[Closed] United Utilities clamping down on MTB's again... Entwistle now.

arse

[i]We tend to find those who break the rules may do so in all innocence[/i]

bogtrotters excepted...

Discuss

Move to Scotland 😉

Not really appropriate.

[i] they actively seek out the steepest, most adrenaline-charged routes [/i]

anyone got a GPS of this, sounds awesome!

“Riding your bike on footpaths is the same as riding on a pavement in a built-up area — it is technically illegal.”

wrong both ways. Riding a rural footpath is a tort and not illegal. Riding on the pavement is actually illegal, not just technically.

It's trespass, which isn't really a crime. A bit like swearing in public and possibly less fun than doing the missus up the wrong'un.

they actively seek out the steepest

but most reservoirs are unimaginatively level...
[img] [/img]

My mother in law , 75, as walking on a footpath, was complaining last time of mountain bikers using the same footpath. She was very annoyed as she was expecting to walk safely without worrying about cyclists. Then I realised I will be annoyed just like her if I see somebody walking on those built trails in mountain bike centres, as I'm not expected any walkers on them. But I know, we are all perfects here, slowing down all the time when near a walker, and it's just those inconsiderate bikers who give a bad name to us.

Perhaps UU, could fix the leak in the road near me, been leaking for 3 weeks plus now, and the call centre staff are about as useful as the ones who used to work at a certain bank, perhaps they transfered.

So is sodomising your wife or girlfriend, apparently.

Only in some states of one of our former colon-ies so i wouldn't worry about it too much.

“There are plenty of bridleways around local reservoirs, which means you can still have a great day out on your bike, without impairing the enjoyment of walkers."

“There are plenty of footpaths around local reservoirs, which means you can still have a great day out on foot, without impairing the enjoyment of cyclists."

Fixed that for them.

This is the biggest problem our countryside rangers face.

To be fair, I sort of agree in so far as if roles were reversed I wouldn't want cyclists screaming past me when I was walking along a designated footpath.

That said, if they're not going to signpost it then they've only got themselves to blame. It's all a bit silly really.

Not much to dicuss really - the law is an ass...

"illegal" is a pretty meaningless word, avoided by anyone with legal knowledge.

Outside of an urban area, the whole legitimacy issue of riding bikes on a footpath (one where there is no road next to it and which crosses rural terrain) is a nonsense.

The argument made in that article is that it is for the saftey or walkers. Well if that's the case why are we allowed to ride on bridleways on which you are as likely to meet walkers as you are on footpaths? Come to think of it, if it rule is there to protect walkers, how come horses are allowed on bridleways as well?

The whole thing is just ancient bylaw rubbish that happens to serve the interests of the walkers and rule bound ninnies. As someone has justly pointed out, they don't have this distinction in Scotland.

Perhaps it's about time we reclaimed all rights of way?

I didn't see a single walker to upset whilst out on my tour of UU footpaths in the Bolton area last evening.
Just other bikers enjoying themselves. 😆

And the only walker who commented on Wed night's outing didn't seem to appreciate that he wasn't supposed to be there any more than I was, as it wasn't even a footpath.

They are probably getting lots of complaints from dog walkers who use it as a canine toilet area

It won't be helped by the odd rider who expresses his view of people who don't get out of the way

One of the rangers span me a line about mtbers killing an OAP there once, total lie.

I would have thought the doggers in the car park would be of more concern

Thing with doggers is, they don't normally come hurtling past you at speed unless they're really showing off.

they don't normally come hurtling past you at speed unless they're really showing off.

ss's get booed and that can upset the badgers

I've always wondered whether a mass trespass on bikes around say, Kinder Downfall, would be a good idea. It would certainly point out the bare-faced hypocrisy of it all.

This is the biggest problem; our countryside ranger's face.

Is he [i]that[/i] ugly? Poor man.

i used to negotiate access issues for climbers and though many climbers don't belong to a club or directly to the bmc (british mountaineering council) enough did to be able to argue that the body represented the majority and could put pressure on any minorities that didn't always except compromises - in my mind no one body effectively represents mtb

people like UU can't even appeal to anyone to help in reducing the antisocial activities of what i'm sure will be a minority - really UU need help in drawing up some user guidelines like agreeing a few specific problem paths to be avoided in exchange for freedom everywhere else i believe they are supposed to encourage active leisure use of their resources and the illegal stuff is tosh - the landowner can allow whatever they want (subject planning law) right of way law is as ever being used to define access rather than as intended to preserve access - some sort of local user group is needed maybe with some CTC help

Antigee - sorry is that some sort of dig at me?

This always strikes me as a potential focal point.
[url= http://boltonramblers.org.uk/newsjul.html ]Winter Hill Trespass[/url]
See the nice little stone aside the FOOTPATH which happens to be a well used mountainbike track.[url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367472&Y=413280&A=Y&Z=120&ax=367472&ay=413280 ] It's here[/url].

I'll be passing it on my Sunday ride and it kind of begs someone to challenge my being there. 👿

geetee1972 - Member
Antigee - sorry is that some sort of dig at me?

no - i'd broadly agree with what you said

(unless you are a single speed dogger that is)

Antigee - sorry, I meant your login name 😆

Gee + Antigee = ❗

I get [b]far[/b] more stick for riding non rights-of-way from other MTBers than any other category of person!

geetee1972 - Member
Antigee - sorry, I meant your login name

no i'm not one of the "usual suspects" that create new logins at will 🙄

antigee = "anti gravity" not anti anyone

You know i was joking right?

Ironically, a while back, I met an ROW officer on an MTB on Darwen Moor... riding the footpath and yet simulateously whincing at the mention of Boggies. 😕

I get far more stick for riding non rights-of-way from other MTBers than any other category of person!

Quite sad really. Other special interest groups (walkers, climbers, surfers etc) get organised to achieve progress for their respective sports/activities, whereas we cyclists seem to spend most of our time sniping at each other about riding on footpaths, jumping red lights etc. Either that or highlighting the differences (eg mtbers v roadies) between us.

If you go over to www.ukclimbing.com you don't see the alpinists slagging off the boulderers or the trad climbers having a go at the sport climbers.

"I get far more stick for riding non rights-of-way from other MTBers"

Not true Simon. Few here mind you riding FPs, cos most of us do it too. What concerned me is that you seemed insensitive to potential conflict with other users.

I don't want another forum row with you. Actually I'd like to chat over a pint. How about coming on the Mendip ride next weekend (Sun 15th)? I'll be including a couple of FPs 🙂

Not true Simon. Few here mind you riding FPs

you could have fooled me :o)

Actually I'd like to chat over a pint

I hate beer ? Sorry, I'm booked up 🙂

What concerned me is that you seemed insensitive to potential conflict with other users.

mainly because I believe that to be a made up bogey-story!

Ironically, a while back, I met an ROW officer on an MTB on Darwen Moor... riding the footpath and yet simulateously whincing at the mention of Boggies.

we have our own tame one :o)

To be honest I fall into the group of people that know it's a footpath but ride it anyway. I grew up round that way but haven't ridden there in a few years.

A mass tresspass would be a bad idea. If you are going to ride on things where people may disapprove I'd be descrete and if anybody complains just dismiss it politely. IIRC you cannot be arrested for trespass as it's a civil not criminal offence and the only thing they can do is claim for damages. Not sure about endangering others though.

"I hate beer ?"

Did I say beer? (no)

[img] [/img]

Pity you can't come. Another time.

Question is, are these footpaths round Entwistle Res actually worth riding?? They don't seem to go or get you anywhere! I normally pass it buy without a second glance on the Witton Weavers Way (which is also marked as a footpath?!!) on route to Holcombe tower.

"This is the biggest problem our countryside rangers face."

really? Can't be too bad then.

There was supposed to be a feasibility study for trails around Entwistle, I suppose this is gonna cast a bad light now?

There was supposed to be a feasibility study for trails around Entwistle, I suppose this is gonna cast a bad light now?

Roger that... 🙁

Seeing as riding on footpaths is trapass and not illegal, and UU got the ex Waterboard land FOC, and that it used to belong to us, I've no problem with riding it, beats me why the walkers think that it's a probem, it's almost our civic duty to do it!

tell them to **** off

tell them to **** off

that would be rude! Say something like "share and share alike!" 🙂

To be fair, the rding around there ( jumbles / wayoh / entwistle) is at best useful for linking up better trails. The approach uu are taking at Rivington is much more worrying. If you wanted to pick a fight with them, I'd be concentrating my efforts there. Or has the Strawbury Duck improved recently 🙂

That's appears to be part of the feasibility study, the plan as i heard it, is for a loop linking healy nab, rivvi, smithills and the reservoirs but Bolton council isnt as enlightened as Chorley or Lancs cc...

As was stated earlier, this could be an early play in the defence against the plans, maybe a cost cutting exercise?

tell them to **** off

that would be rude! Say something like "share and share alike!"

So your telling me fellows road users arent complimenting me? 😥

tell them to **** off, the walkers are on a march to steal the entire countryside for themselves, kill em all , thats what I say! 🙂

it is an interesting issue and I agree the no go areas in exchange for freedom is the better option but we get too choose routes.
I walk their with young kids and the only thing they need to be wary of is MTB ers who do come down paths at high speed well above stopping speed and I suspect there have been a number of accidents between MTB ers and walkers at various locations bridleways included throughout the UK.
Perhaps we should consider how we would feel if they started walking trail centres - I dont ride them either but you see my point.
I ride with someone off here and we joke that my role is to go down everything slower than him and apologise to the walkers he has scared.
Sadly their is conflict because of the perceived high speed of mtb. I have been walking and had a walker hit by a mtb going up hill and when she said be careful politely he told her to f off they all turned to me as if I was also to blame. Bikers are not always perfect.
Sometime rights have to be balanced we have the right to ride the countryside but people have the right to walk their dogs and children safely in the countryside. A little more respect from both sides would go a long way.
SFB you get more stick from us as we all do ride paths to some degree but most dont do it with such little regard for erosion conditions numbers* etc as you. I get your view but it is the MTB equivalent of walkers blocking your path - little regard for other users making reasonable requests. Not looking to argue I understand why you do this as you do have a point and I am confident I wont persuade you otherwise.

*You are also probably more honest in this respect than many posters on here.

Good discussion lads... just what I was after. However, I am shocked by the amount of posters here who appear to regularly ride on my land without my permission.

Entwistle's recognised dog walk is shit, your right, but on occasion it makes a good link up. We only tend to do it at night as its a PITA during the day with all the walkers, however there can be some nice ladieees there too.

But there is some good stuff in the forests surrounding the res... and I;d hate to have to tell a ranger to go forth and multiply if I met him in there.

Anyway.. our attitude is summed up in a pic from years ago at the res in question.

[img] [/img]

You lot do know that i've got me application in for the northern area rangers position? Fight em from the other side... 😀

first off Geoffj,
Yep the strawbury Duck is much improved. It reopened the other week. It is all clean inside and done up very well. It is MTB friendly and more importantly the beer is truely excellent. I had the best Timi taylors Landord I can remember. Pedigree the other night was also very good.

As for cycling around Entwistle and the other resis. I think guys who do it as a w/e day time ride are mad and it is like waving a red rag at a bull as it is so full of walkers. If you want to ride there do a Lowey says and do it at night.

I do or at least did day time ride around with my boys when they were small as it is one of the few flat routes little kids can do. They have been taught to be totally respectful of dogs and walkers.

But the resi paths are a flat (boring) route. Stick away from the waters edge paths during day time and then we will not raise their hackles.

[i]

We do, however, also get problems with mountain bikers who are well aware which routes are footpaths and which are bridleways, but they actively seek out the steepest, most adrenaline-charged routes — regardless of other users on foot.

Wouldn't this thread be more accurately titled as:

[b]United Utilities ask MTB'ers not to ride like complete knobs[/b]

?

United Utilities ask MTB'ers not to ride like complete knobs

but then they wouldn't be mountain bikers 🙂

little regard for other users making reasonable requests

I'm not sure where you get this from, I'm usually very polite to walkers 🙂 But if you mean other bikers who say "please don't ride on our precious things" then yes!

I walk Entwistle and the others a lot with my kids and it makes me wince when bikes come flying round on Sunday mornings when there are many families out.

There are better places to ride.

Tis true. Me and the boy rode there tonight after all the dog walkers etc etc had gone and it was fine. I wouldn't use it during 'peak hours' though. I did once go for a ride with a local group once and they went steaming round Wayoh at about 7.30 and really p1ssed people off. The attitude of the leader was 'F*ck em. they should have 2 paths, one for them and one for us.'
Brilliant. I haven't ridden with them since.

but they actively seek out the steepest, most adrenaline-charged routes

UU getting hardline with MTBers is a bit worrying tho.

I walk Entwistle and the others a lot with my kids and it makes me wince when bikes come flying round on Sunday mornings when there are many families out.

There are better places to ride.

I walk Macc Forest (also UU) a lot with my kids and it makes me wince when bikes come flying round the blind bends down from Nessit Hill on Sunday mornings when there are many families out. And that's a BW (possibly a concessionary one)

I don't know what I'm trying to say really execpt that:
a) I can see both sides
b) I ride 'trails' (including BWs and FPs) on UU land and not on UU land
c) I choose where I go based on a number of factors with 'not colliding with small children' quite high in my priorities and 'sticking to BWs' quite low
d) wouldn't it be lovely if we could all be nice to one another in this world.