I have been at logger heads with RoW here in North Dorset at their lack of proactive bridleway clearance over the last few years. This year has been especially bad and whilst I understand that they have had their budgets cut it's damn annoying to see the trail teams cutting verges and parking areas where the grass is already short and poses no safety hazard.
I just get the impression that they'd rather have nice tidy verges for motorists than clear trails which encourage people to get out on their bikes and enjoy the beauty that Dorset offers.
Such a shame as if the right people were involved that really believed in getting people out doors, be it cycling / walking or horse riding then I think great things could be achieved.
I even suggested that they should try and get local businesses to sponsor trails so as to raise funds, but no one seems interested.
Keen to hear from other's on hear whether your local RoW team actively engage with local riders on what trails are used and therefore kept in a decent state.
30 minutes and not a single comment. It's a shame that there seems to be so much apathy regarding this. If every mountain biker on here engaged with their RoW team and raised issues with said teams the MTB community would have a voice. Bridleways would not end up in falling into disrepair and potentially being lost for ever when the landowner applies for the access to be revoked.
The ramblers and BHS are very engaged with RoW.
[url= http://www.bhs.org.uk/access-and-bridleways ]http://www.bhs.org.uk/access-and-bridleways[/url]
Surely, isn't it also time that us mountain bikers also have a voice?
Are you allowed to clear paths yourself ? There are several near me that would not take me long to clear a bit.
I'm tempted to just get on and do it
I'm in north Dorset. All the BWs near me seem to get cleared by the farm owners pretty regularly.
Biggest issue for me has been the tracks being chewed up by horse riders with the wet weather, but that can't really be helped.
I care. Lots around me have had their signposts moved or fallen into disrepair. You can guarantee with no signage = less people using and a future application to remove the RoW.
Are you allowed to clear paths yourself ? There are several near me that would not take me long to clear a bit.
I'm tempted to just get on and do it
Everyone has the right to abate a nuisance, so yes, if it's obstructing your path you can
LA's may [i]prefer[/i] you to do a training session, ours holds them for walkers and horse riders but little MTB interest
The apathy of the mountain bike community is a problem, but, well, many feel they are so disengaged from the system ithat there's no benefit - "no one likes us and we don't care"
Have you spoken to the LAF? Why not head over to a meeting and spectate, you can normally ask a question
That's the issue. Landowners are not responsible for clearance. Only the growth from hedges and above. The council have responsibility for growth from the ground.I'm in north Dorset. All the BWs near me seem to get cleared by the farm owners pretty regularly.
The horses are a pain, but I think to myself that they have been riding those same trails for many hundreds of years before the MTB came along.
Yep.I care. Lots around me have had their signposts moved or fallen into disrepair. You can guarantee with no signage = less people using and a future application to remove the RoW.
I recently raised a request for a bridleway to be cleared. 4 weeks later I emailed and was told it does not need doing. When I cycled said trail, the only reason they hadn't cleared it was because the farmer had cut the crop and people were riding over his land instead of the trail that no longer existed.
I have in the past volunteered and helped the RoW team clear trails, but unless you have a tractor with flail and some decent brush cutters you will not achieve much.Are you allowed to clear paths yourself ? There are several near me that would not take me long to clear a bit.
I'm tempted to just get on and do it
I was planning on volunteering again, but whilst I continue to see zero strategy from them then I won't bother.
I have asked whether a group could be trained and take the tractor / brush cutters out at the weekend, but was told H&S prohibits it. Shame.
Landowners are not responsible for clearance. Only the growth from hedges and above. The council have responsibility for growth from the ground
Interesting. I did not know this.
Yes. It doesn't make any sense, but that's the way it is.Interesting. I did not know this.
Just for reference. If you live in Dorset and spot a problem. Overgrown, broken gates, missing signs. Then do please report it. Very simple to do.
[url= https://mapping.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/rightsofway/reportproblem/LocateArea ]https://mapping.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/rightsofway/reportproblem/LocateArea[/url]
Overgrown, broken gates, missing signs. Then do please report it
There is actually a couple of missing signs I'll report. Cheers!
I believe the average age in Dorset is about 77 so of course they prioritise roads; if the old Giffers can be quickly and efficiently transported from the nursing home to the funeral home there will be uproar...
I clear paths / bridleways myself, clear in terms of overgrown brambles / shrubs etc. I have even seen a group of mtb-ers cutting up a largish tree which had fallen over a bridleway and remained uncleared for 3 weeks.