MTB and fines for riding in a forest? (New Forest)

Plyphon

Hiya,

Getting my first MTB saturday.

Looking mainly to ride a lot of the new forest to keep fit (aswell as actual mountains at some point)

reading a lot on council websites that up to 500 quid fines can be given for not riding on the proper paths.

Who actually gives these out? has anyone ever in the history of man actually ever received a fine?

Not saying I'm deliberately gonna go tear up some shrubbery, but at the same time paying attention to what little coloured sign that fence post has on it is the last of my worries.

Am I getting worried over an empty threat?

concorde

Fuck em, pull skids in flower beds the lot

Plyphon

expert advice right there

al2098

Just carry on and ignore them.
No power to detain you to obtain a name and address.
They will be assaulting you if they grab hold of you to obtain details unless you are commiting a criminal offences and they could then be conducting a citizens arrest. Can't do that with a council bylaw, as they would have no specific powers to suspect an offence has been committed, unlike a cop who can lock you up on suspicion, the average Joe like you and me have to catch you damaging something. (criminal offence). Some councils have draconian measures but any solicitor with a hold of this sort of nonsense would be rubbing his/her hands together mumbling "payday"...if they decide to 'detain' you.

Plyphon

all right sweet - go where I want and ignore people works for me!

TheNorthernTrain

Plyphon wrote:

all right sweet - go where I want and ignore people works for me!

within reason... be courteous if you are riding on footpaths, give way to the wooly hat brigade - it tends to save an argument with them.

Plyphon

Yeah of course I mean that's the big thing with this sort of area I guess - generally speaking, compared to sports like BMX (Which I've been riding 8 years) MTB'ers are much more courteous to not only other people but the environment - I have no intention to break or damage anything, or to cut anyone up or cause drama.


I just know some sick lines in the forest that I'm 90% sure are not part of the designated cycle paths, and I would love to ride them but don't want to face a fine for it!

homers_double

Thats when an early saturday morning blast is your friend.

A friend (???) does that on his saturday morning ride, perfect singletrack ribbon down the side of a hill which is wasted as a public footpath.

miss notax

The New Forest is our usual stomping ground - will send a PM

smack148

haha, where I trail the little signs only say "not recommended for cycling" far more polite. The general policy is ride where you like. turns out the park ranger is a mad keen MTBer. could the two things be related.
anyhoo, there is no obvious environmental damage from cycling freely. the park does suffer greatly from, cheap campers who leave everything at their @rse and sheep, that eat all the vegetation and amble into your way where your doing 30mph down a landrover path.
It annoys me to see theses signs erected though. It's only 'cos the woolie hat brigade get a fright if you go anywhere within 30 feet of them, nothing to do with anything else. and then of course the woolies that are all of 'that type' phone their mates in the council or age concern or who ever and get draconian signs put up to spoil your day.
rant over. not really answering your question either. :!:

Plyphon

smack148 wrote:

rant over. not really answering your question either. :!:

Its okay, we're all buddies here

NickintheLakes

Would be interesting to see responses by the posters above if a crocodile of Wooly Hatters ignoring all warning signs was walking up a dedicated downhill course whilst you were riding down it.

Presumably you would hit the anchors and skid smartly to a halt, doff your plastic hats and wish them a happy and safe day?

:P

smack148

absolutely, they are stout young chaps of the finest character, caring and sharing our woodland, and always a friendly nod or wave. Wouldn't skid though, upsets the squirrels.