Re: Cyclepaths under threat - Save our Waterways

POHB said:

John Slee said:

Because cyclists don't pay anything towards the upkeep
of the waterways, it would be easy for BW to say that they can't afford
to repair potholes.

I don't believe BW maintain the towpaths purely for the benefit of
cyclists.
Also cyclists, boat-owners and tax-payers are not 3 discrete groups.
As a member of all 3 I pay my whack.

But yes, it is a disgrace that BW is being punished for the sins of
others.
Mind you, their attitude in selling off the family silver (forcing out
boatyards in favour of luxury waterside apartments) is disgraceful too.

There are other things that BW could have done to raise revenue. One
thing that boat owners are desperate for is more permanent domestic
mourings. If BW had built more marinas in popular spots, they could
have assigned more pitches as permanent mourings and gathered more
money in rents.

BTW, just how many of us actually have obtained the required towpath
license for cycling? When I eventually found the telephone number of
the right dept. in BW, they took my name and address and sent me a
form, onto which I had to write my name an address! When I sent it
back, I got nothing in return. Eventually they put the license on the
web, so I downloaded it and printed it out.

David Lloyd
The pub is responsible for my opinions.

Sirius631 wrote on 12/10/2006 13:17 +0100:

Quoted message said:

BTW, just how many of us actually have obtained the required towpath
license for cycling? When I eventually found the telephone number of
the right dept. in BW, they took my name and address and sent me a
form, onto which I had to write my name an address! When I sent it
back, I got nothing in return. Eventually they put the license on the
web, so I downloaded it and printed it out.

I did in the days when you had to write in for one and still do today
but, like you, by printing it off from the interweb.

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

Sirius631 said:

There are other things that BW could have done to raise revenue. One
thing that boat owners are desperate for is more permanent domestic
mourings. If BW had built more marinas in popular spots, they could
have assigned more pitches as permanent mourings and gathered more
money in rents.

ITYF they're already trying to do that:
http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/marinadevelopment/

Richard

Tony Raven said:

Sirius631 wrote on 12/10/2006 13:17 +0100:

Quoted message said:

BTW, just how many of us actually have obtained the required towpath
license for cycling? When I eventually found the telephone number of
the right dept. in BW, they took my name and address and sent me a
form, onto which I had to write my name an address! When I sent it
back, I got nothing in return. Eventually they put the license on the
web, so I downloaded it and printed it out.

I did in the days when you had to write in for one and still do today
but, like you, by printing it off from the interweb.

A long time ago I rented a bike for a day and, following the LBS
clerk's instructions, tried the local towpath from Bath to Bradford(?).
I did know that I was supposed to have a licence but never did find a
place to buy one. There was one deserted shed, about halfway along my
route that had a poster up offereng to sell licences.

John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

It has been suggested on another group that one way for cyclists to
show their support for the SAVE OUR WATERWAYS Campaign would be for
some
"to blockade where the towpath is used as a commuting route. I
nominate the exit from the back of Paddington Station to the towpath as
a prime case. Nice and easy for the media to get to as well. I suggest
that any blockade needs to be done by people who are themselves
cyclists, and readily visible as such. Lycra & helmets come to mind.
For pedestrians, especially in places like Paddington, I suggest a
leafleting session (backed up with some banners) would be more
productive,
and less likely to end in fisticuffs, than a blockade."

Any support for the idea? Have a look at www.saveourwaterways.org.uk

John Slee said:

It has been suggested on another group that one way for cyclists to
show their support for the SAVE OUR WATERWAYS Campaign would be for
some
"to blockade where the towpath is used as a commuting route. I
nominate the exit from the back of Paddington Station to the towpath as
a prime case. Nice and easy for the media to get to as well. I suggest
that any blockade needs to be done by people who are themselves
cyclists, and readily visible as such. Lycra & helmets come to mind.
For pedestrians, especially in places like Paddington, I suggest a
leafleting session (backed up with some banners) would be more
productive,
and less likely to end in fisticuffs, than a blockade."

Any support for the idea? Have a look at www.saveourwaterways.org.uk

A deathly hush ensued - is that because nobody cares or nobody thinks
they can actually affect the present government's plans?