Public Rights of Way ?'s

rikk

Ratty, that's the problem, they can legislate as much as they want it will NOT stop the few people that did it illegally before, all it hurts is the 98% of people who use them responsibly.

And the legislation to a degree makes it worse, before 4x4 activity was spread across say 5-6% of byways, now it's spread across 2% so they get hammered even more, people complain, they get closed and it's all moved to a smaller number of lanes again.

A few weeks ago while in the cafe at Thorndon county park I was approached by the head ranger as he'd seen me there loads and he wanted to talk about how to improve the forest for everyone but mtbing in particular.
He was rather taken aback by the main suggestion I had, take all the restriction signs down and let everyone go everywhere. They are promoting conflict by restricting sections to certain types of traffic. Walkers especially seem to pay no attention to their surroundings so when they go from a section that is footpath only to a shared section with cyclists/horses they carry on taking up the whole path and not looking where they are going, by opening it all up they are forced to pay attention, or at least realise there are other users.

cee

jstock wrote:

horse riders are just confused walkers that want to be bikers and ended up with 4 legs instead of 2 wheels

Not 6 legs??

ratty2k

Rikk, yep, biggest problem is reinforcing the rules.
I haven't come across too many 4x4's TBH, just seen (only in a few places) the damage they can cause.
I do actually think that there may be a case for bringing in more of the trail centre for 4x4's, IIRC Keilder forest runs such a thing.. and I know there are others about...
But again, it wont stop the idiots...
This is one of the reasons I dont like the "lets ride it all" attitude, I can (even if its just me) take a moral high ground as I only ride legally, sounds pompous I know, but its just how I feel. I can only be moaned at by other trail users if I'm being un-courteous, and I always try and be as courteous and polite as possible.

neil_sheehan2000

I know this has been said before but it bears repeating on a thread like this:

I live in Scotland! Na na na na-na!


sorry

rhann

grandad3 wrote:

I've enjoyed reading this thread and have learnt where i can or can't legally ride. But, I also probably ride illegally on footpaths as you cant always define a footpath or dont see the sign that says 'footpath only'.

A trail that I use has slowly been taken over by 4x4's churning up the ground making it virtually impossible to ride because of the deep ruts, and now someone's turned up with a digger, made a deep trench in two places across the trail and stopped not only the 4x4 but also the mtber's.

I have to climb off and walk round the blxxdy thing, spoiling a good ride because of these idiots out in their toys driving illegally. At least it seems to have stopped them for now

Wheneva I'm out riding wether it be on footpaths, bridleways or byways, I always slow down for other users and and let them know I'm coming by shouting out 'excuse me', then saying 'thanks' when they make room, I usually have to stop for horse riders when I come up to them because most seem inexperienced plus I dont fancy being kicked by one of em.

As for ramblers they are a breed apart and put their face on in disgust at the nerve of a cyclist encroaching on their beloved walk. They're really starting to wee-wee me off.

if its a public right of way then it is illegal, it is the equivalent of going out and digging a hole in the middle of your street.

fred1star

neil_sheehan2000 wrote:

I know this has been said before but it bears repeating on a thread like this:

I live in Scotland! Na na na na-na!

Yeh, but it rains even more up there... bet you have mud gaurds

Mark\' 62

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...

and no, you can't push a bike along a footpath.... :twisted:

Boss thread, i was told by a mate that you can ride on canal tow paths but you have to get/download something, is this true cos ive never heard it before

forgotrafe

I believe that canal towpaths aren't naturally rights-of-way.

However I checked on the website of the Kennett & Avon Canal and it gives permissive rights (i.e. the owner gives permission, but can retract it at any time) for pedestrians and cyclists. Ironically horses didn't seem to get a mention!

Where I live there are lots of permissive paths, mostly on the large private estates/farms, normally with the equivalent of "bridleway" status so you can cycle on them but some have "footpath" status. It's a nice gesture by the land owner, though if they felt they were being abused I'm sure they'd shut them off in a heartbeat.

bails87

You can cycle on most towpaths (not the ones near me though :evil: but it doesn't stop me, I know, I'm a terrible human being, but the British Waterways guy I spoke to while out didn't have any problem with it, and neither has anyone else, I usually end up helping old dears with lock gates and drawbridges anyway!) but check on the british waterways/waterscape.com website for maps showing where cycling is allowed. Even where it is allowed you need a permit, which you can just print off the website, I see absolutely no point in it, but apparently you should have it with you.

ratty2k

Mark\' 62 wrote:

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...

and no, you can't push a bike along a footpath.... :twisted:

Boss thread, i was told by a mate that you can ride on canal tow paths but you have to get/download something, is this true cos ive never heard it before

Yep, we have the Bridgewater canal running nearby and that is no cycling. A rule by Peel holdings who own/ control the canal. Signs up everywhere, but they dont seem to enforce it from what I've seen. Dont know the repercussions of them catching anyone...?

elPedro666

I'm generally pretty law-abiding, although when I can see the entire length of a footpath and it's dry, hard-packed dirt, deserted & a cracking descent to boot, well, I had to didn't I?

Ended up head first over the side, 4meters straight down through the thorniest bushes in the world. I still have splinters a week and a half later - there were literally hundreds of the little b*stards! And I lost my helmet peak.

And what do we learn from this? Is it Karma? Is God a rambler? Or a warden? Well, nothing really, it was just a little break where you all get to laugh at me.

The bike's fine

ratty2k

Karma...

FSR Si

ratty2k wrote:

Yep, we have the Bridgewater canal running nearby and that is no cycling. A rule by Peel holdings who own/ control the canal. Signs up everywhere, but they dont seem to enforce it from what I've seen. Dont know the repercussions of them catching anyone...?

It's all changing now and you are allowed on the canal as some of it is part of Sustrans and the rest is being renamed the Bridgewater way. I often use the stretch from Monton to Leigh and never have any bother, Shame about all the barriers though.

Mark\' 62

ratty2k wrote:

Mark\' 62 wrote:

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...

and no, you can't push a bike along a footpath.... :twisted:

Boss thread, i was told by a mate that you can ride on canal tow paths but you have to get/download something, is this true cos ive never heard it before

Yep, we have the Bridgewater canal running nearby and that is no cycling. A rule by Peel holdings who own/ control the canal. Signs up everywhere, but they dont seem to enforce it from what I've seen. Dont know the repercussions of them catching anyone...?

i live right next to the bridgewater canal and often go up and down the tow path and i must admit ive never seen a sign for no cyclist, not that ive been looking for one ha, but no one has ever questioned me when ive been anywhere on the canal

ratty2k

I can only guess that Peel own part of it rather than all? No idea TBH!

SykoBobMonkey

weeksy59 wrote:

What's the penalty for the offence of riding on the Pavement ?

has anyone ever seen this enforced ?

£30 fine and yep ive been given one :oops:

fred1star

Cool.... Hope you paid it in 1p pieces.... :P