Re: Bright lights

Danny Colyer said:

Quoted message said:

BW requires cyclists to have a permit to cycle along towpaths

Stevie D said:

Even where they are part of the NCN? How are cyclists supposed to know
that?

I've known for so long that I really can't remember how I know. ISTR it
was well publicised about 10 years ago.

I *believe* there are frequent signs along the local towpaths mentioning
the permit requirement, but I've done very little towpath riding in the
years since the permit requirement was introduced and am not at all sure
of that.

--
Danny Colyer <URL:http://www.colyer.plus.com/danny/>
Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

Danny Colyer said the following on 06/11/2006 21:03:

Quoted message said:

I *believe* there are frequent signs along the local towpaths mentioning
the permit requirement, but I've done very little towpath riding in the
years since the permit requirement was introduced and am not at all sure
of that.

Accepting the fact that as it's their towpath, they can ask for a permit
if they want, what does this permit actually achieve for the cost of
administering it?

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

On Tue, 07 Nov 2006 08:05:00 +0000, Paul Boyd

usenet.dont.work@plusnet said:

Danny Colyer said the following on 06/11/2006 21:03:

Quoted message said:

I *believe* there are frequent signs along the local towpaths mentioning
the permit requirement, but I've done very little towpath riding in the
years since the permit requirement was introduced and am not at all sure
of that.

Accepting the fact that as it's their towpath, they can ask for a permit
if they want, what does this permit actually achieve for the cost of
administering it?

Presumably the ability to withdraw permission should they so wish.
Stops the towpath becoming a right of way.

Tim

Paul Boyd wondered:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Accepting the fact that as it's their towpath, they can ask for a permit
if they want, what does this permit actually achieve for the cost of
administering it?

and Tim Hall responded:

Quoted message said:

Presumably the ability to withdraw permission should they so wish.
Stops the towpath becoming a right of way.

In the mid 90s they were reportedly planning to start charging for
permits, but that was successfully campaigned against.

I can see two benefits to the permit scheme. Of benefit to all towpath
users, it should increase the proportion of towpath cyclists who have at
least /read/ the Waterways Code. If you get your permit by post, it
will arrive with a copy of the code. If you download a permit then you
agree to follow the Waterways Code and will hopefully follow the link to
the code at <url:http://www.waterscape.com/cycling/permit.html>

Of benefit specifically to cyclists, if you were to encounter another
towpath user (probably an angler) who decided to whinge about bloody
cyclists getting in the way on towpaths and expecting anglers to move
their rods, complaining that you really shouldn't be there, then I
imagine it would be quite satisfying to simply present a permit.

In the early days of permits they were plastic tags that were supposed
to be attached to the handlebar. They were a PITA to carry and I never
used to bother. Last time I downloaded a permit (probably about 3 years
ago) it was simply (after printing and cutting out) a 7x5.5cm piece of
paper that is no problem to keep permanently in my wallet.

Given that it can be downloaded and that that's how most people will get
them, the administration costs ought to be minimal.

--
Danny Colyer <URL:http://www.colyer.plus.com/danny/>
Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

Danny Colyer said the following on 07/11/2006 10:45:

Quoted message said:

I can see two benefits to the permit scheme. Of benefit to all towpath
users, it should increase the proportion of towpath cyclists who have at
least /read/ the Waterways Code. If you get your permit by post, it
will arrive with a copy of the code. If you download a permit then you
agree to follow the Waterways Code and will hopefully follow the link to
the code at <url:http://www.waterscape.com/cycling/permit.html>

I didn't know there was a Waterways Code! (but I don't use towpaths
either.) I was vaguely aware that a permit was needed, so by drawing
attention to the Code, there's the benefit. Thanks for answering that bit!

Quoted message said:

Of benefit specifically to cyclists, if you were to encounter another
towpath user (probably an angler) who decided to whinge about bloody
cyclists getting in the way on towpaths and expecting anglers to move
their rods, complaining that you really shouldn't be there, then I
imagine it would be quite satisfying to simply present a permit.

What is it with anglers that makes them whinge when you ask them to move
the expensive pole they've got stretched right across the path? Having
seen the price of these poles, you would have thought they'd be whipped
out of the way at the first sight of a walker or cyclist. Anyway,
where's the skill in catching fish by dangling the bait right under
their noses????

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Paul Boyd said:

What is it with anglers that makes them whinge when you ask them to move
the expensive pole they've got stretched right across the path? Having
seen the price of these poles, you would have thought they'd be whipped
out of the way at the first sight of a walker or cyclist. Anyway,
where's the skill in catching fish by dangling the bait right under
their noses????

It is the pride the fisherman feels in pitting himself against an equal
opponent. 🙂

David

Sirius631 wrote on 07/11/2006 13:53 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Paul Boyd said:

Anyway,
where's the skill in catching fish by dangling the bait right under
their noses????

It is the pride the fisherman feels in pitting himself against an equal
opponent. 🙂

Which excludes picking on fish their own size ;-)

--
Tony

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

Tim Hall said:

Presumably the ability to withdraw permission should they so wish.
Stops the towpath becoming a right of way.

Do people walking/fishing/etc... on the towpath need a permit as well?

--
Don Whybrow

Sequi Bonum Non Time

Some people have one of those days. I have one of those lives.