The charity making life better by water

Better towpaths for everyone

Find out how we intend to encourage safe, responsible use of the nation’s towpaths through our Better Towpaths for Everyone policy.

walkers, a cyclist, angler and boater on the Grand Union Canal

We're delighted that more and more people are using our towpaths and discovering the peaceful pleasures to be enjoyed along our canals and rivers.

In 2014 we ran a two-month consultation process which saw over 2,000 people from a wide range of backgrounds and interests give their views about how the towpaths should be used. Three main things were clear from the results that towpath visitors wanted to see:

  • better infrastructure (such as access to the towpaths)**
  • better signage**
  • better behaviour from everyone**

Our Share the Space, Drop your Pace campaign has come about because of this research and the fact that sometimes we all need a bit of a reminder to keep our good manners, good behaviour and respect when enjoying the waterways.

Last Edited: 15 September 2023

photo of a location on the canals
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