A cycling coordinator has been appointed to regulate traffic along the congested Regent’s Canal towpath.

Rosie Tharp, who previously worked for the London Cycling Campaign, will be cooperating with Hackney and Islington boroughs to create safer, greener east-to-west cycle routes as an alternative to the towpath.

The canal regularly gets clogged up with up to 500 commuting cyclists per hour at bottleneck hotspots.

Canal and Rivers Trust, which looks after it, wants to encourage cyclists to consider going a different way.

Ms Tharp said: “London’s canals are havens, a place to slow down and escape the noise of the city. At peak times, however, it gets very busy and some pedestrians and cyclists are overwhelmed by the sheer number of commuter cyclists.” Ian Shacklock, chair of the Friends of the Regent’s Canal, said that he fully supported Ms Tharp’s appointment, adding People come there for the quality of life, not to achieve a personal best. If they are in a hurry, it is the wrong place to be.”

Mr Shacklock suggested commuters use the route because they do not feel safe on the roads.