Once again this seems to me to be a decision made by those who have no idea about Fly-Fishing. In every form of Angling there is the risk of hooking a passer by (a cyclist does give a good fight on a #3).

Members of the committee need to spend a session or two with you and make an informed "Risk Assesment" (which they then must do with all methods of Angling that are allowed on the water) but, knowing committees, they wont take up your offer.

I fished the River Dove (in Dove Dale) for many years. At times, there were swarms of walkers and to my knowledge not a single walker was hooked. You soon got into the habit of looking over your shoulder before you made a cast. In fact the danger came from the walkers themselves. Very often you'd be stalking a trout when a stick would be thrown over your head swiftly followed by the family dog (not thrown over your head) diving head long into your swim.

Are there any other stretches of canal you can fish? In my local area there are miles of canal that are free to fish. IMO clubs that lease stretches of canal are being taken for a ride. Why pay BW to baliff their waters? The price to lease a stretch of canal is ridiculous. The return you get from BW is ZERO.

There is the option of disregarding the rule and flyfish anyway.

Ernie

PS. I wonder if any of those cyclists have insurance?