Hi all not sure if anyone has posted this yet but the link below was forwarded to me by a friend today. This is a new "City of London consultation document". Corporation of London are the guys who own Epping forest.
After trying and (eventually failing) to end Carls tea hut it seems they are now after mountain bikers!
Beginning of the end?
I don't ride there very much but it would be sad to lose it.
Is it time for some sort of organised ride to show support for keeping it unrestricted? I'm sure that if done properly a massed MTB ride would surprise the corporation, it's got easy access from London so it affects a fair amount of us.
That doesnt read as stopping biking, but rather stopping many of the 'biker own made' trails that are damaging the ecology, and stopping the jumps being built.
That's sensible.
Not sure about the night time riding, it looks like they want to stop that, but again, it is a day-time venue, so stopping night time use isnt too bad - the car parks are closed at night anyway. A compromise may be only 'x to y' area may be used at night. There's no fishing at night too, so they are being consistent.
Didn't read like no more biking just stop being dicks and building jumps etc which is fair enough as for night riding can't see how they would police that.
"Though research has indicated that the pressure from mountain bikes is buffered by tyres, erosion of trails, and of parts of the Forest floor where cyclists go off the trails, has become significant in some areas as mountain biking has become more popular, with moss banks, stream banks and heather heathlands showing particular damage." "keep to designated trails"
The actual meaning of the wording above is what concerns me as when I ride Epping I ride singletrack(thats what mountain biking and this site is all about isn't it?). I rarely ride the bridleways and fire roads which is what I believe they are referring too as "designated trails". I think we need to find out what they actually class as a "designated trail".
That doesnt read as stopping biking, but rather stopping many of the 'biker own made' trails that are damaging the ecology, and stopping the jumps being built.
Biker own made trails represent 95% of Epping's singletrack. Im slightly disapointed in the overuse of negativity towards bye laws and manners, becuase with me approching nearly 20 years of MTB'ing in Epping, I've observed many a caution for walkers and horses and zero negativity. The jumps and ramps aren't allowed, no issues with that.
Policing night riding can be done. Most cyclists gather in one of the car parks - the rangers could have a word with them there. Otherwise they are easy to spot with 1000 lkumens being the norm - having said that if a random person jumped out at me on a night ride my first reposnse wouldn't be pleasant for obvious reason * so they need to approach this carefully.
* In case it isn't obvious, theres the threat of bike-jacking or mugging at night which although not recorded or known would certainly be at the forefront of my mind if suprised in the forest.
We need Grayson Perry to have a word.
This has been going on for that last 5 years in Epping since the growth in use of the forest. The jump area I would guess they are talking about are Pole Hill & Loughton Camp. These two area are from my experience not used by MTB riders but kids on jump bikes particularly Loughton Camp.
The quote about going off the trail I suspect is in relation to riding round the mud holes, this has always been a point of issue even involving other MTB riders some of who ride through a mud hole & others who ride round it creating a bigger hole.
Night riding I am lost as to what they are on about as I rode for yrs at night in the forest & hardly came across any other riders ??
I don't live in the area any more so don't ride there but I would suggest a counter argument to any restrictions in riding the forest would be ask the rangers to make it safe & actually care about MTB users as I & a very good friend over the yrs have come across & reported countless acts of blatant & dangerous trail sabotage with absolutely zero interest from the rangers in dealing with this.
the other section where they could talk about 'jumps etc' is further along high beech heading towards Epping, the fast descent that kinda runs parallel to claypit hill ?
We need Grayson Perry to have a word.
That is actually a very good idea.
Hope this turns out to be a storm in a teacup, the idea of stopping people night riding seems ridiculous frankly.
Haven't ridden Epping in a few years now, and I'd never bother again if I had to stick to the wide bridleways.
Reading through the consultation paper it doesn't mention stoping riding as far as I can see. it talks about management which TBH I think would be a good thing. Me & my mate over the yrs spent hours in the forest maintaining trails & saving ones that were about to be lost where the Rangers & Col had no interest. The problem with Epping is the clay base which means it drains terribly, there are trails & areas Eg Bury Wood that are desperate for some sort of management to keep the trails alive & rideable. We spoke to rangers & CoL numerous times but the idea was always to leave the forest as it is ( fallen tress drainage etc) & try to interfere as little as possible. This is a great idea from a preservation of all things natural & was in part what makes Epping so special but a little help here & there could go a long way to making it even better.
I use the place, not often enough for it to cause me any pain if it was restricted. But it's a great place for a Hack once in a while, see a few folks out during the early evenings I've been up there. Don't go over at the weekend yet but that will change soon as the nights draw in and I'm in the area.
reported countless acts of blatant & dangerous trail sabotage with absolutely zero interest from the rangers in dealing with this.
I assume you mean by non riders? I've lost count of the times I've come across strategically placed logs.
Saplings & tree branches at head height, bushes & trail brambles half way down descents & barbed wire & broken glass on singletrack