London's first towpath ranger has started patrolling the capital's British Waterways canals after 10 collisions in the past year between speeding cyclists and pedestrians.

Joseph Young, who is well-placed to do the task having worked as both an antisocial behaviour officer for a housing company and as a volunteer for a cycling charity, said: "Speeding cyclists are giving other riders a bad name, so part of my role is to educate these few and encourage other users to share the towpath amicably."

Two mornings a week, and on the day I met him, Joseph is up early to greet commuters on their way to work. He stations himself at various points along the canal, from 7.30am-9.30am, giving a friendly but firm warning to those who are cycling too fast or too close to walkers.

"Sometimes I find myself chasing after people to get them to slow down," he said. "At that time, it's still pretty dark so there's more chance of an accident happening."

But there's no danger of frightening unwary cyclists, as Joseph wears a bright blue jacket emblazoned with his title 'Towpath Ranger'.

He explains: "Nobody can really miss you when you're wearing this jacket. I'm finding people are starting to recognise me when I'm out and about now."

During our hours together, he attended a meeting in Park Royal at 11am to discuss the role he will play in a summer fair to be held there next year. He then ventured to Little Venice and we cycled together to the Lisson Green Estate, in Lisson Grove, at 2.30pm.

Even at that time of day, it was freezing and starting to get dark. Joseph told me that the towpath opposite the estate cannot be used by cyclists as they would disturb people living in house boats. He is planning to create a new route for cyclists running outside the estate, although he has met with some opposition from residents.

He explained: "Some people think children might run out from the estate into the path of an oncoming bike. But we'd make it very safe with a fence in between the estate and the path, and put up clear signs saying it was for cyclists."

Our next stop, at around 3.30pm, was a little further down the towpath, near Westminster Academy in Harrow Road, Westbourne Green.

Joseph had received complaints from cyclists that a barrier can't be seen easily in the dark, so he plastered up some reflective tape on the offending chicane.

Joseph - who is the 'first of his kind' - has some ideas planned for the coming months. They include starting 'walk to school' scheme, with pupils around North Paddington and North Kensington.

He adds: "Another idea I've had is that I want to spruce up some of the bridges. I'd like to get some graffiti artists involved, to hopefully engage with some young people in the area."

I leave Joseph to get back to his duties, patrolling more than 100 miles of towpaths single-handedly. The only bad points of the job, he says, are the cold weather and dark winter afternoons, but this is far out-weighed by getting to be outside every day rather than being stuck behind a desk in an office.

TOWPATH CODE OF CONDUCT
Pedestrians have priority over cyclists on the towpath.
Give way to oncoming users at bridges
Consider other users and the environment
Ring with 'two tings', but bear in mind this is not an order to pedestrians to get out of your way
Be aware that some
pedestrians may not hear your bell. Pass people slowly
lGive people space and say 'thank you' to those who move to let you pass
lRide at a sensible speed