To be specific I refer to off road bikes, although it could also relate to four wheeled vehicles in your area. I may be wrong, but as I understand it they have no place on footpaths or restricted byways, but I stand to be corrected. Now we all enjoy the outdoors for our own reasons, off roaders being no exception and far be it from me to deny anyone or group their own chosen hobby, but surely in it's rightful place. It doesn't happen often, but on several occasions the peace and tranquility of a walk has been shattered for me by trials bikes, usually in a group with noisy engines churning up the path or sometimes Virgin ground. I walk to get away from such things and to find them blasting across the countryside makes my blood boil, admittedly some ride a little more sedately than others but that's no consolation. If they are there legally, then I would avoid those areas, but I suspect not, for reference the areas concerned are Y Das, Mynydd Bychan, Grwyne Fawr, below Fan Foel and also along Sarn Helen near Coelbren, surely I can't be the only one outraged by this?
As an enthusiast of such things, it makes my blood boil that it makes your blood boil. Why are you against such fun and thrilling activities? You have thousands of footpaths all to yourselves yet you complain on the odd occasion that you come across motorised vehicles.
I personally am an off road enthusiast, off road driving (in a jeep) or riding (on such a bike) is so much fun that it is indescribable to someone who hasn't experienced it.
You get thousands of footpaths and bridleways, yet we only get a mere percentage of the countryside to enjoy with our motors.
Whether I am on a legal byway or illegal footpath (not often but occasionally I do find myself exploring) I am always careful to pass slowly and considerately with minimal fuss.
No, You're not alone. In reality I'm OK with them on the whole, but when they're where they're not supposed to be then I'm totally with you.
I live in the West Pennine area and I'm delighted to see that the local authorities take a very dim view of illegal off roading. There's signs gone up all around the most abused areas now warning of dire consequences for misuse. Including heavy fines and confiscation of vehicles.
There are more rangers and NWW vehicles around on the paths and contact nos on the signs to report incidents on
See this just seems unnecessary to me.
Maybe this island really is overcrowded and it is time for enthusiasts like me to try to find a less crowded country like France, for instance.
I don't understand the attraction of walking but I won't seek to ban it like some extremist walking groups try to.
I attended a Powys CC Local Access Forum meeting as an observer early this year. It was interesting how much agenda time this issue took up, due mainly because of the rise in the number of 4x4's in the hand of people, who do not not have them for professional reasons. The Powys issue was centered on the Monk's Trod that crosses the great green desert of the Elland Valley. As this is an SSI, the stone that is allowed to be used, to repair the ancient roadway, can only come from a special source and must be helicoptered in for logistical reasons, it makes any repair a lengthy and expensive process, especially when public money is in short supply.
The Monk's trod is closed to Off Roaders (temporarily) but off course it does not put of some from finding a way around the closure signs and policing this sort of misbehavior is difficult in remote areas.
With mobile phones today it is possible for the individual walker to collect and transmit evidence and those, who feel strongly about it should do so.
Another curious observation I have stumbled across. I was given the Natural England files on their Lost Ways project for Shropshire, NE did a number of pilot studies on Lost Ways, in 3 counties I believe, in which they chose 100 random parishes, where they researched the lost ways to evaluated the legal claim to re-instating them.
The fact that stood out, rather obviously to me, was the high probability of recovery of lost ways would result in BOAT's and RUPP's, did the fear of the Off Roader contribute to shelving of NE's study of lost ways?
The methodology of the research seemed to point towards NE evaluating the 'cost effectiveness' of recovering lost ways through the existing legal framework, rather than research how the lost ways could contribute to our existing 'off road' network.
The rise in the leisure use of the 4x4 does impact on our access to the countryside and it does create a disproportionate cost increase, as the roads used by motor vehicles were built for horse drawn carriages and carts. I do not agree with placing restrictions on or closing the small number of existing byways in the country.
Horse drawn carriages would cause more damage due to narrow wooden wheels rather than small diameter wheels shod in soft rubber. I disagree that off roaders impact on your access to the countryside. Thousands upon thousands of miles belong to footpaths and bridleways, only a few hundred miles across the whole country belong to byways.
I do not agree with restricting access to the small number of existing byways, indeed I would like to see seldom used bridleways converted back to byways to provide more areas to play and thus less strain on existing byways.
It was (probably still is) a big problem in the Peaks 2 or 3 years ago. I would frequently come across a churned up mire.
Though I have to say I found watching the actual vehicles quite fascinating. ( I do NOT approve of the damage they were causing)
I have a 4x4 myself, but only because of the roads around here. I have to 'walk' my dog whether I go for a walk myself or not. So parking off the road requires something a bit more robust than a Corsa. With my luck I'd just get stuck straight away if I 'off roaded'.
Just passing oncoming traffic here involves slipping 'off road'.
Strictly speaking is it actually 'off roading'? Don't they really mean 'off tarmac' since they are supposed to still be on a road?
I am glad you find watching the vehicles fascinating. As an enthusiast, it is also fascinating to me to see the vehicle moving over the ground, the suspension working, the axles articulating etc. The thrill of seeing what your machine can conquer is such a rush and satisfying at the same time, especially if you have modified it yourself, as most enthusiasts do.
Its a massive problem in the North York Moors and I posted recently about the national park teaming up with the police to tackle it. I have lost count of the amount of times they have nearly run my dog over, tearing round corners on footpaths they shouldn't even be on!
Does anyone know the speed limit of a byway? the speed they come across Glaisdale Rigg is crazy and although that track is legal their speed surely isn't. interesting that the trf link states they should stop and switch of their engines to give way to walkers etc, I know this isn't compulsory but this has never happened to me.
I photograph any riders on non legal paths and contact the non emergency police number to report them but policing this must be a logistical nightmare as by the time the police arrive the bikes are in the back of a van and away.
Tearing around any right of way is not advisable, whether one is walking, jogging, cycling, horseriding, or controlling a motor vehicle. A good rule is to always be able to stop in the distance you can see to be clear. Indeed it would be very sad if your dog got run over or you were injured as a result of a reckless user.
I personally don't agree with the TRF's guideline of stopping and switching off the engine, I normally ride slowly past leaving plenty of room. If there is not enough space then I slow down expecting to stop but if they give way to me I thank them with a quick wave.
As for the speed limit of a byway the speed limit is common sense. Technically the speed limit is the national speed limit (60mph). As you can see, that is the reason that the
real limit is determined by common sense.