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news
Typical UK MTBing.jpg3 in 4 off-road cyclists think right of way law archaic
3 out of 4 cyclists think that current laws on rights of way are not suitable for off-road cycling, according to a new survey.
Cycling UK and Open MTB have issued the preliminary results from their Off-Road lacking for off-road cycling.
The survey ran from 24 August until 31 October, during which time 11,482 people completed the survey. The results are currently being analysed by Cycling UK and a full report will be released in early 2017.
Initial findings show the off-road and mountain biking community back Cycling UK’s position that the archaic rights of way in England and Wales are not suitable for the 21st century. Over 50% of participants chose their number one off-road campaign goal to be on “increased access”.
Under current laws cyclists have a right to use a mere 22% of England’s rights of way network, and 21% in Wales. Whether a route is a footpath, a bridleway or a byway is generally determined by its history of past usage, and not at all by its suitability. This can mean cycling may be permitted on an unrideable muddy bridleway but not on a tarmac-surfaced footpath, even where it is used privately by motor vehicles.
Cycling UK argues responsible access laws would not just benefit tourism and the leisure industry, but would also enhance the opportunities for motor traffic-free cycling (52% said they use footpaths “to avoid traffic danger”).
The survey has also revealed the importance placed on off-road cycling for both physical and mental health, with 90% considering it fairly or very important for their physical health and 91% fairly or very important for their mental health.
Other findings include:
66% of rights of way rides are local, beginning at the rider’s door - 65% of those using footpaths quote “lack of choice”
62% say off-road cycling is their primary form of exercise
Paul Tuohy, Cycling UK’s CEO, said: “While the national media might see cycling in terms of gold medals, the unprecedented interest in our survey shows there’s a lively and vibrant off-road community that has real concerns which Government is not listening to or doing anything about. This must change.
“The rights of way system harks back to the era when the horse and carriage was the height of transport technology, and unfortunately it hasn’t changed much since then while the rest of the world has moved on.
“So many responses extolled the mental and physical health benefits of heading out on to the trails, and Cycling UK wants to make it easier for more people to enjoy the benefits of cycling away from traffic in the beauty of our extensive countryside.
“It’s going to be quite a battle to change the outdated laws and attitudes which have prevented progress so far, but we managed it in Scotland, and with the off-road and mountain biking community’s help, we can do it too in England and Wales.”
Latest Comments
- mark1a 16 min 14 sec ago
My area (Weymouth) has just had a new dockless ebike scheme implemented by Beryl, back in August this year, all going well it seems, other than the...
- mdavidford 26 min 23 sec ago
Maybe one and the same thing though. They're not exactly short of populists over there, any more than we are. I'm sure if those people thought they...
- chrisonabike 38 min 52 sec ago
Thanks. I guess the question is "need". If the road is busy, it sounds like it is a desired route between places? In which case (given this an...
- mdavidford 46 min 49 sec ago
Don't know what you mean. I thought my suggestion was entirely practical.
- hawkinspeter 47 min 9 sec ago
So, it looks like she can choose a 45 minute drive or a 26 minute walk. It's almost as if the scheme is encouraging people to walk short distances...
- mdavidford 49 min 19 sec ago
...and a square of faux sheepskin for the back of your saddle.
- chrisonabike 59 min 32 sec ago
An excellent idea but then - due to expensive lawyers and accountants - no doubt the richer would be found to personally not own or control a penny...
- Rapha Nadal 1 hour 21 min ago
I'd buy a motorbike fo rthat kind of money!
- ktache 12 hours 14 min ago
There are people out there who will make you the belt out of your old tyre.
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16 comments
Sometimes the rules are applied in a crazy way. Just opposite my house is a wide partially tarmaced path that leads to garages and would allow me to avoid a busy roundabout but whilst cars and pedestrians are allowed to use it cycles are specifically banned. Just round around the corner a muddy footpath with barely enough room for two pedestrians to pass has been designated a shared space so I can use it. (And its great, it saves a long busy stretch on a main road) I'm sure that in certain spaces shared use it not appropriate but we could do with a better balance
Ah yes, the self selecting survey, always 100% accurate, the gold standard if you like.
As someone who last year had to spend £4k from a fasr too small budget to replace steps on a narrow wooded path, ripped out by people who thiunk they shold be able to use their mountain bikes there because "there's no where else to ride it", I have to say that in my expereince of road cyclists are not responsible enough to be allowed access to all off road paths. This along with the number of people who travel in excess of 20mph on shared use paths, passing much closer to pedestrians than any car driver would, I've even had that while measuring up a repair on a path, makes CUK call for responsible access law when cyclists appear not to be able to act reponsibly look naive at best, disingenuous at worst.
Jitensa Oni - those aren't byelaws, they're national laws defined by the Highways Act
Ah yes, the self selecting opinion on "my experience", always 100% accurate, the gold standard if you like - must be applied to "all" cyclists.
Oh, the irony.
Am I the only one concerned the chap in the photo seems to have his kneecap rotated out at a weird angle?
Regarding access rights, it is a pain the local woods I use recently build bike only trails to which the local ramblers association first demanded access to, this was refused them for some reason the trails were vandelised. No idea who did that at all...
He might be intending to use it to get down real low on the corners, a bit like motorcycle knee sliders.
Years ago I was riding, slowly, along a bridleway that was alongside a footpath, two pedestrians were walking towards me and as I got close one of them stepped into my path and grabbed my handlebars and said I shouldn't be riding on the footpath. I agreed with her and asked her if I could legally ride on the bridlepath alongside the footpath I couldn't ride on, she let go of my handlebars and carried on walking without saying another word.
She then probably went home and told the tale of how she stopped a cyclist riding on the footpath and directed them onto the bridleway.
Just as I would hate to see motor vehicles on our local bridleways I don't want to share footpaths with cyclists. Sometimes it's good to move at walking pace and yes, to think at walking pace too. I don't feel I should have to look over my shoulder every twenty yards in case I get flattened by a bike, nor should I have to keep my dogs on a leash every step of their walk.
The balance of freedoms in this area is probably about right as things stand, and I speak as a passionate, 4000+ miles per annum cyclist.
As long as you are keeping it under effective control I have no issue with your dog being off leash. Having it hanging off one of those extending leads or letting it off and being totally unable to recall it - like apparently everyone I ever meet when walking my dog (well behaved, requiring only a whistle to drop whatever has claimed his interest and return to my side) - that should have dire legal consequences.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-coun...
Scottish Outdoor Access code (paragraphs 3.53-3.55 are far more prescriptive in what your role and responsibilities are relating to dogs)
The balance of freedoms? Perhaps where you live and walk your dog but perhaps not in many other parts of the country. It makes no sense that a bitumen covered road with local car access is called a footpath (and therefore banned for bikes and horses) - walk a dog off leash there and see what happens. As the article states, many footpaths are more suitable for cycling than so-called byways and it makes perfect sense to allow other modes of travel gain access to these, especially if it means a safer journey and/or more people getting outside and improving their health. Scotland doesn't appear to have been too troubled by their 21st Century thinking...
Alternatively just do what you please as there'll be no comeback. I've used footpaths to get across country before, the only problem being the occasional tutting from rambling sorts and lobbing the bike over turnstyles.
Not forgetting the wires stretched across the trails. Although that generally seems to happen where riding is permitted...
While this is how it largely pans out, just look at the paragraph "Public footpaths are waymarked using yellow arrows" in
https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/environment-housing-and-planning/countryside...
and tell me some changes wouldn't be useful. Why persist with such byelaws?
Another good reason to live in Scotland (admittedly a place not without fault), where outdoor access laws are based on manners and sense.
I had 2-3 years working in Scotland and the MTB riding was 'epic'; nothing in England has ever come close. I think a large part of that is down to the fact that all paths are open to cyclists.
I'd love to be able to cycle for miles off road