On that council response, while yes basically the bikes may not be on a right of way, first it's only trespass if the landowner says so, second trespass isn't a criminal offence and third regardless of trespass, any attempt in the UK to kill someone trespassing is attempted murder. "Trespassers will be shot / garrotted" is not legal in this country.
But there lies one of the problems with access, because so many land owners are aware of this and realise they are liable for injuries to trespassers. So they do all they can to keep people out (to be fair that's their requirement anyway to be able to prosecute trespass).
If on the other hand liability was waived and it's purely at the rider's risk if they enter land they have no right of way to, then perhaps more land owners would be tolerant.
I guess that's the trouble with this story. It won't be land owners setting the traps but they could restrict the access if they risk being liable. So the miserable dogs who actually do set them could get their way if the threat is seen to be high enough
but it may not be that they want to stop ALL access, just bikes. but thanks to their actions it could cause that particular route to be barred indefinitely...
Trespass or not, the punishment for trespass is not murder!
Had that happen here in New Mexico several years ago and a couple riders got pretty cut up on fine gauge, stainless steel wire strung across fast, steep downhill sections. They caught the guy and he was prosecuted by the Feds as it was on National Forest land. If I recall correctly, he was fined $3000 and spent 60 days in the slammer.
He got caught as someone saw him doing it a second time and shadowed him back to the trail parking lot and got his license number.
Woody - so your riding on a private land on a footpath?
What did the land owner say when you contacted them to say that some one is disturbing your riding on their private land, where your not supposed to be?
Whilst I don't agree with whatever the person is doing, maybe you should just stay away from the trails for a bit, after all your not supposed to be there in the first place?
Hopefully the land owner will pursue it with the Police
Firstly I am not condoning this. However there are other things to consider.
1. Sticks. So trivial as to be irrelevant. Unless your route is a totally dedicated and constructed cycle track then other users have as much right to put sticks down as they like. I suspect some do it to slow bikes down. That's their choice and so what. Other mays be kids for a laugh. Other may well be horse riders who do so to get the horse used to this for a variety of reasons . a) they can do so and slowing a rider down is to many people a good thing and b)its a bike ride, get off and walk round. Can't stop? Then you are going too fast. As a cyclist I have pushed trees into unofficial tracks where they suddenly shoot out onto a path used by elderly dog walkers. I ensure that this isn't behind a blind bend as I know that many riders are not clever enough to ride within their stopping distances. However if it slows some dimwit down where they should be a bit more responsible then job well done.
Cables and wire are another thing. Agreed there will be some nutters out there and these need stopping of course, but again a lot of these will be kids not thinking it through. They will have seen some film or pc game where this happens and that's it. a bit of education isn't a bad idea and if you do get knocked off or hurt contact the local press. I bet even the most rabid wire stringer doesn't actually want an injury but they haven't thought it through.
Police of course if its dangerous and of course the landowner. Not happy talking to the landowner? Tells me you shouldn't be there.
As I said, not condoning it, just reacting to the fire breathing.
andybrad - Member
Lots of logs appearing around halifax area at the moment.
Is any of that up on Norland? I've run into arsey dog walkers up there, we all got to the top of a trail at the same time, they leapt to set off ahead of us then got arsey when we (politely, slowly) wanted to pass a few seconds later.
not a lot up norland appart from arsy dog owners. ive had the same issues. Dogs out of control (off leads so need shooting 😉 ) but they dont want to share it. A few times ive had "should you be riding a bike on here" tbh im not sure....?
Ive personally had it a lot. there seems to be a lot of people which an agenda against bikers (be that road or mtb) in our area. I wonder if the reason is because its such a good riding area we get a lot of people out.
The main areas where ive had trouble are elland / binns / the canal (especially and its a cycle route!), rastrick and some parts of fixby. Thankfully i live near fixby so blocking the path provides me with wood for my fire 🙂
a lot of them are just logs mainly. trouble is its always on a downhill and if its wet it can be an issue. the thing is people i meet seem to be getting more agressive with it. what used to be a "show down" is not "get out of my f88king was you f t ill rip your head off etc etc"
worrying
