Public Rights of Way ?'s

fred1star
fred1star Posts: 428
edited June 2009 in MTB general
I was a Public Rights of Way Officer in Kent for nearly 6 years.... If you have any questions regarding footpaths bridleways & byways post here and I will try to answer...

and no, you can't push a bike along a footpath.... :twisted:
09 - Santa Cruz Heckler
03 - Trek 8500
95 - P7 (Dead, but I loved it)
Year dot - Alpine Stars CR300 - Still going strong...
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Comments

  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    fred1star wrote:
    and no, you can't push a bike along a footpath.... :twisted:

    You joshing? :shock:
  • thelawnet
    thelawnet Posts: 719
    Kiblams wrote:
    fred1star wrote:
    and no, you can't push a bike along a footpath.... :twisted:

    You joshing? :shock:

    I think the rule is 'normal accompaniments' [for the purposes of walking]. So a dog is a normal accompaniment for a walk, as is a pushchair, wheelchair. But a bicycle isn't.

    But all that can happen is the landowner or their agent asks you to leave (because it's trespassing in effect).
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    And if it is pushing on footpaths in a residential area?
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Yes, it classed, bizarrely, as riding it.

    Wonder if you can carry it?! Luggage.

    Stupid bloody laws in the country.
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    So if I am standing on the pavement and the bike is being rolled in the gutter on the road?
  • thelawnet
    thelawnet Posts: 719
    I'd only be worried if I were on a footpath through a dodgy looking farm. On the side of a busy road, not going to have problems.
  • fred1star
    fred1star Posts: 428
    edited June 2009
    Nop... not joshing.

    Your right on a public footpath (which is different to a pavement) is to pass and re-pass along it. You are allowed to have with you items that’s are classed as usual accompaniments e.g. a dog, maybe a pram even a picnic. A bike is not a usual accompaniments and therefore your not technically allowed to walk a bike along a Public Footpath….

    In practice though a council would be hard pushed to take action against you… waste of public money pursuing anything like that, bigger fish to fry….
    09 - Santa Cruz Heckler
    03 - Trek 8500
    95 - P7 (Dead, but I loved it)
    Year dot - Alpine Stars CR300 - Still going strong...
  • thelawnet
    thelawnet Posts: 719
    Kiblams wrote:
    So if I am standing on the pavement and the bike is being rolled in the gutter on the road?

    Sounds to me like you're using the footpath for the purpose of transporting the bike. Which isn't allowed.

    But in reality who cares?
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    Kiblams wrote:
    So if I am standing on the pavement and the bike is being rolled in the gutter on the road?
    Pavements are known in law as footways, and are pavements alongside roads, footpaths are different.
  • .blitz
    .blitz Posts: 6,197
    fred1star wrote:
    I was a Public Rights of Way Officer in Kent for nearly 6 years.... If you have any questions regarding footpaths bridleways & byways post here and I will try to answer...
    If a footpath crosses private land the landowner can, at their discretion, allow bikes/horses to use it as well as pedestrians.

    Fact or fiction ?
  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    supersonic wrote:
    Yes, it classed, bizarrely, as riding it.

    Wonder if you can carry it?! Luggage.

    Stupid bloody laws in the country.

    <smug scottish grin>
    hahahahahahahahahahahah
    </smug scottish grin>
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • next your going to tell me i cant ride my bike back from the pub drunk :wink::lol:
  • weeksy59
    weeksy59 Posts: 2,606
    Do other people care about 'Footpaths' etc ?

    If it looks like a track, and smells like a track... i ride it ?
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    weeksy59 wrote:
    Do other people care about 'Footpaths' etc ?

    If it looks like a track, and smells like a track... i ride it ?
    Jeez! :evil:
  • .blitz
    .blitz Posts: 6,197
    weeksy59 wrote:
    If it looks like a track, and smells like a track... i ride it ?
    Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :roll:
  • weeksy59 wrote:
    If it looks like a track, and smells like a track... i ride it ?

    Some words of wisdom there 8) ... IMO rules are there to broken, otherwise it would just be the way!
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    what about a pavement? I was on the pavement pushing my bike, went passed a bus stop and ask a lady to move, she then told me I shouldn't be on the bloody pavement and people like me etc.. etc....

    she was a sour faced hag mind you with hens-arse-mouth smokers top lip, so I said good day fine women and wished her all the best in her reproductive encounters.

    So what's the crack with Pavements.

    p.s I'm in Scotland where the law tends to be a little more sensible than my Englanshire hommie land.

    G
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    weeksy59 wrote:
    If it looks like a track, and smells like a track... i ride it ?

    Some words of wisdom there 8) ... IMO rules are there to broken, otherwise it would just be the way!
    Utterly selfish and irresponsible. Find a bridleway! Why should a walker on a narrow FOOTPATH be confronted by a cyclist without any warning. It may be fine to you, but it is scary and unnerving, if not dangerous. Why create more anti-cyclist venom - you play into the hand s of people like Matthew Parris!

    If you ride footpaths you are despicable!
  • weeksy59
    weeksy59 Posts: 2,606
    alfablue wrote:
    If you ride footpaths you are despicable!

    Oh please... have a word with yourself. You sound like my great grandfather.

    FWIW i speed on my motorbike on the roads too...

    No kittens have ever been killed by me doing either.
  • weeksy59
    weeksy59 Posts: 2,606
    Out of interest....

    How do we/whoever define 'FOOTPATH' ?
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    GmanUK101 wrote:
    what about a pavement? I was on the pavement pushing my bike, went passed a bus stop and ask a lady to move, she then told me I shouldn't be on the bloody pavement and people like me etc.. etc....

    she was a sour faced hag mind you with hens-ars*-mouth smokers top lip, so I said good day fine women and wished her all the best in her reproductive encounters.

    So what's the crack with Pavements.

    p.s I'm in Scotland where the law tends to be a little more sensible than my Englanshire hommie land.

    G
    I can't see any problem with pushing a bike on a pavement. In England it is an offence to ride it, but the home secretary has instructed discretion when children ride bikes on pavements. Scotland, I don't know, but there are probably as many hags both sides of the border.

    But I wonder how the person became so pi**ed with cyclists? Maybe because some selfishly ride on pavements and footpaths...?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    I define footpath as a path for feet. or something.

    footpath to me is a bridal way, a designated walkers route.

    Pavement is those things with square block of concrete that you can trip on and ring the ambulance chasing solicitors cos you've stubbed ya toe
  • weeksy59
    weeksy59 Posts: 2,606
    What's the penalty for the offence of riding on the Pavement ?

    has anyone ever seen this enforced ?
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    weeksy59 wrote:
    alfablue wrote:
    If you ride footpaths you are despicable!

    Oh please... have a word with yourself. You sound like my great grandfather.

    FWIW i speed on my motorbike on the roads too...

    No kittens have ever been killed by me doing either.
    Then your great grandfather is a far better person than you - I salute him!
  • Doctor Gonzo
    Doctor Gonzo Posts: 25
    edited June 2009
    alfablue wrote:
    weeksy59 wrote:
    If it looks like a track, and smells like a track... i ride it ?

    Some words of wisdom there 8) ... IMO rules are there to broken, otherwise it would just be the way!
    Utterly selfish and irresponsible. Find a bridleway! Why should a walker on a narrow FOOTPATH be confronted by a cyclist without any warning. It may be fine to you, but it is scary and unnerving, if not dangerous. Why create more anti-cyclist venom - you play into the hand s of people like Matthew Parris!

    If you ride footpaths you are despicable!

    My bad... :oops: I mis understood the context, i thought you were talking about road side pavement. i retract my comment.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    alfablue wrote:
    GmanUK101 wrote:
    what about a pavement? I was on the pavement pushing my bike, went passed a bus stop and ask a lady to move, she then told me I shouldn't be on the bloody pavement and people like me etc.. etc....

    she was a sour faced hag mind you with hens-ars*-mouth smokers top lip, so I said good day fine women and wished her all the best in her reproductive encounters.

    So what's the crack with Pavements.

    p.s I'm in Scotland where the law tends to be a little more sensible than my Englanshire hommie land.

    G
    I can't see any problem with pushing a bike on a pavement. In England it is an offence to ride it, but the home secretary has instructed discretion when children ride bikes on pavements. Scotland, I don't know, but there are probably as many hags both sides of the border.

    But I wonder how the person became so pi**ed with cyclists? Maybe because some selfishly ride on pavements and footpaths...?

    Nope I think it was her general point of view to all life forms on that day, a glazed look in her eye was not becoming of a lady her age. chill with the pavement and footpath rants, that's for a different thread I think
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    Public footpaths are open only to walkers

    Public bridleways are open to walkers, horse-riders and pedal cyclists

    Restricted byways are open to walkers, horse-riders, and drivers/riders of non-mechanically propelled vehicles (such as horse-drawn carriages and pedal cycles)

    Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs) are open to all classes of traffic including motor vehicles, though they may not be maintained to the same standard as ordinary roads.

    Legally, a public right of way is part of the Queen's highway and subject to the same protection in law as all other highways, including trunk roads.
  • weeksy59
    weeksy59 Posts: 2,606
    Next you'll be telling me it's wrong to jump red lights ?

    Jump on the pavement if a car is in the way ?

    How about going the wrong way down a 1 way street ?

    On the pavement :)
  • weeksy59
    weeksy59 Posts: 2,606
    alfablue wrote:
    Public footpaths are open only to walkers.

    So, like i said, how is this defined ? how would a person out on a ride know it's only open to walkers ?
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    GmanUK101 wrote:
    Nope I think it was her general point of view to all life forms on that day, a glazed look in her eye was not becoming of a lady her age. chill with the pavement and footpath rants, that's for a different thread I think
    Apologies, but when people advocate cycling on footpaths it needs to be addressed, not ignored.