thing they were expecting on a shared pedestrian/cycle path 😂
The stop banks alongside the rivers in the district are public roads that double up as walking routes. They are our equivalent to canal tow paths. The stop bank that runs along the south side of the Ashley River through Rangiora is 21km as the crow flies from Waikuku Beach
4:20 A solution I imagine would be fairly easy would be to have a gate which can be opened with a RADAR key, the same keys that disabled people use to access disabled toilets. It also helps that emergency services carry these keys also so if an emergency vehicle needs to use the path they can easily open the gate too.
There's gates like that near me that can be opened with a Radar key for disabled access. I've never seen them used though. My dogs have become terrified of my bikes with so many speeding past really close without warning so really appreciate you setting a good example.
Those motorbike traps are a pain in the arse and not just on the canal, they're in the parks and everywhere. They don't stop motorbikes accessing the paths and parks they just slow them down but they also slow down normal cyclists and as you pointed out they completely block some/all wheelchair users. I'm not sure what the alternative (If any) should be but they should scrap them IMHO
In terms of alternatives, actual enforcement would be the best one, no chance of that since It'd require the doughnut-eaters to get out of their cars & do some actual work. Second best would be to have the gates alongside openable with the same key that gets used for disabled toilets.
@@beardyface8492I assume you referring to police when you say doughnut eaters…. As a doughnut eater myself trust me when I say most of us would love to deal with the virus that’s off road illegal bikes but are not allowed to by the current regime. If one of these “lovable rouges” falls off, we are under investigation and quite often prosecuted for causing their demise. Look at the bigger picture before sling mud at the hard working faces you see on the streets.
@TemporaryName80, well if it slows the bikeys down, that is a good thing. Bikeys treat towpaths as they do any other 'shared' access route, as their own racetrack, not caring that they are the ones who should be giving priority to all the other users of the path.
@@beardyface8492 Great idea, though it won't help people with kids in pushchairs. There was a problem with our local ancient woodland, they put something in to stop cyclists (due to the paths being too narrow for bikes, and there'd been some close calls due to people riding too fast for the conditions of the woodland) and ended up stopping parents with young children and the disabled from accessing the woods. They removed them, so the issue of some cyclists riding as if it's a road and not a woodland track continues...
I have a lot of canal paths, cycle ways and shared pavements around my area in Castleford. They are the safest and fastest route, albeit in the winter it gets waterlogged.
My favourite shared trail is the Mawddach starting in Dolgellau following the river to the estuary to either Fairbourne or Barmouth the access is super
Have cycled the Solar Trail from Riccall up to York any number of times. Ride to Selby (13 or so miles from home); then through Barlby to follow the path alongside A19 to Riccall then old east coast mainline route up through Naburn (and see the 'Old Man' of Naburn atop the bridge) before nipping through Bishopthorpe and then round the Knavesmire to get in to town, following either side of the river. Lovely ride, about 30miles - coffee well deserved. Of all the miles done round Yorkshire (and sometimes in 'foreign' parts) still my favourite route.
Burton-on-Trent has cleaned up the towpath through the town on the Trent and Mersey Canal. Making a very good shared path, which seems to be well used.
I’d do a Liverpool to Leeds ride with you Ash. My particular favourite is the trans pennine trail from halewood towards Southport. I currently have a Whyte e-bike… might need a spare battery to do the full trip in one go 😊
Where I live it's nice quiet country roads however I do like to pop up on to the Hornsea track (as it's known locally) a 13 mile long former railway track goes from Hull to a little seaside town of Hornsea on the east coast. Ridden it all when I was younger, but when I do cycle I do like it up there and it's only a mile away from my house.
How would you get a mobility scooter through there? Unfortunately, the selfish minority using motorcycles on the path have have spoilt it for the less able to be able to enjoy.
Here in Northeast Derbyshire on the edge of the Peak District I’m lucky to have miles of Canals, Greenways and trails on my doorstep and my local council has removed a lot of these barriers and would you believe it the world hasn’t ended and the paths aren’t full of people on motorbikes in fact the best way to discourage the use of motorbikes on cycle paths is to encourage more use in general
Currently i live city with cannals. They are quite flat and smooth. You do need responsibility because you are no longer the vulnerable using the route. Best rides ive ever done are Glenorwyg. (yes opposite snowden). And i did 30 miles for charity around Ryton XI towns. The hill below Ryton XI towns is a monster - a true beast, i did that ride on a 30 year old racer my Grandad found in skip, happy my hawk was out of action.
The canal from Netherton to Bootle is horrendous. Cycled it yesterday on a Gravel bike. My hands were in bits, as was my posterior! It's terrible how poorly maintained (and overgrown) the tow-paths are. It would be good if you could do a video on safe routes into the city centre from Maghull, Melling, Crosby and/or Bootle areas. I believe that, at the moment, the lack of safe routes is deterring a lot of would-be cycling commuters. I'm planning on writing to the LCR and Local MPs to advocate for better cycling infrastructure for commuters wanting to choose the healthier, more environmentally friendly options! A reference to a well-known professional with a respected following would be advantageous!
I've done several accessibility surveys for Slow Ways, which in this neck of the woods often include stretches along canal paths or similar formal routes (e.g. Wales coastal path). It amazes me how many of those A gates you have to navigate, and how challenging it is to access them as anything other than a pedestrian on 2 legs (wheelchairs, prams, crutches, etc.), even while boasting about EU funding for bringing them up to 'modern standards'. It has also brought me in contact with a local accessible riding group trying to tackle such issues. Sometimes the gates used for maintenance access have radar locks (use the same keys as accessible toilets), but that seems to be less common than advertised. Basically you have to complain to the local council (or responsible body); that's the only real mechanism for getting them changed, and it's unlikely to happen once the money is spent unless a lot of people complain. Better still, next time there is a public consultation for building/restoring one of these paths, turn up and challenge their installation before they go in. Allies required on this one.
I live near the other end of the Leeds Liverpool Canal, at my closest access point the gate has a padlock which can be opened by a RADAR key, enabling me to access the towpath with my daughter's wheelchair. The gate in this video is locked with a padlock, it could be a relatively simple fix to change it out (if it's not a RADAR padlock already).
I did a formal half marathon recently starting in Saltaire and literally doing three miles out and back in both directions along the canal. Bit boring but would actually be very practical for getting to Leeds or Bradford centre by bicycle.
The inhibitor is a fairly standard piece of rights of way furniture. It is designed to be wide at the bottom to allow a wheelchair through but head width at the top. The narrowing at the top being there to stop handle bars getting through. I don't know the canal there, is it a bridleway? If so it should have access for cycles but the way that entrance is designed looks like it was meant to restrict access to stop bikes and motorbikes. The fence being pushed back (illegally) to allow bikes through.
When I lived in Derby, 7 miles each way to work, almost all alongside the river Derwent. Absolute pleasure, even when it was freezing (studded tyres). Now, it's for pleasure along the lanes to Martinstown and back, but I've had some unpleasant meetings with obstreperous car drivers. I can't cycle up the Ridgeway anymore and haven't got a lecky bike, so along the lanes it is.
Very interesting video Ashley's ive recently watched a few of your vids and i hold a hgv licence for over 26 years and some of you training and tactics have taught me some new tricks especially the roundabouts video . More people should have more respect for each other out on the roads but ive been taught to drive defensively which has got me out of sticky situations. Id be interested in a charity bike ride ive had it in me to also do the leeds liverpool canal route ive done liverpool to wigan twice this year about 35 miles great way to travel
I used to like the loop-line when I was closer to Liverpool, brilliant for north-south journey's 👌 - I also heard that I think if you use the canals a lot, the paths some authority requires an annual fee, tho I may be wrong on this 🤔
I also love the canal towpaths and slow down for everyone, but still get the occasional argument from pedestrians and boaters. Cyclists are so hated in the UK, it's sad. You're "only" 76 miles from me on the canal! I'd happily join you on a charity ride.
I disagree that cyclists are hated. I've ridden a road bike regularly since 1987 and the vast majority of drivers are respectful. You tend to remember the ones who aren't of course but in my experience it's a tiny minority. I find if you conduct yourself properly (on the bike or in the car) most people are more than willing to cooperate. Potholes are the main enemy!!
@Chigleybus exactly this. Terminally online people think it's like Desert Storm out there, but I've had only one notably bad interaction why cycling this whole year, and that was a poorly supervised learner. Very well put, my friend
@@Chigleybus I think there's plenty of evidence of casual hatred around. Look, for example at media coverage in eg the Mail, the Telegraph or the Spectator. Or if you want to go back to pre-video days, check out Matthew Parris's Christmas Column in the Times onm 27th December 2007: "A festive custom we could do worse than foster would be stringing piano wire across country lanes to decapitate cyclists" He called it a joke, at a time when there were many cases of wire being strung across cycle tracks. It's rooted in privilege and ignorance, but it feeds a culture. This year there have been a number of occurrences of people leaning out of motor vehicles and pushing people off cycles.
We ride on the Grantham Canal (between Nottingham and Grantham) quite a bit. The surface is a bit variable and the path is quite narrow in places. It has annoying U shaped gates at every road junction, which means getting off and manhandling your bike around. Also quite inaccessible for wheelchair users, but at least it keeps motorbikes off it. I’d like to take our dog trailer with us, but I can’t as it won’t fit around the barriers. Can’t cycle with my granddaughter there either for the same reason.
I live near the Trans Pennine Trail so when I'm biking I'll jump on that. It feels a lot safer than the canal routes near me. I've yet to take it all the way into the Peaks but that is a goal of mine! I agree with those motorbike traps, they make areas such much less accessible to people and they don't even stop the motorbikes. Those modded E-bikes that do 30mph are even easier to get through. It would be great if they removed them all and then actually acted on reports but that's the least of the problems I have with the local bobbies and probably the least of theirs as well.
See a few of these issus on South Wales Sustrans routes. Access is limited to people that can lift a bike over a gate. A bit of a pay off between landowners restricting access to motorbikes but allowing walking and cycling to go through with a bit of effort. No chance would a wheelchair user or someone with limited mobility and a heavy e bike get through.
That’s interesting. I know from experience that I don’t have the upper body strength to lift my bike over a gate, so even among cyclists it would be the men who are largely favoured. I can see the landowners’ point of view, but I’m wondering how Sustans rationalises it under whatever policies it has for equality.
@@williammcintosh4787 I do appreciate that, but Sustans will have had to take various factors into account including its equality policy and its charitable purposes when deciding whether to go with that route. I’m not saying it was the wrong decision, it was more musing from a corporate governance perspective how they balanced various elements and what rationale they gave. It will have been (or least I trust it was) a difficult decision to come to.
Those gates on the cannal.....have been put there in the 1980s....when car and motorcycle theft was rife.....it's to stop people with motorcycles from dangerously blazing down the cannal path at 50
The Coastal pPath from Chester along the coast of Wales is a contentious subject with the Flintshire Council right now as a group of Mobility Scooter owners are petitioning and fighting to get the gates changed to something more appropriate. The biggest fear for tremoving them gates are motor vehicles. The Scrambler and stolen motorbiokes lot getting the fingers pointed at them. Shame really.. the path from Chester to Colwyn bay is a great cycle path and passes a LOT of history en route. Worth a Cycle one day Ash. All flat and easy with no hills. Along the watershore nearly all the way. Few navigation challenges switching between trusting the maps or the signage posts (tip: Maps dont get turned to point the wrong direction by vandals). I'll be willing to cycle it with ya. I tow a little trailer with me so refreshments are never an issue (I do fresh tea brews as i go)
My cycle route is mostly the Spen Valley and Calder Valley Greenways here in West Yorkshire, a lovely, mostly green space. The only thing that annoys me about riding on the shared paths is when a group of people split to opposite sides of the path and you have to weave your way through them, especially if one or more of them are with their dogs.
Spen Valley Greenway cyclist here... dog owners are the absolute worst. Most seem to think it's a dog park and let their mutts run loose and I've taken a fall thanks to one. Then you got the dog owners who don't bother cleaning up the inevitable dog faeces with a plastic bag and the one's who do, only do it because they are being watched... only to be flung into the bushes or just dumped in some faecal mound for some reason.
@@khalidacosta7133 TBF, there is far more horse muck on the Spen Valley Greenway than dog muck, though yes it is very annoying when I see people not cleaning up after their dogs. I have had a few large dogs lunge at me, and I have had one fall as a result of that but most of the dog owners are considerate during the times that I ride.
I was biking on the bike side of a footpath and I rang my bell to let lady know I was coming through as she was letting her dog smell the bushes on this side also , she just glared at me as if I was in the wrong I said thanks but was a misery! .
I remember once I saw one of these anti-cycling things on a 'permitted cycleway'. I don't think someone would drive their motorbike out this far, it was quite far into the sticks. The nearest road was probably something like a kilometer away. I guess it's to stop people driving motorbikes there, but what stops them from putting cameras down to give people fines for taking their motorbike down there?
6:33 top tip if you're trying to get a little bit fitter, is to ditch the e-bike! You'll probably be travelling at a safer speed for a canal towpath too, 25kph is a bit quick IMO.
Wheel chairs AND buggies? There used to be gates on tow paths around central Birmingham, fortunately now either locked open or removed. Canal & River Trust do not permit electric bikes & e-scooters on their property; no idea how or if they enforce it though. Nice to see you are warning other users you come from behind of your presence, too many don't. Only realise they are there when they whizz close by. BTW Ashley with the speed you ride tough gloves could save you major discomfort should you be unfortunate to come off. Palms of hands versus road surface or tow paths will not end well!!
As an Active wheelchair user I'd love to spend hours like this.. But the amount of problems I would face I could only imagine... I'm sure at some point I'd be stuck, because of said gates, steps, stupidly steep ramps cobbled paths to name a few.. Which is a shame as I'm absolutely surrounded by canals round here.
The path running beside the canal is the tow path, intended by the canal's original owner for use by horses or bargees walking to attend to their horse or to operate locks. They were not intended for cyclists (nor, given the rough surface of many towpaths, for wheel-chair users for that matter!). Cyclists using these towpaths put pedestrains at risk, a severe risk given the proximity of water. Polly Friedhoff, an 81 year old pedestrian was fatally injured at Iffley Lock on the Oxford Canal. All the cyclist did to mitigate the threat he posed was to ring his bell, clearly expecting an elderly lady to get out of his way. Cyclists generally need to improve their often lamentably behaviour both on and off road and complain less about how they are victimised.
Quite a bone-shaker your bike! Those towpaths are notoriously bumpy. I've cycled along the Aylesbury Arm a number of times and that has improved a little over the years but further out into the countryside it's just grass. As for dealing with other people most are not a problem. The only issue I have is with people who wear earbuds and can't hear you ringing the bell. I recently had that when some bloke was in front and I must have rang four times and he still didn't hear me. In the end I just picked a safe spot and passed.
No, canal paths are not for everyone, legally. They are privately owned, and the owner of the majority of the canal network - the CRT - has a POLICY of allowing cyclists where possible but that is an owner policy, not a user right. Many canal towpaths aren't suitable for disabled access - I am thinking of the ones where bank collapses or overgrown hedges are present meaning that even navigating along them by foot is challenging. Also, since towpaths aren't highways, the Highway Code does not apply on a towpath. The actual code that applies depends on the owner - since in most cases that is the CRT, their Towpath Code applies.
So if you head onto that path from Melling Road in a wheelchair or mobility scooter, you have to turn around when you reach Wango Lane? That is diabolical as is the state of the path between Wango Lane and Spencers Lane No way is this a “path for all to use”, just like when they let all the greenery take over meaning it is difficult to walk let alone cycle or be in a wheelchair or have a pushchair
The bell is great if you're not deaf. I don't mean that flippantly, I witnessed an incident with a police car and a deaf woman. The bobby wasn't best pleased because she didn't move when he blasted his siren in̈ Bold Street Liverpool .Talk about embarrassing.
That early section of the canal path is awful; it's really for a MTB, and not a road bike as I've done recently. Two similar motorcycle traps have recently been replaced on the Cheshire Lines path down by Sefton Lane.
My wife is a full time wheelchair user and it’s not just canal paths she’s not welcome to use. You would be surprised at how many places she is deterred from visiting. 🚫
Those width restrictions are there to discourage cycling. They do not stop motorbikes, but they do stop wheelchairs, cargo bikes, hand cycles and the like. They are there as a disincentive for cycling, forcing more people into cars. It's a shame that councils and the Canal-Riverside Trust insist on installing these expensive deterrents. I'm sure more people would cycle if they were not there. Riding canal paths for my commute is a joy - only these barriers spoil it.
The barriers are clearly behind the times and they are a throw back to a fairly recenr time when the path was intended for pedestrians and not really cyclists. I think the laws which permit cyclists and pedestrians to share the same path need to catch up a bit with the state of the actual paths in question. Specially if they still have barriers in place to stop cyclists using the path like the one which Ashley had to struggle through near the beginning of this video. Obviously the barrier is meant to stop bad cyclists and probably motor bikers using the path , bombing down it at unsafe speeds and knocking down walkers and unsuspecting people out for a nice leisurely stroll with Fido.
Yes, those motorbike-blocking gates are hideous, and they don't even work that well on motorbikes! For someone like me, who rides a recumbent trike, it'll be a no-go, as my trike doesn't even fit through a doorway (not quite, anyway), and these kinds of cycles are considered as adaptive cycles, especially for those with disabilities. I read a news article of a man, I think he was up your way, who won a case of discrimination against the council, after they installed bollards on his usual triking route, blocking him from using the route. I'll try and find the article, if I do, I'll link it as a reply to this comment. That reminds me, Ashley, I emailed you offering you a ride on my recumbent trike quite a while ago, I'm not sure whether you've seen it, it's in a queue for you to see, or it hasn't reached you for some reason. Anyway, I'm Milton Keynes based, and ride an ICE Sprint X Tour e-assisted automatically geared recumbent tadpole trike. You're more than welcome to give it a spin. I thought it might make for an interesting feature video.
These barriers that limit access for disabled, are all unlawful. Action must be taken by an affected individual, and ultimately through a court. You're always going to win, and it can be a relatively easy process if you're not after big money and use the small claims court. The courts have previously decided that a minimum compensation payment to the affected person is £12,000. In practice going through a "proper" court is costly and a hassle. Claims for discrimination are usually done through the small claims court which has a claim limit of £10,000 . You'll need to put up 10% of what you claiming to to start the case, but you get it back if you win. The defending party, especially a council, will try to delay and ignore you, right up the the day of the case, when they will nearly always settle with you out of court and remove the barrier. They won't accept blame state it was a blunder by another party.
@@Psylaine64 You don't have claim for £10,000 with the upfront £1000 court fee. If your aim is to simply get the gate removed using the Small Claims process you can claim a small amount. Minimum court fee is £35 which limits your claim to £300. You'll get that £35 back if you win. And you should win as the issue has "case law" stating the gates discriminate.
Unfortunately, Ash, I'm right down South in Hampshire, but if you do do a charity ride make sure to advertise it and I'll gladly donate, as I'm sure hundreds of others will.
I can see why the access to the tow path is restricted to prevent cyclists bombing out across the road but also to prevent motor bikers using the tow path, who could be a menace. But, as you say the type of access precludes the use of wheelchairs, push chairs and mobility scooters as well as what the tow path was designed for and can still be legitimately used for, which is horses. The Canal and River Trust, who operate the canals clearly state that there should be access for all and that the tow paths are particularly suitable for disabled people - hypocrisy or what?
Some towpaths are certainly wheelchair accessible, but many, especially outside of cities are not surfaced at all. Many are very overgrown with weeds and little more than a muddy narrow track. I often cycle down the canal towpath, but my usual route is not suitable during the winter as it becomes unrideable on the road bike.
@@shm5547 Here in rural West Leics we have well used canal networks that are very popular and whilst some of the tow paths are as you say, they are still extensively used by wheel chairs, pushchairs and mobility scooters. Fortunately, we don't have the problem with anti-social youths as I suspect the Liverpool section of the canal has.
I noticed the trap metalwork you went through had been adjusted by a sensible person to provide a gap you could push a bike through. That setup is in its original form disgusting. Downright dangerous for, say, a recumbent, or a cargo bike or tricycle. Effectively it limits access to the fit and strong only. But that seems to be the way access in general is heading, despite the pretence of lip service.
Whete is your bell? Pedestrian's please stop being surprised by cyclist who have been using their bell for the last 50 metres or so and the we have to shout, so Pedestrian's please accept the path is for all
Sadly what too many cyclists on towpaths don't know is that while it is a shared path walkers have priority over cyclists. It's the cyclists responsibility to slow down and if necessary to patiently wait behind the pedestrian until a safe place to pass arrives. While many pedestrians do it, cyclists shouldn't expect that pedestrians step on to the grass verge or even off the path for them. Just as drivers are expected to wait behind a cyclist, especially on a narrow country road.
If you're in a hurry as a cyclist find another route, the towpaths are for relaxation, not speed.
Absolutely, but the eejits with the dogs off leads also keed to learn a thing or three
@ArminGrewe just typical entitled bikeys, they think they have priority over everyone and use every road or shared path as their own personal race tracks. It is unusual to see someone respectfully using them, as Ash does.
Big stink at the moment from bikeys refusing to ride at or below the speed limit in Royal parks, despite already killing one pedestrian. Parks police are trying to get authorisation to enforce bike speed limits, but the lawless and those who purport to be responsible are all fighting it.
I had the unfortunate experience of being in Croydon last night. A fat copper had been sent out to police the bikeys. There are no lycra boys, they would get mugged & get their bike stolen, it is full of diversity, most delivering junk food to fat people.
Copper could not stop a single one of them, they were just ignoring his orders to stop & swerving round him as he tried to inspect their bikes. He resorted to just shouting at them about their lack of lights and illegal e-bikes. Very comical.
They have no respect for the law when it is standing in front of them, so how does anybody expect them to behave when the police are not there.
Or accept that, when you're on a tow-path, you're already saving time versus going around the longer (or more dangerous) route, so you can spare a few seconds to wait for others using it.
I was a disabled cyclist and loved canal paths before I had to get a more adapted bike as I worsened. An electric trike. And it really limited where I could go with it. That and theft of parts I couldn’t afford to keep replacing. So now I drive a car. Sad isn’t it?
What parts did they steal? sick people
I'm sorry to hear people stole from you forcing you into a car, its very sad people can't respect each other more.
3:29 I see that Ashleys chauffeur is shadowing his movements ready to pick him up as soon as he finishes filming, the glamourous UA-camr life being what it is 😁
I bet Ash critiques his driving from the backseat also.🤣
Eh what? [Re-watched] Oh! That made me chuckle, thank you. How does Ashley keep his eyes on the road from the back seat? Who am i kidding, he'd be driving just to see how peoples driving style change beacuse of the vehicle he's in, with no L-plates fitted.
I rode Lancaster to Leeds with full camping gear a good few years ago, and did a lot of the run into Leeds on the Leeds-Liverpool. But every 50 metres, acrosss the towpath, was a zig-zag gate obstacle that was impossible to get through with panniers. Had to remove panniers, snake through the gate, reattach. Some cyclists (with lighter bikes) were dismounting and swinging round the gates over the water, bike in one hand, gate in the other. The barriers were clearly there to stop motorbikes but they did a heck of a job discouraging cycle tourists as well...
From Bingley to Leeds, there are none of these barriers you mention. I think from Keighley too.
@stephenclark9917 yeah and in keighley little scruffs fly around on nicked motorbikes on the canal path
@@stephenclark9917 hooray! maybe I'll try it again sometime! thanks!
Used to love riding the canals when a youngster. Netherton tunnel is an interesting experience on a bike.
I live in Warrington and my nearest canal side bike ride is Sankey Valley Park which follows the remains/course of the St Helen's Canal from that town to Widnes via my home town. The upper part passes under Stephenson's Sankey Viaduct while the section which is the canal's towpath between Warrington and Widnes is part of Trans Pennine Trail. When cycling I ring my bell when approaching a blind bend blind summit or concealed entrance just in case there's someone coming the other way I can't see.
Last year I cycled from London to Hemel Hempstead along the canal and it was one of the best bike rides of my life (100k there and back). I wouldn’t mind doing that Liverpool-Leeds route
Great video, Ashley. Just a small tip: when you're approaching a bridge or tunnel, it's a good idea to ring your bell or sound your horn to alert others coming from the opposite direction and avoid a head-on collision.
I'm sure he would know this already
@@passkat Yet he didn't sound his bell when approaching these?
@@passkat Me too mate, wonder why he didn't ?🤔
@@powernab8457 Thank you for the comment. While education is valuable, experience is unique. Given a few more years, he will hopefully get It 😂.
I have two options on my commute to work. I can take the main road straight out of the town or I use a Riverside path and country lanes which joins on to the main road about halfway along. I opt for the river route because of very low traffic and it's flatter than the main road because it goes under the motorway rather than over it.
I cycle the Leeds end quite a lot - my office is near the river!
Path gets a lot worse as you go into the penines. Not sure about the western end but it's basically a mud path west of Gargrave. Glorious scenery and a fantastic experience but nonetheless you'll need some sort of mountain bike. We took a boat from Skipton to the Lancashire border.
I'd probably allow 3 days for the 127 mile trek. Fortunately you pass a lot of places with railway stations for getting too/from home like Colne, Skipton etc.
Wigan had a lot of locks on the map so that looks like fun!
I use the Leeds Liverpool canal from the Leeds end. Some good mountain biking places just off. Calverley woods, Buck woods, Esholt etc but what was that rattling sound??! Who needs a bell?😎😎
From Aylesbury I cycle a circular 15 mile route nearly all off road taking in cycle paths and the Waddesdon Greenway. There is a lot of HS2 work going on but it's not a huge problem on the bike. Enjoyed this video!
When we lived in the midlands, I cycled on the towpaths into work everyday, about 16 miles each way. There was never many people about in the morning or evening at the time, and electric bikes weren't a thing, with very rarely an issue with motorbikes. However, those I did meet, I always gave plenty of warning to, and was happy to stop or change my positioning as and when needed. I've never had a bell, I find a loud voice more effective. Now though, I tend to ride mainly on the road, with an occasional foray onto the Montgomery canal.
I agree canal paths are for everyone. However, I walk the dog along the canal in West Yorkshire and although there are canal an river trust signs stating that walkers have priority, there are lots of cyclists who either haven’t read them or ignore them. This morning I was met by a group in full cycle gear riding at what seemed like full speed and no one slowed down. They approached from the rear - there was no indication they slowed at all. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon and is a constant gripe from many walkers. I am a cyclist so I have nothing against them but it often spoils my morning walk.
Very similar experience for me. While there are many well behaved cyclist who even stop to let me as a walker safely pass, there are far too many rude and even dangerous cyclists (incl on e-bikes). If drivers behave like that towards cyclists they would be up in arms.
I often gently ring my bike bell and walkers will be starled and even walk into each other in bewilderment and confusion. As if the sound of a bike bell was the most unusual thing they had ever heard and was maybe the last thing they were expecting on a shared pedestrian/cycle path 😂
@@ArminGrewehere in France they already behave like that
The stop banks alongside the rivers in the district are public roads that double up as walking routes. They are our equivalent to canal tow paths. The stop bank that runs along the south side of the Ashley River through Rangiora is 21km as the crow flies from Waikuku Beach
4:20 A solution I imagine would be fairly easy would be to have a gate which can be opened with a RADAR key, the same keys that disabled people use to access disabled toilets. It also helps that emergency services carry these keys also so if an emergency vehicle needs to use the path they can easily open the gate too.
There's gates like that near me that can be opened with a Radar key for disabled access. I've never seen them used though.
My dogs have become terrified of my bikes with so many speeding past really close without warning so really appreciate you setting a good example.
Those motorbike traps are a pain in the arse and not just on the canal, they're in the parks and everywhere.
They don't stop motorbikes accessing the paths and parks they just slow them down but they also slow down normal cyclists and as you pointed out they completely block some/all wheelchair users.
I'm not sure what the alternative (If any) should be but they should scrap them IMHO
In terms of alternatives, actual enforcement would be the best one, no chance of that since It'd require the doughnut-eaters to get out of their cars & do some actual work.
Second best would be to have the gates alongside openable with the same key that gets used for disabled toilets.
@@beardyface8492🍩 Doughnut - Eaters ?. That's very funny 😂😅😄😆😁🤭
@@beardyface8492I assume you referring to police when you say doughnut eaters…. As a doughnut eater myself trust me when I say most of us would love to deal with the virus that’s off road illegal bikes but are not allowed to by the current regime. If one of these “lovable rouges” falls off, we are under investigation and quite often prosecuted for causing their demise. Look at the bigger picture before sling mud at the hard working faces you see on the streets.
@TemporaryName80, well if it slows the bikeys down, that is a good thing.
Bikeys treat towpaths as they do any other 'shared' access route, as their own racetrack, not caring that they are the ones who should be giving priority to all the other users of the path.
@@beardyface8492 Great idea, though it won't help people with kids in pushchairs. There was a problem with our local ancient woodland, they put something in to stop cyclists (due to the paths being too narrow for bikes, and there'd been some close calls due to people riding too fast for the conditions of the woodland) and ended up stopping parents with young children and the disabled from accessing the woods. They removed them, so the issue of some cyclists riding as if it's a road and not a woodland track continues...
When in Cornwall I love riding on Bodmin moor, so beautiful and peaceful in the sunshine.
I have a lot of canal paths, cycle ways and shared pavements around my area in Castleford. They are the safest and fastest route, albeit in the winter it gets waterlogged.
My favourite shared trail is the Mawddach starting in Dolgellau following the river to the estuary to either Fairbourne or Barmouth the access is super
Have cycled the Solar Trail from Riccall up to York any number of times. Ride to Selby (13 or so miles from home); then through Barlby to follow the path alongside A19 to Riccall then old east coast mainline route up through Naburn (and see the 'Old Man' of Naburn atop the bridge) before nipping through Bishopthorpe and then round the Knavesmire to get in to town, following either side of the river. Lovely ride, about 30miles - coffee well deserved. Of all the miles done round Yorkshire (and sometimes in 'foreign' parts) still my favourite route.
Burton-on-Trent has cleaned up the towpath through the town on the Trent and Mersey Canal. Making a very good shared path, which seems to be well used.
Nice positive video with little or few gripes, nice bit of cycling to,, nice to see respect from everyone, to everyone.
I’d do a Liverpool to Leeds ride with you Ash. My particular favourite is the trans pennine trail from halewood towards Southport. I currently have a Whyte e-bike… might need a spare battery to do the full trip in one go 😊
Where I live it's nice quiet country roads however I do like to pop up on to the Hornsea track (as it's known locally) a 13 mile long former railway track goes from Hull to a little seaside town of Hornsea on the east coast. Ridden it all when I was younger, but when I do cycle I do like it up there and it's only a mile away from my house.
How would you get a mobility scooter through there?
Unfortunately, the selfish minority using motorcycles on the path have have spoilt it for the less able to be able to enjoy.
I kept thinking, you could enjoy the exercise of cycling, and the serenity of the canal, with a pedalo.
I'd be honoured to accompany you on a Liverpool to Leeds cycle along the Canal path. 😎😎 (Forth & Clyde Canal is my go to easy ride route)
Here in Northeast Derbyshire on the edge of the Peak District I’m lucky to have miles of Canals, Greenways and trails on my doorstep and my local council has removed a lot of these barriers and would you believe it the world hasn’t ended and the paths aren’t full of people on motorbikes in fact the best way to discourage the use of motorbikes on cycle paths is to encourage more use in general
Currently i live city with cannals. They are quite flat and smooth. You do need responsibility because you are no longer the vulnerable using the route. Best rides ive ever done are Glenorwyg. (yes opposite snowden). And i did 30 miles for charity around Ryton XI towns. The hill below Ryton XI towns is a monster - a true beast, i did that ride on a 30 year old racer my Grandad found in skip, happy my hawk was out of action.
The canal from Netherton to Bootle is horrendous. Cycled it yesterday on a Gravel bike. My hands were in bits, as was my posterior! It's terrible how poorly maintained (and overgrown) the tow-paths are. It would be good if you could do a video on safe routes into the city centre from Maghull, Melling, Crosby and/or Bootle areas. I believe that, at the moment, the lack of safe routes is deterring a lot of would-be cycling commuters. I'm planning on writing to the LCR and Local MPs to advocate for better cycling infrastructure for commuters wanting to choose the healthier, more environmentally friendly options! A reference to a well-known professional with a respected following would be advantageous!
I've done several accessibility surveys for Slow Ways, which in this neck of the woods often include stretches along canal paths or similar formal routes (e.g. Wales coastal path). It amazes me how many of those A gates you have to navigate, and how challenging it is to access them as anything other than a pedestrian on 2 legs (wheelchairs, prams, crutches, etc.), even while boasting about EU funding for bringing them up to 'modern standards'. It has also brought me in contact with a local accessible riding group trying to tackle such issues. Sometimes the gates used for maintenance access have radar locks (use the same keys as accessible toilets), but that seems to be less common than advertised. Basically you have to complain to the local council (or responsible body); that's the only real mechanism for getting them changed, and it's unlikely to happen once the money is spent unless a lot of people complain. Better still, next time there is a public consultation for building/restoring one of these paths, turn up and challenge their installation before they go in. Allies required on this one.
I live near the other end of the Leeds Liverpool Canal, at my closest access point the gate has a padlock which can be opened by a RADAR key, enabling me to access the towpath with my daughter's wheelchair. The gate in this video is locked with a padlock, it could be a relatively simple fix to change it out (if it's not a RADAR padlock already).
I did a formal half marathon recently starting in Saltaire and literally doing three miles out and back in both directions along the canal. Bit boring but would actually be very practical for getting to Leeds or Bradford centre by bicycle.
The inhibitor is a fairly standard piece of rights of way furniture. It is designed to be wide at the bottom to allow a wheelchair through but head width at the top. The narrowing at the top being there to stop handle bars getting through. I don't know the canal there, is it a bridleway? If so it should have access for cycles but the way that entrance is designed looks like it was meant to restrict access to stop bikes and motorbikes. The fence being pushed back (illegally) to allow bikes through.
When I lived in Derby, 7 miles each way to work, almost all alongside the river Derwent. Absolute pleasure, even when it was freezing (studded tyres). Now, it's for pleasure along the lanes to Martinstown and back, but I've had some unpleasant meetings with obstreperous car drivers. I can't cycle up the Ridgeway anymore and haven't got a lecky bike, so along the lanes it is.
Very interesting video Ashley's ive recently watched a few of your vids and i hold a hgv licence for over 26 years and some of you training and tactics have taught me some new tricks especially the roundabouts video . More people should have more respect for each other out on the roads but ive been taught to drive defensively which has got me out of sticky situations. Id be interested in a charity bike ride ive had it in me to also do the leeds liverpool canal route ive done liverpool to wigan twice this year about 35 miles great way to travel
I used to like the loop-line when I was closer to Liverpool, brilliant for north-south journey's 👌 - I also heard that I think if you use the canals a lot, the paths some authority requires an annual fee, tho I may be wrong on this 🤔
That used to be the case but not anymore.
Zoe's Place has to be a strong charity possibility.
I also love the canal towpaths and slow down for everyone, but still get the occasional argument from pedestrians and boaters. Cyclists are so hated in the UK, it's sad. You're "only" 76 miles from me on the canal! I'd happily join you on a charity ride.
I disagree that cyclists are hated. I've ridden a road bike regularly since 1987 and the vast majority of drivers are respectful. You tend to remember the ones who aren't of course but in my experience it's a tiny minority.
I find if you conduct yourself properly (on the bike or in the car) most people are more than willing to cooperate. Potholes are the main enemy!!
@@Chigleybus That is a fair point, it is the minority of negative experiences I'm remembering. Well said.
@@Chigleybus dodgy drivers are a minority, but it's not tiny IMO!
@Chigleybus exactly this. Terminally online people think it's like Desert Storm out there, but I've had only one notably bad interaction why cycling this whole year, and that was a poorly supervised learner.
Very well put, my friend
@@Chigleybus I think there's plenty of evidence of casual hatred around. Look, for example at media coverage in eg the Mail, the Telegraph or the Spectator.
Or if you want to go back to pre-video days, check out Matthew Parris's Christmas Column in the Times onm 27th December 2007:
"A festive custom we could do worse than foster would be stringing piano wire across country lanes to decapitate cyclists"
He called it a joke, at a time when there were many cases of wire being strung across cycle tracks.
It's rooted in privilege and ignorance, but it feeds a culture. This year there have been a number of occurrences of people leaning out of motor vehicles and pushing people off cycles.
We ride on the Grantham Canal (between Nottingham and Grantham) quite a bit. The surface is a bit variable and the path is quite narrow in places. It has annoying U shaped gates at every road junction, which means getting off and manhandling your bike around. Also quite inaccessible for wheelchair users, but at least it keeps motorbikes off it. I’d like to take our dog trailer with us, but I can’t as it won’t fit around the barriers. Can’t cycle with my granddaughter there either for the same reason.
I ride most places but like to include the Waddesdon Greenway if convenient.
I live near the Trans Pennine Trail so when I'm biking I'll jump on that. It feels a lot safer than the canal routes near me. I've yet to take it all the way into the Peaks but that is a goal of mine! I agree with those motorbike traps, they make areas such much less accessible to people and they don't even stop the motorbikes. Those modded E-bikes that do 30mph are even easier to get through. It would be great if they removed them all and then actually acted on reports but that's the least of the problems I have with the local bobbies and probably the least of theirs as well.
See a few of these issus on South Wales Sustrans routes. Access is limited to people that can lift a bike over a gate. A bit of a pay off between landowners restricting access to motorbikes but allowing walking and cycling to go through with a bit of effort. No chance would a wheelchair user or someone with limited mobility and a heavy e bike get through.
That’s interesting. I know from experience that I don’t have the upper body strength to lift my bike over a gate, so even among cyclists it would be the men who are largely favoured. I can see the landowners’ point of view, but I’m wondering how Sustans rationalises it under whatever policies it has for equality.
@@catw4729 sustrans can only do so much. The landowner has to be onside.
@@williammcintosh4787 I do appreciate that, but Sustans will have had to take various factors into account including its equality policy and its charitable purposes when deciding whether to go with that route. I’m not saying it was the wrong decision, it was more musing from a corporate governance perspective how they balanced various elements and what rationale they gave. It will have been (or least I trust it was) a difficult decision to come to.
@@catw4729 I don't think they have the legal clout to make landowners comply. They are reliant on good will to maximise access.
FIngerless gloves are a good idea. When you come off, your palms usually take the brunt of it.
I no longer use a bell, some times they're just not heard, I say Good morning, good afternoon or good evening, it seems politer and gets atttention.
Those gates on the cannal.....have been put there in the 1980s....when car and motorcycle theft was rife.....it's to stop people with motorcycles from dangerously blazing down the cannal path at 50
The Coastal pPath from Chester along the coast of Wales is a contentious subject with the Flintshire Council right now as a group of Mobility Scooter owners are petitioning and fighting to get the gates changed to something more appropriate. The biggest fear for tremoving them gates are motor vehicles. The Scrambler and stolen motorbiokes lot getting the fingers pointed at them.
Shame really.. the path from Chester to Colwyn bay is a great cycle path and passes a LOT of history en route. Worth a Cycle one day Ash. All flat and easy with no hills. Along the watershore nearly all the way. Few navigation challenges switching between trusting the maps or the signage posts (tip: Maps dont get turned to point the wrong direction by vandals). I'll be willing to cycle it with ya. I tow a little trailer with me so refreshments are never an issue (I do fresh tea brews as i go)
Perhaps you should do the same trip on a mobility scooter and see how you get on. see if you can get someone out to open the gate?.
My cycle route is mostly the Spen Valley and Calder Valley Greenways here in West Yorkshire, a lovely, mostly green space. The only thing that annoys me about riding on the shared paths is when a group of people split to opposite sides of the path and you have to weave your way through them, especially if one or more of them are with their dogs.
Spen Valley Greenway cyclist here... dog owners are the absolute worst. Most seem to think it's a dog park and let their mutts run loose and I've taken a fall thanks to one. Then you got the dog owners who don't bother cleaning up the inevitable dog faeces with a plastic bag and the one's who do, only do it because they are being watched... only to be flung into the bushes or just dumped in some faecal mound for some reason.
@@khalidacosta7133 TBF, there is far more horse muck on the Spen Valley Greenway than dog muck, though yes it is very annoying when I see people not cleaning up after their dogs.
I have had a few large dogs lunge at me, and I have had one fall as a result of that but most of the dog owners are considerate during the times that I ride.
Edinburgh to Glasgow is a good bit of canal too.
I was biking on the bike side of a footpath and I rang my bell to let lady know I was coming through as she was letting her dog smell the bushes on this side also , she just glared at me as if I was in the wrong I said thanks but was a misery! .
I remember once I saw one of these anti-cycling things on a 'permitted cycleway'.
I don't think someone would drive their motorbike out this far, it was quite far into the sticks. The nearest road was probably something like a kilometer away.
I guess it's to stop people driving motorbikes there, but what stops them from putting cameras down to give people fines for taking their motorbike down there?
6:33 top tip if you're trying to get a little bit fitter, is to ditch the e-bike! You'll probably be travelling at a safer speed for a canal towpath too, 25kph is a bit quick IMO.
Wheel chairs AND buggies? There used to be gates on tow paths around central Birmingham, fortunately now either locked open or removed. Canal & River Trust do not permit electric bikes & e-scooters on their property; no idea how or if they enforce it though. Nice to see you are warning other users you come from behind of your presence, too many don't. Only realise they are there when they whizz close by. BTW Ashley with the speed you ride tough gloves could save you major discomfort should you be unfortunate to come off. Palms of hands versus road surface or tow paths will not end well!!
I'd ride the canal path. Give me something to do lol.
There are some great ex railway paths near me
Sounds like your exhaust mounts or shocks are knocking a little bit 😁
Cars are not allowed on canal paths, except for certain authorized vehicles.
As an Active wheelchair user I'd love to spend hours like this..
But the amount of problems I would face I could only imagine...
I'm sure at some point I'd be stuck, because of said gates, steps, stupidly steep ramps cobbled paths to name a few..
Which is a shame as I'm absolutely surrounded by canals round here.
The path running beside the canal is the tow path, intended by the canal's original owner for use by horses or bargees walking to attend to their horse or to operate locks. They were not intended for cyclists (nor, given the rough surface of many towpaths, for wheel-chair users for that matter!). Cyclists using these towpaths put pedestrains at risk, a severe risk given the proximity of water. Polly Friedhoff, an 81 year old pedestrian was fatally injured at Iffley Lock on the Oxford Canal. All the cyclist did to mitigate the threat he posed was to ring his bell, clearly expecting an elderly lady to get out of his way. Cyclists generally need to improve their often lamentably behaviour both on and off road and complain less about how they are victimised.
Quite a bone-shaker your bike! Those towpaths are notoriously bumpy. I've cycled along the Aylesbury Arm a number of times and that has improved a little over the years but further out into the countryside it's just grass. As for dealing with other people most are not a problem. The only issue I have is with people who wear earbuds and can't hear you ringing the bell. I recently had that when some bloke was in front and I must have rang four times and he still didn't hear me. In the end I just picked a safe spot and passed.
The Aylesbury arm can become almost impassable in the winter, so narrow and rough in places one could easily end up in the canal.
“Teach by example.”
No, canal paths are not for everyone, legally. They are privately owned, and the owner of the majority of the canal network - the CRT - has a POLICY of allowing cyclists where possible but that is an owner policy, not a user right.
Many canal towpaths aren't suitable for disabled access - I am thinking of the ones where bank collapses or overgrown hedges are present meaning that even navigating along them by foot is challenging.
Also, since towpaths aren't highways, the Highway Code does not apply on a towpath. The actual code that applies depends on the owner - since in most cases that is the CRT, their Towpath Code applies.
So if you head onto that path from Melling Road in a wheelchair or mobility scooter, you have to turn around when you reach Wango Lane?
That is diabolical as is the state of the path between Wango Lane and Spencers Lane
No way is this a “path for all to use”, just like when they let all the greenery take over meaning it is difficult to walk let alone cycle or be in a wheelchair or have a pushchair
The bell is great if you're not deaf. I don't mean that flippantly, I witnessed an incident with a police car and a deaf woman. The bobby wasn't best pleased because she didn't move when he blasted his siren in̈ Bold Street Liverpool .Talk about embarrassing.
Thanks Ashley
You're welcome, Andrew. :)
That sounds like a bag of spanners.
It does, I would have to do something about it.
That early section of the canal path is awful; it's really for a MTB, and not a road bike as I've done recently. Two similar motorcycle traps have recently been replaced on the Cheshire Lines path down by Sefton Lane.
My wife is a full time wheelchair user and it’s not just canal paths she’s not welcome to use. You would be surprised at how many places she is deterred from visiting. 🚫
Those width restrictions are there to discourage cycling. They do not stop motorbikes, but they do stop wheelchairs, cargo bikes, hand cycles and the like. They are there as a disincentive for cycling, forcing more people into cars. It's a shame that councils and the Canal-Riverside Trust insist on installing these expensive deterrents. I'm sure more people would cycle if they were not there. Riding canal paths for my commute is a joy - only these barriers spoil it.
Just needs a gate that latches imo. Wouldn't stop motorbikes but would reduce
I started wearing gloves at about the same time I started wearing a helmet - an for the same reason.
The barriers are clearly behind the times and they are a throw back to a fairly recenr time when the path was intended for pedestrians and not really cyclists. I think the laws which permit cyclists and pedestrians to share the same path need to catch up a bit with the state of the actual paths in question. Specially if they still have barriers in place to stop cyclists using the path like the one which Ashley had to struggle through near the beginning of this video. Obviously the barrier is meant to stop bad cyclists and probably motor bikers using the path , bombing down it at unsafe speeds and knocking down walkers and unsuspecting people out for a nice leisurely stroll with Fido.
I’d be interested in riding the towpath for charity. I raise money by doing bike fits for Kayleigh’s Wee Stars and this would be good for that, too.
Nothing like taking your tin can collection for an afternoon cycle.
Yes, those motorbike-blocking gates are hideous, and they don't even work that well on motorbikes! For someone like me, who rides a recumbent trike, it'll be a no-go, as my trike doesn't even fit through a doorway (not quite, anyway), and these kinds of cycles are considered as adaptive cycles, especially for those with disabilities. I read a news article of a man, I think he was up your way, who won a case of discrimination against the council, after they installed bollards on his usual triking route, blocking him from using the route. I'll try and find the article, if I do, I'll link it as a reply to this comment.
That reminds me, Ashley, I emailed you offering you a ride on my recumbent trike quite a while ago, I'm not sure whether you've seen it, it's in a queue for you to see, or it hasn't reached you for some reason. Anyway, I'm Milton Keynes based, and ride an ICE Sprint X Tour e-assisted automatically geared recumbent tadpole trike. You're more than welcome to give it a spin. I thought it might make for an interesting feature video.
I would rather cycle on roads than cannal too bumpy but i use road bike
Zoë’s Hospice would greatly appreciate funds for their new building I’m sure
Sankey Valley in St Helens is accessible to all, sadly there are those antisocial riding round on motorbikes illegally
Are there any channels you'd recommend for sane biking advice/education? Yours is good but I could do with a greater volume of content.
Motorbike Inhibitor barriers are fine in a wheelchair. Your camera angle makes it look thinner.
They are not canal footpaths, they are canal towpaths, you should be able to get at least a pony pulling a narrow boat along them
These barriers that limit access for disabled, are all unlawful. Action must be taken by an affected individual, and ultimately through a court. You're always going to win, and it can be a relatively easy process if you're not after big money and use the small claims court. The courts have previously decided that a minimum compensation payment to the affected person is £12,000. In practice going through a "proper" court is costly and a hassle. Claims for discrimination are usually done through the small claims court which has a claim limit of £10,000 . You'll need to put up 10% of what you claiming to to start the case, but you get it back if you win. The defending party, especially a council, will try to delay and ignore you, right up the the day of the case, when they will nearly always settle with you out of court and remove the barrier. They won't accept blame state it was a blunder by another party.
only a help to know this if you have time and a spare grand I guess ... Rolls Eyes
@@Psylaine64 You don't have claim for £10,000 with the upfront £1000 court fee. If your aim is to simply get the gate removed using the Small Claims process you can claim a small amount. Minimum court fee is £35 which limits your claim to £300. You'll get that £35 back if you win. And you should win as the issue has "case law" stating the gates discriminate.
@@jasskurn2173 thanks for that! Its definitely interesting information
Unfortunately, Ash, I'm right down South in Hampshire, but if you do do a charity ride make sure to advertise it and I'll gladly donate, as I'm sure hundreds of others will.
I would not be able to put up with all that rattling noise from the bike
Ashley, you are riding a motorcycle in this video.
Ken, no he's not. If you're going by the speed then clever you isn't so clever. It's in km/h....
Beware of 🏇🏇🏇 on the Melling Road.
where is the 70ft barge?
Canal paths are a great means of a to b.
Never any problems from cyclists when out walking the dog.
The barge is still being transported and is stuck somewhere on the M62 😁
Has the gate got a Radar Key lock?
Looked like there was a chain and padlock around it
Simple the antisocial just goes to a Timpsons for a radar key
I can see why the access to the tow path is restricted to prevent cyclists bombing out across the road but also to prevent motor bikers using the tow path, who could be a menace. But, as you say the type of access precludes the use of wheelchairs, push chairs and mobility scooters as well as what the tow path was designed for and can still be legitimately used for, which is horses. The Canal and River Trust, who operate the canals clearly state that there should be access for all and that the tow paths are particularly suitable for disabled people - hypocrisy or what?
Some towpaths are certainly wheelchair accessible, but many, especially outside of cities are not surfaced at all. Many are very overgrown with weeds and little more than a muddy narrow track. I often cycle down the canal towpath, but my usual route is not suitable during the winter as it becomes unrideable on the road bike.
@@shm5547 Here in rural West Leics we have well used canal networks that are very popular and whilst some of the tow paths are as you say, they are still extensively used by wheel chairs, pushchairs and mobility scooters. Fortunately, we don't have the problem with anti-social youths as I suspect the Liverpool section of the canal has.
What did they do? Plough that pavement?
Unfortunately there has been a few incidents on tow paths when cyclists have been pushed in the canal
i wouldn't like to ride that in the dark …
I noticed the trap metalwork you went through had been adjusted by a sensible person to provide a gap you could push a bike through. That setup is in its original form disgusting. Downright dangerous for, say, a recumbent, or a cargo bike or tricycle. Effectively it limits access to the fit and strong only. But that seems to be the way access in general is heading, despite the pretence of lip service.
Ashley did you need new filings in your teeth after this ride?
A real cyclist would shave those arms... Think about all that wind drag 😂
I know it's not relevant really, but that is the poorest condition canal path I've ever seen
Whete is your bell?
Pedestrian's please stop being surprised by cyclist who have been using their bell for the last 50 metres or so and the we have to shout, so Pedestrian's please accept the path is for all
Next to my right hand. Where's your glasses?
with a wheelchair or with a pushchair, they couldn't get through.