Ware Online Forum

Reply ID 5153

kenripper here's a bit more towpath etiquette. If your walking with your dog & meet another dog walker wish them "Good Morning" but if you pass them again later on the towpath without the dog, of course you must blank them just as they will blank you! [;)]

Reply ID 5166

I cycle along the towpath from Hertford into Ware every morning and meet lots of startled rabbits (adults, children dogs). when I ring my bell they do not respond hence leading to nearly squashed dogs people and children. I now know why! Its because I am a cyclist and you lot blank us! Lets all try smiling and keeping on the left for safety and harmonious towpath activity.

Reply ID 5176

Haha! you've made me chuckle again this morning. When I cycle along there I find that a standard cheery "hello there" with a smile is suited to all times of the day, particularly to reassure the startled lone walkers. "What a lovely dog" brings proud grins to the dog walkers, as I love dogs and they usually are. I tend to use quite a sullen "alright" to fellow cyclists, displaying only a half smile (as I like to make out that I too take my cycling very, very, very seriously..) "Any luck?" will absolutely guarantee you a response from any fishermen. I find that joggers tend to get the same as the cyclists, because excersise is all very serious stuff. You are right about seeing the same people elsewhere than the towpath Kenripper, blanking is best.

Reply ID 5222

I find when I cycle on the towpath that most walkers think that you have grown horns and a tail and are the devil himself doesnt matter if you use a bell or "say excuse me and thanks" as you pass they still "tut" and glare and look like they want to string you up and burn your bike not matter how nice you are. What else can we do ??

Reply ID 5223

I have been known to jog along the towpath and always try to say 'morning' to anyone I stagger past. It's not always easy as I'm normally struggling to breathe at all! The towpath etiquette also applies to horse riders (although mostly on roads), only the tutters tend to be car drivers who believe they own the roads and neglect to remember that the horse was there first!

Reply ID 5224

When the towpath between Ware and Hertford was first tarmacked, about 10 years ago I think, it was hailed as a new "Cycle Path". If this is the case, who does have right of way? On a footpath, it's the pedestrian, so, on a cycle path, it's the cyclist isn't it?

Reply ID 5225

The thing that cracks me up is if you are on your bike and u ring your bell the walkers moan u scared them and if you slow down and say excuse me then the say why dont you use your bell. No i do neither and just kick em into the river [:D]

Reply ID 5247

This cycle path sounds like a horrendous place. Why don't you drive to Hertford instead, or better still don't bother going to Hertford at all.

Reply ID 5255

its a cycle path . walkers ( with dogs ) should be more considerate to those racing their bikes.

Reply ID 5261

I have just started walking along the towpath. In my experience as a new walker, the cyclists rarely ring their bells or do anything to attract the attention of walkers which is why walkers glare at them. I have developed a nice little glare myself! And for the record the tow path has been there for a long time. It was upgrade a few years ago and hailed as the new cycle path because the local authority wanted to encourage cycling in the county. So walkers were there first!

Reply ID 5262

I often go along the towpath on my bike, I've no issue with the 'walkers' it's the people that let their dogs roam free I have a problem with. Many a time I've had to take evasive action and on one occasion nearly ended up in the river because a dog jumped out! I have also had the pleasure of having to extract dog mess from my tyres, not nice.

Reply ID 5264

It comes down to that "manners" thing again, that so many people just don't understand. I've just got in from a super walk from the secret "Ware Castle", all down through to Hertford Lock Cottage and back along the tow path to Ware with my giant black labrador. But whenever I could see a cyclist coming I'd call him to heel or make him sit on the path until they had passed. Simple tow path etiquette.

Reply ID 5275

According to the front page of the Broxbourne Mercury, the correct etiquette in the Wormley area is: You and your son cycle past a group of 11-14 year olds and they greet you with "Ha Ha, old man on his bicycle" You reply fondly "Who said that?" They then throw you and your son in the river and beat you with wooden sticks as you try to get out. At this point a jogger helps you to get out as the youths run off. There is no mention of fishermen, dogs, or whether or not the bicycle had a bell, so I can't help on those aspects of this topic. Looks like you have some way to go around Ware to match that approach.[:)]

Reply ID 5279

Well think this debate could go on forever with the walkers and bikes having different opinions. But here is another of my moans as a biker (no leather or handlebar mustashe honest!) When u cycle in pairs in you dare to cycle side by side you get one of the famous galres and tuts so me and my missus cycle single file but the waklkers dont crae how of them there are if there are four of them togehter the string themselves all the way across the path so you cant get by without the bell or the excuseme and then its another tut and glare !!! Please walkers give us some room

Reply ID 5284

It's pretty obvious that cyclists should give way to walkers. If you want to cycle fast, then go by road mate!!!