6 MPH Speed Limit on the Union Canal?

After complaints about speeding cyclists British waterways impose a
6mph speed limit on all users of the towpath.

That will mean no jogging then?

Sounds like them just washing their hands of any liability should a
ped be injured by a cyclist. The 6mph limit is of course
unenforceable.

http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/...ind.3696531.jp

Iain

"iarocu" wrote in message
...
After complaints about speeding cyclists British waterways impose a
6mph speed limit on all users of the towpath.

That will mean no jogging then?

Sounds like them just washing their hands of any liability should a
ped be injured by a cyclist. The 6mph limit is of course
unenforceable.

One comment was "How will we tell if we're breaking the speed limit since we
don't have speedometers". The answer is of course unless it's uphill, you're
doing 6mph. And canals are flat.

cheers,
clive

On 31 Jan, 20:01, iarocu wrote:
After complaints about speeding cyclists British waterways impose a
6mph speed limit on all users of the towpath.

That will mean no jogging then?

No running ahead of the boat to open the lock gates either.

In article 65effaef-e715-48d8-9c0c-056d0bb465e8
@e4g2000hsg.googlegroups.com, says...
On 31 Jan, 20:01, iarocu wrote:
After complaints about speeding cyclists British waterways impose a
6mph speed limit on all users of the towpath.

That will mean no jogging then?

No running ahead of the boat to open the lock gates either.

Not a problem.

Nicknamed the Mathematical River, the Union Canal has no locks and stays
at the same height from start to finish.

--
Cheers,
Mark

Mark wrote:
In article 65effaef-e715-48d8-9c0c-056d0bb465e8
@e4g2000hsg.googlegroups.com, says...
On 31 Jan, 20:01, iarocu wrote:
After complaints about speeding cyclists British waterways impose a
6mph speed limit on all users of the towpath.

That will mean no jogging then?
No running ahead of the boat to open the lock gates either.

Not a problem.

Nicknamed the Mathematical River, the Union Canal has no locks and stays
at the same height from start to finish.

At the finish at Falkirk if you want to join the Forth and Clyde Canal,
you had to use a set of locks until they built the wheel.

--
Don Whybrow

Sequi Bonum Non Time

"The POP3 server service depends on the SMTP server service,
which failed to start because of the following error: The
operation completed successfully." (Windows NT Server v3.51)

On 1 Feb, 16:24, Mark wrote:
In article 65effaef-e715-48d8-9c0c-056d0bb465e8
@e4g2000hsg.googlegroups.com, says... On 31 Jan, 20:01, iarocu wrote:
After complaints about speeding cyclists British waterways impose a
6mph speed limit on all users of the towpath.

I have ridden this towpath a lot, usually doing about 20-25kph as part
of a commute from Livingston to the Gyle. I have a bell, good lights
and slow down and sound the bell at 'pinch points' such as the bridges
etc. In doing this I keep a car off the road and save quite a lot of
CO2, but I have to be able to go reasonably fast. 6mph is about 9.5
kmph so abiding by the speed limit will mean that a journey that
currently takes about an hour will take nearly 2.5 - far too long to
fit into a working day's routine.

I have always managed to greet pedestrians cheerfully and avoid any
serious incidents. The ones that are most difficult to deal with are
joggers with their walkmans on. It's not uncommon for them to be
running 3 abreast taking up the full width of the track. I have
dinged, shouted and waved - they are oblivious. Even slowing to their
pace (6mph?) and shouting again still doesn't get through to some, the
only option being to tap them on the shoulder (which makes them jump).
Their usual response is "blinking biker" (or words similar and staring
with an "f".)

I have also been chased by dogs (they easily exceed 6 mph) either
because they weren't under control or in one case because the human
thought that it was OK to encourage them. Oh and in case I forget to
mention it there is an old guy who haunts the stretch after the
aquaduct and before Armondell park who turns to face you and actively
seeks to stand in your way. (It may be the effects of his Buckfast).

The 6 mph is daft - consideration BY ALL users FOR ALL users is what
is required.

wrote:

On 1 Feb, 16:24, Mark wrote:
In article 65effaef-e715-48d8-9c0c-056d0bb465e8
@e4g2000hsg.googlegroups.com, says... On 31 Jan,
20:01, iarocu wrote:
After complaints about speeding cyclists British waterways impose a
6mph speed limit on all users of the towpath.

I have ridden this towpath a lot, usually doing about 20-25kph as part
of a commute from Livingston to the Gyle.

As a matter of interest, what's your route from Livingston to the canal
(presumably you join it at Broxburn?) Would it be suitable for an
occasional cyclist? My sister does the opposite commute, lives near the
canal in Edinburgh, and would benefit from getting out of her car more
often.

--
(Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; Want to know what SCO stands for?
;; http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20030605

On 3 Feb, 11:47, Simon Brooke wrote:
wrote:
On 1 Feb, 16:24, Mark wrote:
In article 65effaef-e715-48d8-9c0c-056d0bb465e8
@e4g2000hsg.googlegroups.com, says... On 31 Jan,
20:01, iarocu wrote:
After complaints about speeding cyclists British waterways impose a
6mph speed limit on all users of the towpath.

Here's the Scottish division email address


I suggest you report people, dogs, motorcyclists etc exceeding the 6
mph speed limit every time you see them - it is your civic duty to do
so!

On 3 Feb, 16:58, "
wrote:
On 3 Feb, 11:47, Simon Brooke wrote:

wrote:
On 1 Feb, 16:24, Mark wrote:
In article 65effaef-e715-48d8-9c0c-056d0bb465e8
@e4g2000hsg.googlegroups.com, says... On 31 Jan,
20:01, iarocu wrote:
After complaints about speeding cyclists British waterways impose a
6mph speed limit on all users of the towpath.

Here's the Scottish division email address


I suggest you report people, dogs, motorcyclists etc exceeding the 6
mph speed limit every time you see them - it is your civic duty to do
so!


HUM - did that come out? enquiries [dot] scotland [at] and so on.

"Simon Brooke" wrote in message
...

As a matter of interest, what's your route from Livingston to the canal
(presumably you join it at Broxburn?) Would it be suitable for an
occasional cyclist? My sister does the opposite commute, lives near the
canal in Edinburgh, and would benefit from getting out of her car more
often.

The route I always use is to come off just before the first bridge after the
Almond Dell aqueduct (about a mile before Broxburn), follow the farm road
(metalled, but a little bumpy, but then again, better than the canal path,
which is only metalled up to Wester Hailes, hardpack thereafter, and at this
time of year a trifle squidgy under the trees) till it meets the minor road,
joining by going straight on, then go straight on along this road, no turn
offs, but a few intersections to cross. It brings you into Livingston at
Pumpherston, where you can easily join the Trans-Livingston expressway
(okay, bike path).

Quiet country roads, no serious gradients.

pOB