Regent’s Canal towpath row

[Martin Megson]

A very interesting debate and having just cycled Regents Canal yesterday I believe the real issue is not the form of transport be it walking, jogging or cycling, but the attitude the individuals. I had a generally enjoyable ride and was travelling only slightly above walking pace as I wanted to enjoy the view. The joggers tended to pass me and the majority of pedestrians moved over after a couple of rings of the bell. There were a few problems: One group of joggers coming towards me were so busy chatting they almost ran straight into me. A few walkers with earphones were oblivious to me but I just slowed and eased past, one elderly couple coming toward me remained side-by-side so I just stopped in the middle of the towpath and they had to go around me, and one dog chased me and grabbed my foot - much to the horror of its owner. Fortunately, I was in a relaxed mood out to enjoy a leisurely day and the need to stop occasionally was not a great inconvenience. However, if that was my daily commute my attitude would have been very different and perhaps that is the problem - the towpath was never intended to carry heavy traffic. Perhaps we should think about the original towpath users, overtaking while towing a boat would be virtually impossible and passing one coming towards you would require considerable cooperation to avoid a tangle of horses and boats.

 

Here's to life in the slow lane

Edited January 23, 2012 by Meggers

[PeteWood]

On June 1st 2012 Hackney Council posted some (discreet) notices giving its intention to turn the Regents Canal Towpath into a Dog Control Zone. In other words, your dog must now be on a lead, or you face a £80 fine.

 

This is a consultation notice, which will finish on the 2nd July 2012. Unless people speak up, then dogs will only be allowed on the towpath on a lead.

 

Hackney has recently employed a large number of dog wardens and, having spoken to the 'Greenspace' department, the council employees made it clear that, following a number of complaints made by members of the public about the amount of dog pooh on the towpath, unless a miracle happens, the Tow Path Dog Control Zone will be enforced.

 

I am a cyclist and a dog owner. Many of you will know me (I own two chocolate Labradors which run alongside me, as I cycle between Islington and Victoria Park). The tow path is the one place my dogs and I can move along at about 6 miles an hour. Those who know me (and my dogs) will know that this human and his canine pals carry out this daily exercise to burn off the flab.....

 

My concern is this. I have had a few close calls with respect to colliding with other people’s dogs. But I have to say, as someone who classes themself as a fairly experienced cyclist, it is always the dog which has been responsible for avoiding any accident – and not me. My bike skills, and disc brakes, are no substitute for a dog’s peripheral vision and lightning reactions.

 

However, the two actual accidents I have had, have been when I collided with a dog owner's retractable lead. Once I ended up in the canal, and once I was flung head-first onto a cafe table. Those retractable leads are the biggest selling item in the shop, according to the manager of my local PetSmart.

 

All I ask is that, as a boat owner, cyclist, dog owner (or combination of), that you write (whatever your opinion) to:

 

enforcementsupport@hackney.gov.uk

 

I confess, though, I am interested in your views.....

[Grace and Favour]

Learn to jog with your dogs (on a lead/leads)- - it's possibly safer for you, probably safer for your dogs, and certainly safer for every other tow path user

 

 

 

 

 

(Edited to specify 'with leads')

Edited June 8, 2012 by Grace & Favour

[jenlyn]

Any dog on the towpath should be on a lead. I get fed up with unleashed dogs having a go at mine.

[dor]

Not only should dogs be on a lead in public places, there should be a maximum length, say 1.5m.

 

If you want to let your dogs run free, then you should make an arrangement with a private land owner.

 

Owning a dog comes with responsibilities.

 

 

[Athy]

 

This is a consultation notice, which will finish on the 2nd July 2012. Unless people speak up, then dogs will only be allowed on the towpath on a lead.

 

Very commendable. Would they consider extending this policy to cyclists?

[ditchcrawler]

As a dog owner, one that I think is reasonably behaved I see no problem have it on a lead in a public place. Our dogs soon learnt to get on the grass bank when a car came down the lane as we had to do it for the cars to pass, but they never learned to count, soil there were two cars they were ready to set off again after the first had passed. Then never got bike sense, they didn't chase of bother them but never thought they might need to get out of the way of them or not walk in front of them.

I have lost count of the number of strange dogs we have had "come to visit" on the boat uninvited when they know ours is on board. I don't get overly bothered by this as most of them a pleasant animals and there owners apologetic, but not all.

Dogs in public places, on leads.

[chazzy]

I walk my dog off a lead, but not past moored boats, he is a good dog but his good manners go when he smells food, he would be on a boat like a shot at the slightest whiff of bacon and eggs.lol I watch for other dog walkers, if their dog is on a lead I put my dog on a lead. I suppose my one hate is dogs left unattended on the towpath outside a moored boat

[sueb]

There is probably as much objection to your riding a bike on the towpath as for your dog being off the lead

[Athy]

Sensibly and considerately ridden bicycles on towpaths bother nobody - after all, plenty of us use them when "lock-wheeling". It's the senseless and inconsiderate bods who give the others a bad name.

[sueb]

In some places it is the number of cyclists. Lock wheelers are few in number.

[ditchcrawler]

Sensibly and considerately ridden bicycles on towpaths bother nobody - after all, plenty of us use them when "lock-wheeling". It's the senseless and inconsiderate bods who give the others a bad name.

Same with dog owners.

[carlt]

I suppose my one hate is dogs left unattended on the towpath outside a moored boat

Or the complete morons who boat along with their dog left to run, unattended, along the towpath.

[mayalld]

On June 1st 2012 Hackney Council posted some (discreet) notices giving its intention to turn the Regents Canal Towpath into a Dog Control Zone. In other words, your dog must now be on a lead, or you face a £80 fine.

 

Good. Better would be if the same rules applied on all towpaths

[Midnight Rider]

I walk the Staffie about 5 miles a day & use towpaths & woodland areas a lot. I would hate to see a complete ban on dogs running free.

 

The lead is always to hand & goes on when traffic uses the same path or if other dogs are approaching on leads.

 

It really does help with socialising a dog if they can run up to each other, play or decide which is the dominate one. However, before this can be done safely, the dog needs to be well trained & to come to the owner when called.

 

It would be a shame if because of the minority of bad dog owners, a 'leads only' policy was imposed in all public places.

[Grace and Favour]

I walk the Staffie about 5 miles a day & use towpaths & woodland areas a lot. I would hate to see a complete ban on dogs running free.

 

The lead is always to hand & goes on when traffic uses the same path or if other dogs are approaching on leads.

 

It really does help with socialising a dog if they can run up to each other, play or decide which is the dominate one. However, before this can be done safely, the dog needs to be well trained & to come to the owner when called.

 

It would be a shame if because of the minority of bad dog owners, a 'leads only' policy was imposed in all public places.

 

However - - whilst your dog may be perfectly behaved with other dogs, - those other dogs may not be so well behaved - and neither may they appreciate the (innocent) wish to play -

Similarly I have oft witnessed dog owners say to others - "Oh - my dog likes: 'Other dogs', 'cats', rabbits', birds' (etc etc) - but that doesn't mean that the other animals like/will tolerate the dog in question. - Trouble may well ensue.

 

I have seen beautifully behaved and obedient dogs involved in fracas - (because the other animals weren't so well trained!)

 

All dogs on towpaths / paths / pavements / roads should be on leads - irrespective of whether they are well-behaved or not.

[ChimneyChain]

I agree dogs should be on leads on paths / pavements but surely not on tow paths. Dogs need to stretch there legs too. Sometimes having a dod on a lead can do more harm than good. I see lots of owners yank there dog back when my dog goes up to say hello, you shouldnt do that cause that just tells the dog on the lead to "be on guard" thus making him more aggressive. From what I see where we are bikes don't slow down for dogs, children or the elderly they feel it's there right to come pass our boat flat out. The courtesy bell has seemed to disappear all together now. After all it's a path not a race track

 

Darren

[Midnight Rider]

I agree dogs should be on leads on paths / pavements but surely not on tow paths. Dogs need to stretch there legs too. Sometimes having a dod on a lead can do more harm than good. I see lots of owners yank there dog back when my dog goes up to say hello, you shouldnt do that cause that just tells the dog on the lead to "be on guard" thus making him more aggressive. From what I see where we are bikes don't slow down for dogs, children or the elderly they feel it's there right to come pass our boat flat out. The courtesy bell has seemed to disappear all together now. After all it's a path not a race track

 

Darren

Your'e quite right Darren. My Staffie was a rescue & I had to be very careful when I first started to socialise her. Now she just loves other dogs & the only time I have a problem is if she is on a lead in a confined space & another dog looms over her when she can't escape. Never had a problem otherwise, although I take care when I come across these 'toy' dogs.

[Chertsey]

Apologies if this has been covered, I can't read the whole thread, but lots of posts have referred to boaters cycling on the towpath and havingnpermits. I thought that a boatblicence effectively included a cycling permit. Pleas excuse iPad typing btw.

 

Now we have been travelling with the cat I have come to the conclusion that he doesn't need tomworry about dogs on thentowpath (they may need to worry about him), but thatbthe biggest riskntomhim is cyclists - he doesn'tbhear them and theybdon't seem to see him, or maybe they assume he will getnout of the way.

[bowten]

Apologies if this has been covered, I can't read the whole thread, but lots of posts have referred to boaters cycling on the towpath and havingnpermits. I thought that a boatblicence effectively included a cycling permit. Pleas excuse iPad typing btw.

 

Now we have been travelling with the cat I have come to the conclusion that he doesn't need tomworry about dogs on thentowpath (they may need to worry about him), but thatbthe biggest riskntomhim is cyclists - he doesn'tbhear them and theybdon't seem to see him, or maybe they assume he will getnout of the way.

Hmm,but there is a lot of gapsmissing istherenot.

[ditchcrawler]

Hmm,but there is a lot of gapsmissing istherenot.

I tend to miss the space bar as well.

[Grace and Favour]

I tend to miss the space bar as well.

 

[mayalld]

I agree dogs should be on leads on paths / pavements but surely not on tow paths. Dogs need to stretch there legs too. Sometimes having a dod on a lead can do more harm than good. I see lots of owners yank there dog back when my dog goes up to say hello, you shouldnt do that cause that just tells the dog on the lead to "be on guard" thus making him more aggressive. From what I see where we are bikes don't slow down for dogs, children or the elderly they feel it's there right to come pass our boat flat out. The courtesy bell has seemed to disappear all together now. After all it's a path not a race track

 

Darren

 

Ah, a classic post from the "I think the world should revolve around me" brigade.

 

A dog that is on a lead, when faced with a dog that is not on a lead will of course be on his guard, because he is faced with an unknown potential threat, and isn't in a position to defend himself if the occasion demands.

 

Why criticise the owner who holds his dog back when yours goes to say hello?

 

Try appreciating that if you weren't so selfish as to allow your dog to go up to say hello unchecked, the issue wouldn't arise.

 

Put it on a lead.

[ChimneyChain]

Ah, a classic post from the "I think the world should revolve around me" brigade.

 

A dog that is on a lead, when faced with a dog that is not on a lead will of course be on his guard, because he is faced with an unknown potential threat, and isn't in a position to defend himself if the occasion demands.

 

Why criticise the owner who holds his dog back when yours goes to say hello?

 

Try appreciating that if you weren't so selfish as to allow your dog to go up to say hello unchecked, the issue wouldn't arise.

 

Put it on a lead.

 

" The world should revolve around me" what an immature comment to make.

"A dog that is on a lead is faced with an unknown potential threat" of course he his because every time a dog tries to say hello he's yanked back by his selfish owner (thus increasing the dogs anger) who doesnt really know what goes on in a dogs mind. The standard way to train your dog is to let it socialise with other dogs. You will do more damage to your dog than I've done to mine. A dog should be off the lead to exercise and enjoy him self and his surroundings. In my experience owners who keep their dogs on a lead have trouble calling back the dog and generally keeping it under control and that's why they keep it on a lead because it's easier. By the way when if ever do you let your dog off a lead? how excited is your dog when you throw him a ball and he runs 2Ft to pick it up? How excited can your dog get when you throw a frisbee for him and he can only jump 8" off the ground to catch it?

Kept on a lead? Yes, at the roadside, but if you have taken the time to train and socialise your dog, let them enjoy the walk as much as you, off the lead.

 

Darren

[carlt]

Kept on a lead? Yes, at the roadside, but if you have taken the time to train and socialise your dog, let them enjoy the walk as much as you, off the lead.

 

My dogs are kept on a lead in confined narrow spaces where there is no room to avoid a dog that is not under control.

 

This includes towpaths where a dog that was allowed to "socialise" whilst not on a lead, bit my last dog's leg off.

 

If your dog approaches mine and is not on a lead then it will be removed from harm's way, after fair warning is given to you to remove it yourself.

 

I do not see why "Oh he just wants to say hello!" makes it okay for your dog, that I do not know, to get dangerously close to me or mine.

 

My dog is allowed off the lead in open spaces where there is plenty of room to socialise, or not if that is what the dogs or owners wish.