The towpath along side Victoria Park has become a preferred thoroughfare for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as one of the places that live aboard boaters call home. It should be acknowledged that the Victoria Park towpath does not have the level of safety and security that other main thoroughfares of London possess. Some of us tried very hard to get Canal and River Trust and Victoria Park to install lights on the towpath after the Autumn 2012 string of criminal and anti-social behavour incidents. No one could fund lights. With the heightening of the severity of the criminal activity to aggravated burglary this year, we want to take the lead in securing these safety measures, for the betterment of the community.

What we'll deliver:

• Area covers Old Ford lock to the new Victoria Park entrance.
• Install Solar powered low level ambient lighting on the Regent's Canal towpath.
• Solar Panels on rooftop of lock house and boater's facilities.

Why it's a great idea:

This is a great idea because the use of the towpath is increasing and all users should find the towpath to be open, accessible and safe.
Ambient lighting would help increase visibility and deter antisocial and criminal behaviours without affecting bat habitat or causing night blindness for cyclists.
Our project will include a sustainable means of implementation via solar power.

Steps to get it done:

• Consult with the Bat Conservation Trust and London Cycling Campaign on acceptable lighting levels
• Secure volunteer help if applicable for non specialist work
• Agree an acceptable solar solution with stakeholders
• Secure construction contract and any planning permission
• Solicit bids from solar energy developers for build and materials

Late 2012 twenty reported boat burglaries. In early 2013, cyclists reported being knocked off their bikes and mugged. One cyclists took shelter with a narrowboat family, who let him cancel his stolen bank cards with their laptop.

After a series of prank level vandalisms, including people jumping on boats, and boats mooring ropes getting cut and boats set adrift during the night, in January the vandalism moved to life threatening levels. In the early morning, a rope tied to the roof of a boat had its other end tied to the fence of Victoria Park creating a ‘clothesline’, which a commuter cycled into and suffered serious injury.

Attached images are of the towpath at night in Winter with a camera adapted to capture as much light as possible, recent daytime pictures on the towpath, and one picture at night in late Sept. with a camera phone.

In addition to crowd-funding we are seeking interested parties to create fun fundraising events to raise donations and the profile of our project.