Viewing 40 posts - 41 through 80 (of 81 total)
  • Green Laning (motor bikes)
  • Vader
    Free Member

    Quality, I always wanted to head south too but ran out of time. Some of those backcountry towns were awesome, for me they were some of the best parts of the trip. And I have never drunk a colder beer. Did you hire or buy a bike? I was gonna buy but ended up hiring a fully kitted out enduro bike from a guy just south of brisbane. When I finally got to Mt Isa the guy in the motorbike shop recognised it and new the guy I rented off. Turns out he was totally nuts and into uber long solo desert crossings when he lived in Isa. When I took the bike back i looked at his eyes and thought, yeah, you are mad. Addictive though, riding in the desert

    adam_h
    Free Member

    grim168 – Member

    Something like 3% of the rights of way network was available to motorized traffic but to some thats too much.

    1.85% of rights of way are BOATs. But even then, alot of those byways are either TRO'd or obstructed in some way. So the actual percentage is even smaller.

    Lawmanmx
    Free Member

    i bought an almost new Honda XR600 the air cooled 1997 model, what did you ride then?
    did you do the 40k trail loop round kenilworth forest up near the sunshine coast? i used to go up there and lap it like a MX track, Loved it!!! (prolly horrify some of these lot on here) Lmao

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    Vader
    Free Member

    I had a TTR600, pretty good once you'd worked out how to start it. I had an embarrassing experience near Morton Island when an ozzie trucker had to pick the bike off me on a petrol station forecourt (The kick start had gone up my trouser leg on the kick back…oh bollocks…crash) Where are you going mate he said…the outback…you're gonna die.

    Never did the loop but there where loads of tracks all over. I remember Tamworth pretty well, Blacks Bay, endless cane fields. Christ they scared me, all those snakes in the brush.

    IanMunro
    Free Member

    Most of the lanes that get ridden on are little or unused. The TRF do a great job of keeping rights of way open which otherwise would become overgrown and lost.

    I think this must apply to another part of the country to where I live, or maybe just a different country entirely 🙂

    Lawmanmx
    Free Member

    oooohhh them TTR600's are a big heavy lump are'nt they 😯 i always found the XR's to be much more rider friendly, snakes pigs roo's spiders goanas and cattle, i nearly ended up on the inside of a big brown cow on one of the days, funny now but nearly pissed me strides at the time, Lol

    Vader
    Free Member

    Its pretty well sprung, ohlins allround but fairly archaic otherwise. No battery though so simple to fix…luckily. Roos filled my pants a few times when they ran longside then shot across the front.

    I ended up to my waist in a water hole trying to get my water bag back. I thought it was croc free but the locals told me later it was the one down the road. Jesus. When I was at cape york there was a yacht on the wharf. the guy took his two dogs for a run along the beach each evening. One day he came back with one and he wouldnt go in after the stick anymore.

    Lawmanmx
    Free Member

    yup … i was in tully gorge near the river one evening and i read a sign sayin beware of crocs and cassowarys, and i was only watching for snakes n spiders :O/
    i got stuck in a sandwash on one ride and it took me Ages to get the bike out, i was sweattin me nads off and papping me'self so much i got bad dehydration, felt proper bad for a good few hours (got outta there first tho) Lol

    hora
    Free Member

    Something like 3% of the rights of way network was available to motorized traffic but to some thats too much.

    If that percentage is correct? I am shocked.

    tree-magnet
    Free Member

    From the RA:

    1. The (RA) acknowledge that under current legislation byways open to all traffic (BOATs) are available, as of right, to all classes of user, including those in mechanically propelled vehicles. We are also very aware that there are many other rights of way, either not recorded at all, or presently recorded as footpaths, bridleways or Roads Used as Public Paths (RUPPs) or, in due course, restricted byways which may also carry full vehicular rights. The RA believes that use of such unsurfaced ways by mechanically propelled vehicles is not appropriate in the 21st century. The primary reasons for our view are as follows:

    (i) Unsurfaced routes cannot sustain use by mechanically propelled vehicles. Such usage destroys the surface and creates deep ruts and areas of mud which render routes either unusable or dangerous or unpleasant for use by other classes of user. (ii) The main reasons for visiting the countryside are to experience the peace and quiet it offers, but this experience is destroyed by the incursions of mechanically propelled vehicles into the rights of way network.

    (iii) The activities of mechanically propelled vehicles can be intimidating and present physical dangers to other classes of user.

    (iv) The presence and activities of mechanically propelled vehicles, and the efforts by off-road activists to open up routes for motor vehicles, disturb wildlife and destroys habitats.

    For the "ban the motor bikes, they're not coming for me"… notice it says "Mechanically propelled", not motorised.

    IanMunro
    Free Member

    notice it says "Mechanically propelled", not motorised.

    Notice it says "Mechanically propelled" because that's the wording used in the relevant laws.
    Also note that within the legislation a bicycle isn't considered "Mechanically propelled"

    allthepies
    Free Member

    >notice it says "Mechanically propelled", not motorised.

    MTB's are not mechanically propelled so not sure why you're making the above distinction ?

    Brainflex
    Full Member
    tree-magnet
    Free Member

    allthepies – Member
    >notice it says "Mechanically propelled", not motorised.

    MTB's are not mechanically propelled so not sure why you're making the above distinction ?

    My point is that the ROW network is being slowly shut down to other users by the RA. To think that mtbing is "safe" is obviously flawed, as they have already shifted the definition of who can use a green lane from motorised to mechanically propelled. I honestly believe that if the RA are successfull in shuting down the ROW to motor vehicles, mtb's will be next.

    IanMunro
    Free Member

    As I pointed out they haven't shifted any definition, the term "Mechanically Propelled" is not something they've dreamt up, it's the term used in all the legislation.
    I honestly believe you're completely wrong, I see no evidence of them wishing to ban bicycles, what I do see is trail riders trying desperately to garner some wider support. Unfortunately, and despite the efforts of many good riders, there are alas far too many incosiderate **** on trailbikes for this to work now imo. And mtber's aligning with them will do us no good, as we've a got enough idiots on bicycles already 🙂

    dangerousbeans
    Free Member

    I feel that Tree is on the money.

    Anecdotal, i know, but my dad (to my eternal shame) is a member of the Ramblers and he, along with all the people he walks with, are vehemenantly opposed to mountain bikes having any open countrside access.

    Their arguement is that we now have had significant public monies spent on providing places to ride our bikes at the trail centres. They do say that a few more trail centres should be provided, especially in England, before it would be fair to ban us.

    They even try to sound reasonable when i have discussed it with them – saying that they would agree to give up their right to roam on bike specific trails – thats good of them, isn't it.

    konabunny
    Free Member

    Their arguement is that we now have had significant public monies spent on providing places to ride our bikes at the trail centres.

    A huge amount of public money has been spent constructing and maintaining literally hundreds of thousands of miles of dedicated walker-only trails which run parallel to many roads across the UK… 😉

    Amos
    Free Member

    Well this thread has gone rather tangental! Thanks brainflex for actually answering my original post! 🙂

    dangerousbeans
    Free Member

    Not saying they are right, but this is their position, and I suspect that they (the RA) have a significantly better lobbying ability than MTBers.

    konabunny
    Free Member

    No, I know, I'm just kidding around.

    tree-magnet
    Free Member

    As I pointed out they haven't shifted any definition, the term "Mechanically Propelled" is not something they've dreamt up, it's the term used in all the legislation.

    Incorrect. It was dreamt up in 2005 up to which point it was Motor vehicles.

    epicyclo
    Full Member

    Vader & Lawmanmx – those are my old stomping grounds – all over north Qld. You're making me homesick 🙂

    Lawmanmx
    Free Member

    its a great place to ride and no mistake :O)

    gusamc
    Free Member

    yes, 3% is about right, down from 5% with recentish law changes and upgrades.

    Other % are
    rambling 100%+ (the plus is right to roam, open access, forthcoming coastal path etc)
    horses/pushbike – 21%

    Rightly or wrongly (*wrongly as far as I'm concerned as I've just got bargain Beta Alp) but it's a dying hobby, for a variety of reasons. In a nutshell if you put a lot of rats in a wide open space they're happy, if you put the same number of rats in a much more enclosed space they all start fighting. The UK ain't getting any bigger, however it is getting more populated …….

    ChrisE
    Free Member

    Mechanically Propelled Vehicles was added into the act to make it synchronous with the Road Traffic Act. Early versions of the Act used the term Motor Vehicles but it is felt that ‘Motor’ might become outdated when vehicles are propelled by things other than engines.

    You’ll have to take my word for it. I jacked in work and spent June 2005 to March 2006 working on part 6 of the (NERC) bill, with other people, to try and hone the drafting amongst other things. Much of the work was done by a group called GLPG that was a group specifically set up to work on the bill. It included the Ramblers but also the CTC and the CLA as well as many groups such as the YDGLA and Friends of the Ridgeway.

    There is no agenda with government to curtail the rights of cyclists in fact if you read the NERC Act you will see that cyclists have been given ‘new’ rights that they have never had, specifically to be able to claim public rights of way by virtue of previous use.

    C

    hora
    Free Member

    3% sorry thats shameful.

    I feel green laners should have more access. Sure the illegal mx-riders give the majority a bad name but if only 3% is legally accessible what do you expect if you dont live near any area with such access (or enough)?

    One may note that I was upset after I visit to Lee Quarry with mx'ers riding up the trails- thats because it was dangerous.

    IanMunro
    Free Member

    I feel green laners should have more access.
    They have, it's called roads.

    hora
    Free Member

    Live and let live. I can't understand yomping over hills for fun however I wouldn't dream of restricting anyones access to it. Everyone has a right to the UK . Everyone.

    Responsible access.

    Lawmanmx
    Free Member

    yup, its Everyone's world and No One owns it!!! …. anyone who pisses on anyone elses parade should be stoned ;O) IMO of course, Lol

    hora
    Free Member

    Seriously if they are ridden on the 3% of permissive lanes cant the rest of you just be happy?

    pennine
    Free Member

    Now the YDNP have had to relax their restrictions I saw quite a few on Gorbeck Road (above Settle) today.

    Having said that, I believe there is a proposed TRO mid section to create a non-through route for motor vehicles.

    lobby_dosser
    Free Member

    IanMunro – Member
    I feel green laners should have more access.
    They have, it's called roads

    By that reasoning, cyclists have road access, why should they be allowed off-road? Why would cyclists enjoy riding off road?

    IanMunro
    Free Member

    Seriously if they are ridden on the 3% of permissive lanes cant the rest of you just be happy?

    I live opposite the entrance to a BOAT. If they didn't do wheelspins on the grass outside, fitted silencers that vaguely worked instead of congregating on mass revving them, and maybe occasionally showed a bit of courtesy to other people on the trail, I'd be sympathetic to their plight, but they don't so I'm not 🙂

    IainGillam
    Free Member

    hora – Member
    3% sorry thats shameful.

    I feel green laners should have more access. Sure the illegal mx-riders give the majority a bad name but if only 3% is legally accessible what do you expect if you dont live near any area with such access (or enough)?

    One may note that I was upset after I visit to Lee Quarry with mx'ers riding up the trails- thats because it was dangerous.

    I would expect them to ride their local motocross track, however, people illegally riding off road are rarely anyhing to do with motocross they just happen to ride off road and unfortunatly we all get tarred with the same brush. You won't catch people who attend motocross races riding illegally as if they have forked out thousands of pounds for a bike, kit, servacing etc (and in an increasing number of cases daddy has forked out hundreds of thousands on a motorhome!) they will spend their spare time paying to ride at decent practice track as oppose to a bridelway. Sadly your local chav with a pitbike might decide going down the local footpath is a good idea. That said as someone who regularly races MX and enduro I personally can't understand the appeal of green laning it's dull as ditchwater when compaired and not the best way to take in the scenic country side.

    Iain

    adam_h
    Free Member

    It's less than 3%, as I stated above, It's about 1.85% of ROW are byways open to all traffic or similar. But alot of that small percentage is obstructed (naturally or ilegally by land owners etc.) and alot of BOATs now have TRO's on them preventing anything with an engine going near it. Surely all the haters can survive with the other 98.15% of ROW 🙄

    hora
    Free Member

    I personally can't understand the appeal of green laning

    I can't understand MXing or Enduro- its scary! 🙂 Green-laning is probably liked by those who enjoy the more sedate-experience pootle of off-roading.

    After all, you don't see the majority of mountain bikers hipping off doubles, hitting gnarly downhills or getting any sort of speed or air? Its about just getting out there 🙂

    Is it the noise that people don't like? Ok, I can understand this. Its however short-lived as the rider is soon past you and as long as they limit their speed they aren't upsetting anyone.

    RichPenny
    Free Member

    Surely all the haters can survive with the other 98.15% of ROW

    It isn't quite as simple as that though is it? I used to commute along a byway from my old house into work. Motorised use meant that eventually, large stretches were under 2ft of water for 5 months of the year. End result – byway rendered impassable for most users. In instances like this, do you think it sensible for motorised use to continue?

    crazy-legs
    Full Member

    Arguing about the distinction of "green-laning" and enduro/MX is pointless because, when it's out in the countryside, no-one knows or cares, to the average rambler it's "bloody noisy motorbikes, they should be banned".

    There was a group of about 12 I saw today out in the Peaks. No idea what type of bike nor did I care. As I passed through the same group of walkers that they'd just blatted through I don't think they cared about the type of bike either – they just didn't want them there at all.

    ChrisE
    Free Member

    Pennine – the good news is that Gorbeck will have it's TRO returned next week (in time for the Bank Hol). I would guess that there were extra 4x4s up there today as a 'last gasp'. I've just heard confirmation that Deadmans Hill TRO will start tomorrow (from Scar House Dam to Coverdale) for 18 months min and there were apparently hundreds of trail/enduro bikes up there today.

    C

    IainGillam
    Free Member

    hora – Member

    I personally can't understand the appeal of green laning

    I can't understand MXing or Enduro- its scary! Green-laning is probably liked by those who enjoy the more sedate-experience pootle of off-roading.

    Ha! Hadn't thought of that. Noise is a big issue with motocross tracks, we recently lost a brilliant facillity in winchester after perminant planning permission was applied for in which the facillity would be used less times a year than it had been allowed on the previous years temporary permission. It all boiled down to locals complaining about the noise, however, some people complained about it on days the track was closed! It seams the majority has a bad image of motorbikes in general and want to get rid of the pastime alltogether despite it not affecting them what ever you do to combat what they complain about they find something else.

    Iain

Viewing 40 posts - 41 through 80 (of 81 total)

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