BRITISH Waterways wants volunteers to help them create a real-time virtual picture of the condition of its towpaths – highlighting any obstructions to access.
This will provide valuable information for people with restricted mobility, as well as families with buggies, cyclists and other towpath users.
Robin Evans, chief executive of British Waterways, said:
“Although canals were built by Georgian engineers whose primary motivation was to build an industrial highway, their legacy is also an amazing 2,000 miles of flat accessible towpaths available for everyone to enjoy.
“Inevitably the type and condition of our towpaths varies from place to place but with the use of mobile technology, we’ll be asking the 13 million people who visit the waterways each year to help keep a virtual waterways map up-to-date.
“The canals are like having a part of the British Museum, Science Museum and Natural History Museum right on your doorstep and this improved flow of information can help those with limited access chose the best place for them to visit on our wonderful waterway network.
“As the waterways in England and Wales move to become a charity in 2012, they will be increasingly run by local people for local people and so who better to help keep the picture of access up-to-date.”
If you would like to take part in the project, email volunteer@britishwaterways.co.uk
