Cyclist Forced into Canal in Shocking Encounter Over Rights of Way Dispute—What Really Happened?

Imagine trying to enjoy a peaceful bike ride along a scenic Manchester canal, only to find yourself unexpectedly taking an unplanned swim—all because someone got a little testy about “not slowing down.” That’s exactly what happened to Klaudia Mitura, who was shoved into the water by a dog walker after a tense encounter on a towpath. With her feet still strapped to her pedals and no way to swim, Klaudia’s ordeal has sparked a fiery debate about who really has the right of way on these narrow, often misunderstood paths. It’s a classic clash of pedestrians versus cyclists, with a splash of canine companions and a dash of common sense—or the lack thereof. So, who gets priority when space is tight and tempers flare? Let’s dive into the chaos and confusion that unfolded alongside Manchester’s waterways. LEARN MORE

Shocking footage recently went viral after a cyclist was pushed into a canal for ‘not slowing down’, and it sparked a bit of discussion over the rights of way on towpaths for the public.

Klaudia Mitura says she was left ‘traumatised’ when a dog walker shoved her into the water in Manchester on 19 July, with her feet strapped to the pedals of her bike.

Greater Manchester Police are investigating the incident, but some TikTok users were divided over who had priority on the path.

Although it’s widely agreed that the 34-year-old shouldn’t have been addressed with such aggression, as shown in the frightening viral video from her bike camera.

“As you can see in the video I was trying to pass the couple. He did not want to move out of the way,” the mum-of-two explained.

The dog was walking calmly off-lead with the couple as the man stood in the path shouting for her to ‘slow down’ with Klaudia braking on approach.

While she pointed out they had a dog, the man angrily said back: “Yeah but you’re on a f**king bike.”

He then called her a f**king idiot and pushed Klaudia, who cannot swim, into the water.

“When he passed me, he just pushed me in the water. They were gone, and didn’t turn their heads to see if I’m alive or not,” she added.

Canal River Trust explains there is no specified speed limit on towpaths but asks that ‘everyone uses common sense’.

It also says that most towpaths ‘are not public rights of way’ and that the majority are ‘permissive paths’ as it allows members of the public to use them.

However, the Towpath code reminds users: “Share the Space, Drop your Pace, It’s a Special Place. Please be thoughtful and considerate when using towpaths.”

She appeared to brake as she approached the couple (Kennedy News and Media)

It then adds that the following applies: “Pedestrians have priority. Cyclists must slow down for others. Take extra care when passing people, pets and wildlife.”

Klaudia says when she was pushed with her bike into the water, she was ‘very scared’ and added: “He refused to move out of the way, I didn’t do anything, I just wanted to pass him and go my way.”

After five minutes of her waiting in the water, a good Samaritan came along and helped her get out and called the police, as her phone had been damaged.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “This is an open investigation, no arrests have been made so far but enquiries are ongoing.”