I met a jolly pleasant and considerate cyclist today. Just the one.
I also met a lot of selfish, thoughtless, ignorant gits that think anyone and everyone using a towpath should leap immediately out of their way. They couldn't have had those new fangled brakes fitted because they don't appear to be able to slow down let alone come to a halt. Mooring up today on the York Street visitor moorings at Stourport, wind blowing the boat away from the bank type of day, and I had cyclists weaving around me and the ropes to get past. I couldn't step back to pull the boat into the side because some middle aged tosspot was determined to ride his 'mountain bike' along the path come hell or high water and some silly boater wasn't going to impede him.
I said nothing, but I seethed.
I am beginning to loath the sight of bicycles and I bet I am not alone.
12 comments:
Here, here. Heard a story last year about a chap who was trying to moor his boat when a cyclist started 'ding, dinging' - he stayed where he was and said 'You can ding ding all you bloody like, I'm holding 20 tons of narrowboat here so you can just f*****g well wait until I've tied up! And guess what - he did!!!
See you soon.
Pip xxx
Pip
A similar thing happened to us last spring near Cosgrove. We are mooring, two lots of ropes across the towpath as we pull Caxton in when a cyclist hammers down towards us - Joe, for it was Joe that the cyclist encountered initially, 'explained' that if he didn't stop/wait then he would lose his head as the rope decapitated him. He waited but with some reluctance and as he passed there was a foul mouthed comment. But who served us in the Pub that night? Yes, the same fouled mouthed biker - "A word please" I said and explained to him the error of his ways, politely of course...
Lesley
Lesley,
I spent a night on York Street moorings recently and was amazed at the speed that cyclists came past in what is a fairly restricted area - and I speak as a cyclist as well as a boater. The behaviour of other cyclists on roads as well as towpaths frequently appals me.
Jim
What about cycling narrowboaters? Do they get shot?
Lisa (Amanda's friend)
Lesley, you forgot the best of it, that bloody cyclist was also a bridge hopper.
See you very soon
G.
Hi Lisa
I really don't want to shoot anyone, I would rather that there was a little more consideration, patience and simple manners really. I cycle on the tow path and I appreciate that it is a pleasant and safe place to exercise. But, too many cyclists seem to think that they are higher up the evolutionary pole than the rest of us and have a right to go through NOW.
Best wishes with the new boat.
Lesley
Hi Jim
To a cyclist the 'towpath' is now a 'cycleway' so of course they appear to feel that anyone else using the 'cycleway' shouldn't be there - not easily resolved.
Lesley
Hi Graham
You are right - see you soon!
Lesley
No you're right, shooting is a bit stiff. This will amuse you though, a couple of years ago I was sent on ahead to the next lock, the four of us as usual.... and I nearly jumped out of my skin as I was overtaken by a micro motor bike who was going like the clappers, well he went over a tiny lump of grass, wobbled like mad and then fell in. Great sight!!!
Perhaps hooligans could simply be pushed in?
Lisa
Totally agree re cyclists, here in OZ
they obey none of the road rules and every now and again have a mass protest and completely block off the Harbour bridge because they want more rights.....
We now have a blog going if you are interested.
http://nbthemanlyferry.blogspot.com/
Paul
You are now on my blog list!
Lesley
Lisa
I think pushing them in might catch on - just have to be a bit discreet about how one goes about it. LEt me know when you get your first one!
Lesley
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