Right to roam, right to beat the **** out of nature?

Jono

Jono

Jono

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Joined
18 Oct 2002
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Northallerton/Harrogate
I've found a bit of bridleway I want to ride my bike down. I have ridden my bike down it. I got stung the hell out of by nettles, *****led by thistles and possibly eaten by other evil plants, too.

It was not fun. However, that bit of bridleway, although apparently abandoned to nature does lead on to some other nice bits of country riding (rest of the bridleway) and would make a nice shortish off-road ride through a forest.

The amount of actual bridleway (clearly signed and on OS maps) that's not covered by the above flora is literally 4" wide because it's now so overgrown. I haven't a clue who the landowner is, nor how to find out, actually, but is there anything (that would get me arrested) stopping me getting a machete or brash hook or whatever and chopping back anything evil-looking to make it a bit more accessible?
Obviously I don't mean running amok with a big blade if there's anyone anywhere near, whilst screaming obscenities at my chlorophyll-enhanced enemies... that would be silly...
 
I can't see why not considering it's a right of way and you'd just be making it use able, but I'm sure there's some law that they could get you for if they really wanted to.
 
Jono said:
I've posted this in the wrong forum - was meant to be in pedal powered, sorry.
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I was wondering lol! A motorised vehicle would certainly attract trouble!

Bridal ways are marked on OS maps and are fine for cycles as long as you respect the environment, I can't see anyone getting annoyed at some pruning. People would probably be pleased actually as they'll be able to see where they are going rather than twisting an ankle, breaking a horses leg, or crashing on a bike when undergrowth hides obstacles.

You can get the OS maps in paper firm, or a phone app where you can purchase large chunks of map for a permanent reference. Alternatively the 'UK atlas' android map is cheaper but relies on a data connection, and is a bit slow and cumbersome.

If you are crafty, you can find OS maps online for trails etc, join some forums and scout about, get a rough idea, and then just go ride, or take a print out, and use Google maps as fallback. :cool:
 
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call the council, they're normally pretty good at responding to overgrown ROW.

some bridleways are run permissively through private land, the local council will contact the land owner in this case.
 
just give your local council a call most likely they will get to the overgrown area within 48 hours of you reporting it.

ROW are generally only inspected and cut once a year, (due to hedge cutting seasons). So the council's generally just act retrospectively to public complaints.
 
Supercow said:
Stay off the bridleways jono and go ride something decent on that new bike of yours!
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I'm going to Hamsterley on Sunday... I just wanted to ride somewhere that wasn't on a road, close to home and ridable to. All the places I used to ride (almost) now have prominent "No bikes" signs up :(

Also I phoned/emailed the council pathways/row department and hopefully they'll look at it - also said I'd happily help out at weekends. :)
 
What is the penalty for ignoring the 'no bike' signs? A stupid ruling.

Or move to Scotland, where we have proper 'right to roam' rules ;)
 
im on the fence a little, on one hand its annoying not being able to cycle everywhere (forestry commision im looking at you). on the other it gives other more vulnerable users a bit of peace from bikes screaming by.

there have been a few examples of that going bad after people ignored the signs, one springs to mind where a cyclist spooked a horse on a "no cycling" trail recently resulting in the horse rider being thrown off and killed if i remember rightly.

that just gives us all a bad name.

also, using the New Forest as an example the max fine for cycling off marked trails is £500.
 
neil_g said:
im on the fence a little, on one hand its annoying not being able to cycle everywhere (forestry commision im looking at you). on the other it gives other more vulnerable users a bit of peace from bikes screaming by.

there have been a few examples of that going bad after people ignored the signs, one springs to mind where a cyclist spooked a horse on a "no cycling" trail recently resulting in the horse rider being thrown off and killed if i remember rightly.

that just gives us all a bad name.

also, using the New Forest as an example the max fine for cycling off marked trails is £500.
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It is a shame some bikers give us all a bad name, strata louts with bono style sunglasses, I'm looking at you!

I ride bridal ways around the Pennines a lot and have never had an issue with horses, slow down do not to spook the horse, say afternoon, and check out the girls bums in thier jodpers!
 
there have been a few examples of that going bad after people ignored the signs, one springs to mind where a cyclist spooked a horse on a "no cycling" trail recently resulting in the horse rider being thrown off and killed if i remember rightly.
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Loads of horses use a shared waggon way near me including police horses.

hate over taking them, usually just stay slow behind them to one side until the horse rider hears my freewheel and waves me on past with a warm smile and a thank you.

must take a real idiot to over take them at speed with no warning
 
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