[Closed] Do you ride on footpaths?

Cheezpleez - Member
Why do some people get so worked up over this? It always amuses me when someone who isn't the landowner and who hasn't been put out in any way goes into a piss-boiling frenzy because someone is riding a bike on a foot path. Why do they care?

+1

exactly this in my mind, its not like your in their back garden, but they do have a sense that it is 'theirs', i find it bizarre when you get ranted at about it, and like i said before the last 2 out of 3 times ive been ranted at is by walkers with dogs off the lead (which along with a no cycling sign it also says no dogs off lead) but they choose to ignore that....i just cant grasp how they get so worked up about it

we're just human beings enjoying the great outdoors and countryside, just like they are, you should be out smiling and enjoying yourself not getting worked up about a cyclist riding past you, its a big open land, imo there should be no restrictions, just common sense (ala scotland)

Cheezpleez - Member

Why do some people get so worked up over this? It always amuses me when someone who isn't the landowner and who hasn't been put out in any way goes into a piss-boiling frenzy because someone is riding a bike on a foot path. Why do they care?

I ride only on bridleways now. I used to really enjoy an evening ride down the Thames footpath around where I live. It was stunning and I never saw a soul. It did great things for my well being.

Then a local swiss land owner decided that bikes weren't welcome on the bit of the footpath which crossed one of his many country piles and I got bored with my lovely relaxing ride being ruined by aggressive estate managers/workers blocking my path. I never got aggressive as I knew that pretty much they were in the right no matter how they chose to show it. I really miss that ride 🙁

Yes, but only when dry/frozen and quiet, and in small groups, and with the utmost courtesy.

The law predates the development of mountain biking by at least 10 years and putting MTBs in the same category as horses is absurb - very differant impact and requirements. And all we are doing is committing the same offence as Benny Goodman and his band up on Kinder.

However it is also worth remembering that many walkers, especially older ones, have a very genuine fear of being struck by a bike. I know I can stop, but they don't. And I have a lovely scar on the back of my leg from where an MTBer who crashed into me on a footpath, almost followed by his 5 mates.

As pointed out many times, ROW legislation remains inconsistent and is inherently flawed for modern and future use. RE the OP though, I don't ride on footpaths often at all (maybe 1%) of riding, but I don't have to as access/ ROW here are pretty good. If I lived in an area where access was crap then I might well ride more on footpaths, BUT regardless of “rights” (and wrongs)...

- it's more important how and when you ride than where – i.e. don't piss off other users, mess with livestock/ crops, disturb wildlife.
- riding in ways or at times so that the route/track is damaged by the way you ride is not acceptable.
- I try to chat with landowners/ agents I see when I'm riding – if there's a shoot/ stalk on, or a farmer has brought sheep down for lambing (and so on) then I'm happy to divert a route so as not to interfere with things. Mostly they are pretty sound and helpful, but if they prove themselves to be utter bell-ends (rare, but occasionally) then that's useful knowledge when planning future rides.
- I don't ride on footpaths or tracks that I have been asked not to.
- I wouldn't head for an area miles away and ride a load of footpaths (even if they are good to ride and there are no other ROW that might be used).

In short, as with much in life, it comes down to trying not being a dick.

Lifes too short not to.

I ride everything. I treat other users with respect and courtesy.

I tend to find that only people who are arsy about it are the car park half mile militant ramblers who only populate the "honeypots" if you like. A prime example of this is the BW's around Loughrig. We have a legal right to be there but the waves of indignation that break upon you are just outrageous.

Contrast that with going high and cheeky in the Lakes and you tend to come across fellow outdoor enthusiasts who are, by and large amazed that you have got a bike up there and offer encouragement. I've had some great chats with folk like that when up high.

And as for not riding with your mates because they ride on footpaths ?? really ? I mean ... really ??

Just adding my 2p to make up the numbers; like most people in here I also ride footpaths but use common sense and be as civil (boom-tish) as possible with others. A quick 'hello!' to walkers and always giving way to them are small things but they all make your ride go smoothly and I personally like to think I'm doing my bit for the cycling community 😀

I'm yet to meet anyone who has a problem with my riding, you do occasionally get people who completely blank you or don't return your 'hello', but some people are just miserable bastards anyway 😀

The most fun I had with walkers was actually on the way up Snowdon (evening ascent) the amount of banter ('you should be riding!') and comments from people who were surprised to see a bike up there was great, it actually felt like you were just there enjoying the scenery and brilliant weather, no hostile feelings at all.

I know I can stop, but they don't

I get people who live along lanes telling me to be careful when I'm riding at a really low speed because I can't see round corners, there is a real perception we're not in control.

Interesting experience walking some woods near me last night, knew some lads were getting uplift for a few runs as we'd seen them earlier, dog off the lead trotting along the path [taking a break from raping ground nesting birds and smearing his feaces on everything], at pretty much the 'worst' possible moment the two guys popped over the hill behind us (only a about 7-10 metres visibility). Even I, a rider, got a little panic [from the surprise] on, they really did come up very quiet, anyway they were good lads, slowed to near stop the moment they saw us, I brought the dog to heel and they rode past. I gazed after them jealous of the uplift...

I was wondering after why the panic. lads were in facer's and part of me had felt as thrill seaky DHers, I couldn't be sure they would stop/not be dicks. Also they just appeared suddenly like sith lords!

I ride those cheeky trails myself on some evenings, and you only very rarely meet anyone on them, but it was interesting seeing it from the other side.

I ride anything around here; there aren't many tourists so you tend to just get a nod from walkers and fell runners. In the peaks/lakes/similar I'd stick to legal routes.

The only problem I ever had was with dogs was when a snarling bull terrier bit my front wheel and punctured it. I was too wuss to kick the bugger 🙁

[url= http://www.cheekytrails.co.uk/ethics.htm ]http://www.cheekytrails.co.uk/ethics.htm[/url]
To me, this seems to be based mainly on common sense.
RM.

No hard and fast rules for me; I live in a pretty quiet part of the world and sometimes never see another soul. Its best to think about what you're doing and the impacts it will cause. I discourage people from riding some of the sensitive bridlepaths around here when its wet, there are stone footpaths and unclassified paths that can take the abuse. I won't ride some routes on a Bank Holiday because I know there will be lots of walkers, etc. On a frozen, bleak January morning the world is my oyster; no damage, no altercations, no inconvenience caused to anyone.

Thanks all for sharing your thoughts on this. Seems like the riding sensibly (where, when and how) works for most people where it concerns FPs ... almost unanimously.

Totally agree that the RoW set-up in England is dumb. Access works pretty well in Scotland, which is where I'm from. Maybe riding FPs with consideration is a positive thing, as the historic trespass on Kinder was many years ago.

Just to add to the couple of comments questioning what I wrote about riding on FPs with my mates. I have followed my mates down FPs when out for a ride (last time a couple of weeks ago) - it just doesn't feel right to me. What it does make me do is question (beforehand) if I want to go on a [u]specific[/u] ride knowing that it will take in FPs.

Yes - since about 4 years ago - a lot of others were doing it so I do now.

The final spur was seeing frequent pictures in Singletrack magazine of quite a few local 'footpaths' being ridden.

Several active clubs that ride in the area also seem happy to do so.

There are even Stava segments on well known ones !

Always try and recognise that as a rider I have lowest priority, give way, remain cheery etc. and never skid. That last one is a reason that I would only show a select few certain 'trails'.

No wonder so many cuss the trail centre in favour of natural trails if you ride on footpaths as well.

[quote=innit_gareth ]No wonder so many cuss the trail centre in favour of natural trails if you ride on footpaths as well.

No it's just because they are snobs.

I ride footpaths, unless there's a specific no bikes sign, rarely get any grief, I make an effort to move off the trail if I come across any walkers, slow down and say hello. Don't see the problem really. It's not a motorbike!

Also tend to find that a lot of footpaths are singletrack, and therefoe fun to ride.

Lakes: No

Everywhere else:

I try not to but yes

Not that often as i dont have to, but on occasion yes. Try to avoid them though, too much dog crap.

Oscillate Wildly - Member
i watched a person let his dog shit on a FP last saturday, he let it shit right in the middle of the narrowish path,

piedi di formaggio - Member

You should have picked it up in a big leaf, shouted 'Hey! You dropped something!' and chucked it at him

Or called the dog over and rubbed the mess all over the dog's fur. The owner might understand why people get so stroppy about walking dogmess into their house then..

*********

Last Sunday, riding a FP, I stopped to let a dogwalker past. She complained about MTBs 'flying around the bend at 30mph and knocking her off the path'. I laughed and said that it was unlikely as there was a stile right behind me, and anyway I had stopped to let her pass simply to allow her space. If she had a problem with other MTBers she should take it up with them. All discussed in a civil, almost friendly way.

Then, no joke, one of her dogs tried to bite my leg.

I didn't swear, just pointed out the obvious, that if she wanted the higher ground then her behaviour, and her dogs', needed to be beyond reproach, footpath or not. She wandered off giving daggers to the dog and I rode off alternating between smugness and anger at almost being bitten!

Yep, abso****inluteley! 99% of the tails we ride are footpaths, they seem too be tastier than bridleways. 😆

Lakes: No

Some top level cheek in the lakes that generally gets you encouraging remarks from walkers. OTOH busy BWs lower down can get you a load of abuse from stupid walkers.

<edit> has to be said most of my lakes trail poaching is done midweek, I'd be a bit more circumspect at weekends, but there's so many trails far away from the honey pots where seeing another soul is still unlikely at weekend and if a biker rides a footpath but there's no one there to see it, it's definitely not a crime 🙂

Many footpaths around my area (close to London) have not seen a foot in years so I believe I am doing the countryside some service by maintaining a path's usage - albeit using a bike. I think some of the footpaths around here would not be passable by man nor beast if it were not for bikers.....I have had some interesting encounters with walkers on Bridleways though - including a lady golfer relieving herself in the middle of a bridleway that cuts through a golf course. Such fun......

^ what DONK said

A (rambling) member of our Local Access Forum told me it would be impossible for walkers to share footpaths with bikes, because: "What if I were walking on a footpath through a field of crops and a cyclist came the other way. How would we get past each other?" 🙄

Yes but have third party insurance just in case they don't move quick enough 😉

Wozza - Member
Lakes: No

That "horses churning up the bridleways" thing isn't always a bad thing - there's a couple of bridleways on my regular, local loop that I'd probably be bored of by now, but since they're used by lots of horses, rocks getting dislodged etc, it's like a different trail every time I ride it, never quite sure how each bit will flow until I get to it.

In answer to the OP, pretty much a "no" but if I wasn't lucky enough to have plenty of bridleways round here that work for me, then maybe.

One near me gets regular llama traffic, its worn down to the bedrock now and has loads of steps and features, its ace!

pussywillow - Member

Yep, abso****inluteley! 99% of the tails we ride are footpaths, they seem too be tastier than bridleways.

Odd issue this cos in my experience I've met more mountain bikers who have an issue with riding on footpath than I have walkers. Maybe it's just the people I ride with, but the suggestion of riding a particular footpath usually sparks debate among the bikers, whereas the walkers I see on footpaths usually give a cheery wave and comment about how they can barely walk the thing let alone ride a bike down it.

Being a Manchester based Peak biker, the Kinder Trespass is the big killer argument for me. The irony of ramblers/walkers in the Peak telling bikers that they're not allowed in certain areas is almost too much to not ride on footpaths.

I ride footpaths, unless there's a specific no bikes sign

I love cycling on paths with no bikes signs. Sadly most of them seem to say no cycling. However some around here simply have a picture of a bike crossed out - fair game I reckon. 😉

Being a Manchester based Peak biker, the Kinder Trespass is the big killer argument for me. The irony of ramblers/walkers in the Peak telling bikers that they're not allowed in certain areas is almost too much to not ride on footpaths.

The real irony is there were cyclists on the trespass.

Yep, happy to ride a footpath so long as it's quiet (in a similar vein, I avoid trail centres at the weekend 😉 ). Slow up, make polite conversation and most are very civil. I use one path where the landowner doesn't bikes ridden, so I push the 20-30m. Not a problem really.

Yup. Pretty regularly.

As with many others, it's about common sense. Don't go hooning on a busy Sunday. Don't ride trails, BW or FP, if they're not in a good enough condition to ride without damaging them. Show appropriate respect for other trail users.

Mid week in the summer? Anything goes... 😀

There is also the point as mentioned above, that a FP doesn't sepcifically mean no bikes, it just means I don't have a legal right of way, and could be asked to leave the land by the landowner or their appointed agent. If the landowner doesn't know or care that I'm there, well, game on...

I feel a bit sorry for all the people who's lives are SO miserable, they have to share it with everybody they meet by picking arguments with them. Its amazing how the "real" outdoors enthusiasts don't give a monkeys either way, so long as you're polite & friendly.

I'll admit I was a bit annoyed by the group of MXers REALLY obviously cheeking a FP in the Peaks on Sunday, partly because they were a group, being far too blatant, noisy and smelly, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, right next to Hope, but mostly because they were too damn slow down it. I gave 'em 2 minutes head start on a 2 minute descent and caught them 1/2 way down...

Like most I avoid if I can but if I use FPs to link local trails then I'll ride them when I know they are going to be quiet. Had a good one the other day: Asked a farmer if the path I was turning onto was the bridleway, he then says 'yes it is, but you're not allowed to ride your bike on a bridleway'

yep, ride where ever I like really within reason. I don't plan a ride around them but if they are on route and suitable then I always have. Obviously ride according to the terrain/place you are etc and ride sensibly...

Yep, but always give way to walkers and if coming from behind let them know so I don't give them a fright. Never had a problem, just say hi and carry on.

Always have, always will.
In the beginning I didn't know mtbers shouldn't be on footpaths and now I ride where I'm not upsetting anyone, causing erosion, or as others have said, not on a busy peak time at a honeypot spot with glorious weather.

double standards surely?

No.

Footpaths - fair game

as long as:-

slow down for walkers
do not cause erosion
avoid peak times blah blah blah etc etc....

This may be taken as blasphemy but in my locality horse riders cause more damage to [u]footpaths[/u] than mountain bikers.......

I've seen this from both sides of the fence.

I used to be a gamekeeper and lost count of the numbers of walkers/day trippers/sex craved individuals 😀 I've had to tell to leave the private ground they were trespassing on funny enough never saw any bikers but there you go.

It's was usually down to 2 things; distubance and their own safety. On the whole people were ok had a couple of death threats as well but mainly people were just bumberling along in the wrong place. I always remember the day I was looking down the scope of a .243 full bore rifle when the target did one and a pair of boots and socks came into view 😯

We NEVER prosecuted we just explained where they had gone wrong and directed them to the correct right of way for walkers or for people at night in there cars naked shone 150,000 candel power lamping into the car and told them to "Get dressed and F@~K Off! Your on Private land" 😆

From a biking point of view locally I do ride some footpaths but strangly enough when we go on a proper rides, lakes etc we always stick to bridleways don't know why but we just do 🙂

The only trouble I've had on the bike has been dog walkers complaining I had no bell on a canal path as their dog wondered on it's 30 foot bloody lead 🙄 And I woman screaming at me on a bridleway "There people round the corner!, There people round the corner!" which to be fair I was trveling at a fair lick but had seen them before she opened her mouth 😀

Yes, didn't even realise there was a difference when I was a kid. Now the internet has taught me different but as others have said, I'm polite and friendly and avoid the busiest times and places. I'm not afraid of a debate with a walker if they want it (since they don't have the right to ask me to leave and have no way of knowing if i have the right to be there anyway) but have never had worse than someone ignoring my greeting or mumbling under their breath so far - and even that's rare.

Slightly more common are strategically placed logs which are a conscious attempt to harm but I just stop and throw them away before riding back up the hill and coming down a bit quicker.

badllama:

We NEVER prosecuted

Funny, when I started riding on footpaths 20-odd years ago we knew very well we weren't supposed to - and we got told it by walkers all the time.

Hardly ever get moaned at now, so I'd say people are getting used to us and realising MTBs don't actually cause any damage most of the time.

🙂

That's because you can't, surely?

not knowing the correct terminology, but you can in a civil court if you have losses due to the act of trespass - eg lanoner losing out ion grouse-shooting income cos some eejit on a bike has run over the nesting chicks etc.