I REFER to the letter in SAM of July 16 issue where your letter writer had an unfortunate altercation with a cyclist on the Bridgewater Canal towpath.

He concluded by saying he may not venture onto the towpath again, however I would encourage him not to take this approach.

It is just what ill-mannered cyclists of this kind would be happy to see which would allow them to treat the route like a velodrome.

There were always going to be problems when cyclists were given a better quality surface and permission to use the route which previously had been enjoyed officially only by walkers.

There has to be some give and take but, given the greater vulnerability of pedestrians, its the cyclists who should be doing a lot of the giving.

Many are now sporting bells on their bikes and this is a useful development to be encouraged but curbing speed and giving plenty of time for pedestrians - and in many cases their dogs - to react to their presence is what is required.

Sustrans has made a big play on opening up the towpath to cyclists - maybe it should also be monitoring the behaviour of its brethren and helping to reduce the frequency of incidents of the type you have highlighted here.

John Weightman

Brookfield Avenue

Timperley