So I've decided to do the MIAS Level 2 Guide course in June.
I've been told that a good thing to do before the course is brush up on access and rights of way - wheres the best place to find info?
Thanks
Depends on what 'brush up' means... If it means understanding an OS map and the rights of way shown on it with regard to where we should and should not ride, then that is quite straightforward. (Bridleways and higher designation - OK. Paths where the landowner has given permission - OK, etc...)
Much more than that seems a bit excessive...
The Highways Act 1980 is also relevant (footpaths and bridleways are types of highway).
But the problem with ROWs is that most of them are not created by statute, so the legislation talks about them without saying what they are. A good summary of how they arise (in England and Wales) is in this case:
Fortune and others v Wiltshire Council and another [2012] EWCA Civ 334
If you read under the heading "Legal Principles".
Actually the bit about being able ot ride a bike on a bridleway is s. 30 of the Countryside Act 1968.
Look up stuff on permissive footpaths/bridleways also, which aren't a RoW for a specific group but are allowed.
Then there are Byelaws which can change things, allowing or revoking access.
Nice site with Rights of Way maps...
Interesting to see how many Bridleways go nowhere or convert into footpaths. Many of which are perfectly suitable for riding the length of, but just not suited to horses on the footpath section, or the bridleway ends at a stable/farm and footpath continues. Which is why bikes lumped in with horse designation is so wrong. #mybikeisnotahorse
North Downs Way is an example of a disjointed route when it comes to cycling as it's advertised for cycling but parts are footpath with some seemingly permissive to bikes and some parts clearly signed "no bikes" and other parts are bridleway. Sticking to the rules it's frustrating to ride, but the footpath sections are largely not an issue to share. Horses would struggle with some parts or make a total mess of it, so more understandable, but we have no bike specific RoW. There are campaigns to get the NDW converted into a full length cycle path though.