I'll not link to the "Rag" as they are imo part of the problem and always do their best to whip up anti-cycling feelings locally, but here's the content.
THE safety of hundreds of cyclists was threatened during a major sports event when drawing pins were thrown on to the road and more than 1,000 route signs vandalised.Organisers of UK Cycling’s New Forest Spring Sportive were forced to take drastic action at the start of the twoday event when the participants were put in jeopardy by the reckless actions of the vandals.
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Marshals had to sweep up the tacks off the road in Boldre – but some tyres were still punctured.And event organisers also found that more than 1,000 direction and safety signs had been removed or defaced, forcing safety teams to replace them before the 1,850 cyclists set off.
Heavy rain added to the organisers’ problems, forcing them to cancel the second day as the hosting field in Brockenhurst became waterlogged.
Martin Barden, director of UK Cycling, said there were no injuries but he was “appalled” at the action of the vandals.
He said: “A small minority of people have taken to vigilante lengths to stop the events. Their behaviour is unacceptable.
“[They] have tried to ruin the day for everyone and tried to endanger cyclists.
“Luckily that hasn’t happened, due to sheer luck, but the attempt to injure a cyclist has been there.
“I think it is appalling. It’s all been reported to the police.
“It is a very small-minded type of attitude. If we hadn’t been on top of it, it could have caused serious harm.”
Mr Barden added that some cars were also being driven at slow speeds, causing a slow-moving roadblock.
But he said that most cyclists were unaware of any problems and that many had enjoyed the day, despite the weather.
He also said that the majority of the New Forest resi-dents were welcoming to the cyclists for the fifth annual event.
The event had attracted criticism in the week leading up to it, with some residents of the New Forest claiming that cyclists were an increasing nuisance as they flocked to the park to enjoy its breathtaking views.
Mr Barden said that the number of participants had been kept low out of respect to those living there.
“We could have had 10,000 people here but we reduced the figures. We did it consciously to be considerate to the local residents. The same courtesy has not been extended the other way, in some parts,” he added.
Ian Wild, chairman of Boldre Parish Council, said he thought that the vandals’ actions were “reprehensible”.
“It could have caused accidents and could have potentially been very serious.
Anyone who cycled over the tacks could have been injured. If someone had done that, that’s reprehensible,” he said.
Over an 86-mile circuit cyclists were able to visit Lymington, Brockenhurst, Lyndhurst, Landford, Hale, Godshill, Hyde and Sway. There was also a shorter route of 58 miles.
Earlier this week Dr Julian Lewis, MP for New Forest East, wrote to transport minister Norman Baker calling for a formal licensing system for cycle events to be introduced.
He was unavailable for further comment yesterday.
Before the weekend’s event, a spokesman for the New Forest Equestrian Association said that there was a big risk to horses and riders from such events, especially when cyclists came up quickly and silently from behind.
Mr Barden said that the Forest ride event would now be rescheduled for later in the year.
In the comments on the Article it appears a cyclist did come off on the tacks and broke his collar bone.
Just so Sad!!! 🙁
[quote=A NIMBY said]
Before the weekend’s event, a spokesman for the New Forest Equestrian Association said that there was a big risk to horses and riders from such events, especially when cyclists came up quickly and silently from behind.
I wonder how many animals (inc horses) will now end up with tacks in their feet or eat the things.
It's pure prejudice. Hundreds of thousands of cars in the forest on any summer weekend, and they moan about a fraction of the number of bikes.
might be worth posting on this thread too;
[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/do-all-sportives-get-this-kind-of-hammering-by-the-locals ]http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/do-all-sportives-get-this-kind-of-hammering-by-the-locals[/url]
I clearly have no idea if that woman from vizzit has a view on the tin tacks/roadblocks approach. But I'll be asking her. If she chooses to answer or says she does support it I shall be contactign every cycle shop that advertises/is listed on her site and saying I will not use their services whilst they continue to do so.
She's put herself forward as a spokesman for these people - she can take the consequences.
I've just sent her this;
[i]Hi
I emailed last week about your apparent antagonism to cyclists using the New Forest. I have received no reply to date.
I have a couple of points to add to my previous email;
1) I understand that tacks/drawing pins were put on the path of the Wiggle ride on Saturday and a rider received a broken collar bone as a result of falling at that point.
2) There were 'rolling roadblocks' of cars on the route intending to disrupt the event.
Clearly both of these activities put riders and other members of the public (both motorists, ponies, horses and riders and cyclists not in the event) at risk of more serious injuries.
Could you let me know your view of the above please?
Also, I understand that you recent undertook a charity cycling event in the Forest? How do you reconcile your choice of leisure activity with your opposition to others doing the same thing?
I should let you know in advance, if you choose not to reply to this email or it turns out you support the dangerous activities I've outlined above then I will be contacting any cycle related advertiser/company listed on your site and advise them that they will get no business from me until they cease to be on your pages.
You run a business to attract people to the Forest for you to then be actively campaigning against the same visitors smacks of a lack of integrity on your part.
Regards[/i]
Here is the original article. The area is incredibly anti-cycling and I will bet that this is about to get one hell of a trolling from the anti-cycling vandals who did this. Please sign up/in and give as good as we get.
Why do I keep thinking of the parallels between this and Etape Caledonia from 3 years ago.
It all seems to stem from Nimbyists who are massively affected by it just stirring up the usual nonsense.
How much do the people who took part in the events contribute to the local economy as a result?
That's great wwaswas, I've been thinking about doing something similar myself and also to Julian Lewis the MP. But I'd included everybody on her website tbh. I had a few friends come down for it who stayed in B&B's and Hotels and ate and drank in pubs in the forest. Driving thousands of visitors from the forest will affect them all.
A local Councillor is on our side David Harrison search on Facebook for "councillor David Harrison" he posted last week in support.
I'll get on and write a few email myself tonight too.
idiots! Makes me so angry that people can be so narrow minded!
[quote=bigyinn ]Why do I keep thinking of the parallels between this and Etape Caledonia from 3 years ago.
It all seems to stem from Nimbyists who are massively affected by it just stirring up the usual nonsense.
How much do the people who took part in the events contribute to the local economy as a result?
The irony is that the Etape Caledonia [i]does[/i] involve closed roads - something many of the protagonists in this case seem to want. The EC thing came down to a handful of individuals. Riding the course and visiting the local communities it's easy to see that most folk support the event.
Maybe the difference is that in rural Perthshire the are rather more appreciative of the additional income to the area and the NF doesn't feel it needs it so much?
The NF seems to be a law unto itself, relying on many outdated bylaws etc which have no relevance to the modern world, but are held onto by the locals trying to preserve something that is long gone really.
Given its a National Park now (isn't it?) surely more should be done to encourage people to visit?
Or is it the fact there are lots of people with buckets of money that wish to stop people using "their" forest?
Takes some effort to remove/alter a 1000 signs, obviously not just person doing it.
Shocking. The small minded behaviour of some people is incredible. I hope the injured rider makes a full recovery and if anyone is caught that action is taken against them, either by the police or through the civil courts. I'm sure a few nights in a cell and a criminal record of a few hundred claims for compensation would make those responsible think again.
Just to clarify when I put NF I mean New Forest not National Front! Interesting....
The NF seems to be a law unto itself, relying on many outdated bylaws etc which have no relevance to the modern world, but are held onto by the locals trying to preserve something that is long gone really.
Given its a National Park now (isn't it?) surely more should be done to encourage people to visit?
Or is it the fact there are lots of people with buckets of money that wish to stop people using "their" forest?
Pretty much yes to all of these points, it is a national park that is heavily subsidised by public money.
I doubt a 1000 signs is accurate.
Bigtinn, buckets of history more like, old families and old ways. It's ours, ours! and the rest of you keep off! Some with money yes but many without, commoning's not a rich man's game.
I'm glad there are commoners etc. still despite many of their attitudes to us (although it's a hobby\part time for many as it doesn't pay), it's part of the forests history and it's fantastic that many of the old ways and traditions are kept going. But! that doesn't have to happen at the exclusion of everybody else.
Lies about scaring wildlife is frankly nonsense, the ponies barely bat an eyelid at cars or bikes. Deer bolt at the sight of their own shadows and the ground nesting birds thing is also nonsense, dogs are for more likely to be a problem for them as has been covered in studies before. Traffic problems, delays etc is also rubbish. The Beaulieu auto jumbles, New Forest show (Held at the same location as the weekend event) and others are far far more likely to cause delay to people including locals and emergency services.
commoning's not a rich man's game
But you can get rich by doing it, there is current initiative to encourage more people to use their commoning rights, so commoners are paid £100 per month (or maybe even per week) per animal. The scheme is about to end though and ran for about 3 years.
Fair enough Clong many aren't rich off of it though.
One of the commoners local to me works full time as does his wife but turns out a dozen Angus and half a dozen ponies as a hobby, he's certainly not rich
Please sign up/in and give as good as we get.
Or, please don't boost the rags ad value + revenue by frothing over it on their site..
http://www.vizzit.co.uk/who-we-are.html
Vizzit is a company who offer web design and media stuff, franchises of Vizzit to other areas etc. Antia whatever her name is is co-director. All contact details are here - http://www.vizzit.co.uk/news/49-general/174-vizzit-media-on-the-move.html
It sounds like she needs to listen to someone else's PR advice when it comes to tourism and managing conflicts of interest.
I did post earlier but it's already descended into "I saw a cyclist jump a red light", Road Tax, Licencing, tests etc......all cyclists are evil and get in my way when driving and should be shot types now 🙄
this one's my favourite though
and because so many criminals use cyclists to move around and escape undetected, the time has come to bring cycling into line with other vehicle use on the roads, and require complusory tests, licence plates and insurance.
so we're moving stuff for organised crime now 🙄
where do I get a slice of the action, I'm missing out 😉
I doubt a 1000 signs is accurate.
To be fair, only a small number need to be meddled with before they all need to be checked
Anita Sibley\Grisham Hail from http://www.vizzitnewforest.com/ certainly seems to be a ring leader in all of the hysteria. She certainly seems to be the one that's been quoted in several news papers on this subject.
She doesn't exclusively hate and want just cycling banned, she doesn't seem to like [url= http://www.anorak.co.uk/350241/news/cycling-carnage-and-a-runners-stampede-in-the-new-forest-what-really-happened.html/ ]runners either[/url]. Apparently between us we'll be "the ruination of the Forest".
If she could separate the real world from the exaggerations and fiction I love to have a debate with her on the subject. She seem incapable of that though, I s'pose that happens when you've worked in marketing though a 🙄
A HORSE rider says she was in fear for her life after 30 horses stampeded across the Forest after being spooked by runners. Anita Gresham-Hale, director of the Vizzit Group, was riding with a friend at Stoney Cross at about 10am on Sunday morning, unaware that the event, a nine-mile cross country run organised by Totton Running Club, was taking place.She said: “The runners cut across the airfield and dropped into Ocknell Wood before turning onto the underpass. Coming from the direction of the runners, some 30 horses stampeded out of the second underpass, all galloping furiously towards us. Their manes were standing up and it was absolutely petrifying. I have ridden over the Forest for years and I have never come across anything like this.”
A look at the Vizzit website tells us that only one Anita sits on the board. Might Anita Sibley and Anita Gresham-Hale be the one and same? We tried to find out by calling Vizzit but were told “no comment” by a woman who identified herself only as “Anita”.
Back to the stampede story:
Mrs Gresham-Hale added: “I have no problem with the running club or how the race was organised. This is part of a wider problem. There here are too many events, with more people taking part. These events need to be better advertised and supervised by a National Park Authority official. I am in the process of launching a group because we are not going to allow the ruination of the Forest to continue.”
Adding:
Martin Nugus of the club told the Forest Journal that 134 runners took part and the event was marshalled by 52 people. He said he had received no reports from marshals about a stampede and explained that he had spoken to several marshals after obtaining details from the Forest Journal.
Mr Nugus said: “While I fully sympathise with being caught up in a stampede, not one of our marshals witnessed the incident, in fact they said that there were very few horses and ponies about on Sunday. I cycled ahead of the runners and we had a UK Athletic qualified race referee at the event and we saw nothing. While I don’t believe that a stampede was caused by the runners, we will investigate.”
Curious times in the Forest.
To be fair, only a small number need to be meddled with before they all need to be checked
Agreed
This is such middle class vandalism! Love it!
I agree, mass staging of rides should be banned. People should be forced to read a map and stop lining corporate organisations pockets!
the time has come to bring cycling into line with other vehicle use on the roads, and require complusory tests, licence plates
Do horses have number plates then?
Perhaps we should ask the New Forest Equestrian folk? 😉
Runners are included in all this too don't forget.
We'll have to get our legs licensed taxed and insured too soon
registration plates tattooed on your forehead Sir\Madam
If this Vizzit woman is so anti-cycling, how come they've [url= http://www.vizzitnewforest.com/business_news/new_forest_cycle_events_2013.html ]this page [/url]on their site? First line:
There's a lot of events listed, the "Charity Horse or Cycle Ride at Burley Park Sat 11 May 2013 " jumps out. Not sure how the horses or riders will cope with this since according to the New Forest Equestrian SocietyWe hope you have a wonderful time when cycling in the New Forest and remember the roads can be busy (tractors as well as cars!) and often have cattle, sheep, pigs and ponies on them. Please take extra care.
These NIMBYs really need to get their act together and provide a more cohesive argument.there was a big risk to horses and riders from such events, especially when cyclists came up quickly and silently from behind.
according to cycling weekly they have a vehicle reg no and the police are investigating
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/537903/new-forest-spring-sportive-sabotaged.html
Thing that jumped out for me about the runner/stmpede story was,
is probably the root cause of the problem. 😆I cycled ahead of the runners
Time for a STW Forum Ride there? Let's invade their fiefdom by being as badly behaved as only STW'ers know how. 😆
Seriously!
Perhaps we could meet outside the Vizzit offices?
Booze and spliffs compulsory and a [s]rowdy[/s] picnic on a village green. 😉
Yeah! And, and.. and those people on feet too! I see them running away from muggings and crime scenes! License the walkers! MOTs for feet!and because so many criminals use cyclists to move around and escape undetected, the time has come to bring cycling into line with other vehicle use on the roads, and require complusory tests, licence plates and insurance.
Interesting to see in that Cycling Weakly article that the Caledonia Etape tack attacker had the charge against him dropped. Lovely.
No doubt the offender here can look forward to similar justice if they are caught.
the Caledonia Etape tack attacker had the charge against him dropped
Time for a civil case then? Lower burden of proof and the possibility to really hurt the person with the cost of tubes/damaged tyres and the rest.
Or is the law different 'up there'? 🙂
As a local rider I was planning on taking part in this as my first taste of a sportive. Glad I didn't....
Can't believe people are able to get away with sabotaging events and spouting anti-cyclist stuff still. Given our wonderful turn out in cycling at the olympics I thought people's opinions would be changing for the better.
If it had been me coming off because someone threw tacs in the road, breaking bike / bones I would be fuming.
DT78 don't let that put you off, I rode this sportive a few years ago and loved it. Very friendly, well organised, good route, beautiful scenery (which you're no doubt aware of!). All in all a great day out, been meaning to do it again since then, perhaps next year. We got a bit luckier with the weather than this year though 🙂
They've pencilled in a date in June or July I think, not sure if it's sold out, you might be able to get in maybe, or just download the route. I rode most of just recently with a friend.
My friends that rode the one on Saturday were oblivious to all of this bar a few protesters in Boldre. So fingers crossed it'll not have done too much harm.
Pick a day CG!
We seemed to have escaped all the anti-cycling activists at our end of the forest.
I was out for a ride at 7am on Sat and rode some of the route. I saw the UK Cycling Events van out checking signs, but all seemed ok.
I only saw a few groups (nothing more than maybe 10 or so riders) pass through the village and no real disruption to traffic flow.
Sounds like its the "southern forest dwellers" that are most anti this event. Never realised there was a north/south divide in the new forest. 🙂
Could be interesting when its run again in June.
Could be interesting when its run again in June.
... and October
CG, I'm always up for a forest ride! 3 times a week is my norm!
Pick a date 🙂
I only saw a few groups (nothing more than maybe 10 or so riders) pass through the village
That might have been the Tri ride. I dropped off from it just before Linwood as I was getting a little nervous (understatement).
We need some sweary Northerners! There's a few of us sweary Southerners but reinforcements are definitely required.
Can we have some yapping dogs too and make sure they sh!t everywhere. How about some muzak? They'll love that especially rap.
Oh and squealy brakes are a must. 😀
Love the NF official website:
[b]Green Tourism in the New Forest[/b]People who live here will tell you that The New Forest is a unique working landscape, with many secrets to discover. The best way to reveal The New Forest's hidden gems and to truly appreciate the sights, sounds and smells of the forest is to get out there and explore! The New Forest is easily reached by train, being only 90 minutes from London Waterloo! S[b]o try leaving your car at home and head out on foot, bicycle or on horseback to get a more intimate feel of the forest, its coastlines and villages.[/b] A number of Green Leaf accommodation providers even offer discounts or incentives for car-free guest so be sure to ask before you book! The New Forest is also blessed with local produce so be sure to try New Forest Marque food and the New Forest Breakfast.
NF DC website:
Tourism creates over 7980 jobs in the forest and generates nearly £400 million in tourism expenditure.
So, what about some concerted voting with feet (wheels), boycott local businesses for a month, don't spend anything within the NF and point the finger of blame at that very nice lady from Vizzit. Even the threat may see some surprising media coverage and change of attitude from some of the NIMBYS.
anita gresham-hale on Twitter @Forestfilly
[smokescreen]"the NF is a great place for a bike ride over 100 miles of cycle track"[/smokescreen]
I only saw a few groups (nothing more than maybe 10 or so riders) pass through the villageThat might have been the Tri ride. I dropped off from it just before Linwood as I was getting a little nervous (understatement).
Sorry what i meant was, despite the "thousands" of cyclists who were participating, they seemed very well spread out across the forest with only a few in groups. And causing a lot less disruption than the horses, cows, donkeys and pigs that regularly block the roads. Not to mention the tourists who stop in the most stupid places to take their photograph.
Be interesting too see just how many cyclists we could get together for a mass protest ride.
And of course we would need to make as much noise as possible so as to not sneak up silently from behind on the new forest ponies!
On the other thread, crazylegs quoted an emailFieldMarshall - Member
We seemed to have escaped all the anti-cycling activists at our end of the forest.
Sounds like its the "southern forest dwellers" that are most anti this event. Never realised there was a north/south divide in the new forest
Fairly notherly (and near me). Mind, they didn't seem to turn up as far as I could see1. there are roads works with traffic lights on Lyndhurst Road Landford any cyclist going through a red light will be film and reported.
2. Lyndhurst Road Landford is a 30 and 40 mph limited area. Any cyclist caught above the speed limit on our speed camera will also be photograph and reported.
Whereabouts are you FM ?
I'm up for a 'responsible' protest ride, fed up with the sneery get off our forest nimbys. Friends who are Less enthusiastic cyclists born and bred in the forest often chat to me about their latest interaction with the twunts.
SC, i'm in the Redlynch/Woodfalls area. We had a steady stream of riders on Sat and even some on Sun, despite the cancellation.
And no protesters/activists as far as I saw.
All signs were still in place until lunchtime Sun.
I'd be up for a group ride too.
In Bartley here, the event came past my place last year as do several other sportives and loads of regular chain-gangs, commuters and mtbers on their way out and back. Never had or seen any bother at all there're always horses up and down the road too.
Had sunday lunch at the oak at bank with a few friends who rode saturday and saw a few riders coming though on this years route, saw a few signs which looked the be pointing in the right direction.
I was going to post on Facebook and twitter for Anita whatever her name is and vizzitnewforest.com but it's all 4 years out of date, shame
Yeah, I was out at teatime and there were quite a few even then. Pretty sure one was Jens Voigt checking the route for his ride - can't imagine who else could have passed me 🙂even some on Sun, despite the cancellation
I would be up for a ride too, I've only been road riding for a year in the forest but never had any issues so all this anti-cycling is news to me. Most of the time I only see a handful of riders out and about, see plenty more horses and cows.
I wonder what the big road clubs in the area think?
+1 for a protest ride.
Just me that's wary of a protest ride ?
Has the potential to come across just as whingey as what they're doing IMO. How about inviting a local journalist to come along on a ride instead and show them something constructive. If we're really lucky they might get sideswiped by a car and realise what we're up against 😉
I'm on the verge of booking another weeks holiday in the Forest, but this is certainly putting me off.
Been a few times before, with and without bikes, and love the country side, but have always got the impression that riding or walking is not really welcomed.
Go to the tea shops and tourist spots, spend your money, that is OK, but keep out of the forest.
Last summer I got out for an hour or two for a ride, while the rest of the family played in the sun, I've never seen so many signs warning tresspassers, private road, no addmittence, no cycling, or we have firece dogs, or CCTV, it actually made me quite angry. I'm sure some of the signs were on the foresty published routes as well.
I've never seen so many signs warning tresspassers, private road, no addmittence, no cycling, or we have firece dogs, or CCTV, it actually made me quite angry. I'm sure some of the signs were on the foresty published routes as well.
I've been living and riding in the NF for the last 10 years and never noticed anything like that.
Then again I'm not very observant when I ride. Often get to the end of a section and someone says, "did you see this or that" and I've normally totally missed it.
What part of the NF were you in?
There is a CCTV sign in the enclosure opposite the Ashurst campsite, as well as various other do not trespass and private signs.
I've been photographed and video'd riding in / around the Ashurst Campsite, and stopped by the NF Agister up at Deerleap.
I'm still riding, what in realty is going to happen? As FM stated above, I'm oblivious to most hings and just ride on through..........
I get the impression that there is less tolerance in the southern end of the NF (i.e south of the A31), where the majority of the big campsites are and where most tourists go.
Had the odd run-in with a few horse riders over the years, but in the main most walkers/dog-walkers are friendly as you like, as long as you slow down and are courteous.
Biggest issue we get is with idiots driving out to the forest, parking up, getting drunk and leaving broken bottles, rubbish, cans everywhere. But that seemed to stop when my sister, who was visiting, called the police out one day. 🙂
And don't forget about the nimbys driving their 4x4's over a rather wet forest to 'see their animals' destroying decent paths... Matley passage is one such example!
And Hampton ridge seems a favoured route for at least one driver who seems to think driving to and from the pub at fritham is best done off road 😈
I tend to just do what I please, not had many comments when off road, far more on the odd occasion I venture onto some tarmac!
This organisation had a meeting during the event, near to where the tacks were found.
"N E W F O R E S T C Y C L E E V E N T
A number of local people who are greatly concerned about the increase in the above type of event have decided to hold a public meeting to discuss and view the upheaval caused during this ride involving thousands of cyclists using narrow forest roads.
The meeting place is Blackwater Car Park on the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive at 1000 am on 13 April 2013.
Anyone who shares the concern is welcome to attend."
Vandalism, theft, sabotage and injury. It will be interesting to see how the police deal with this.
And to anyone considering the NF as a holiday destination... Drive on by, try the isle of purbeck just beyond Poole harbour. Much better riding and loads of family holiday stuff to do.
My folks' house came with both grazing and firewood 'commoners' rights. They are very pro-cycling (the older they have become, the more they use pedal power!)
.... Might ask them to join the NFCDA 🙂
Nfcda. They blocked the route, until moved on by the police.
So they complain about road access during the event, and then illegally block the road.
Cyclists upset animals.... And then tacks are thrown around the forest
" Mrs Sibley added: “These huge events are putting local residents’ lives in danger. “How, for example, would an ambulance or fire engine reach a New Forest village in time if there were 4,000 cyclists blocking our roads?
What if you lot block a road and waste police time. Can't you lot see the hypocrasy of what you have done... **** ***
COLOSSAL PR OWN GOAL for Anita, her vizzit NF website, and the NFCDA who are acting like a terrorist group.
Basque separatists, che Guevara, IRA, tupac (not the rapper) all had what they thought was a good reason to do what they did... "I don't like cyclist" is so damned weak. the predictions or carnage, roads blocked etc have come true, because the idiots in the woods did it themselves.
Odd that there's nothing relating to the number of animals killed by traffic on the site, only a note confirming that they're not liable in case of insurance claims.
Strange to prioritise cycling events as a cause of upheaval or needing 'defence' from.
Err.. the emergency services would get through easily because it's far easier to move a load of bikes off the road than a load of cars, even if there were more than a few dozen in any one bunch. What a dumbass question )How, for example, would an ambulance or fire engine reach a New Forest village in time if there were 4,000 cyclists blocking our roads?
How, for example, would an ambulance or fire engine reach a New Forest village in time if there were 4,000 cyclists blocking our roads?
Gotta love the random, hypothetical doomsday scenario used to try and justify banning these events 😆 Do you think they've also considered how their animals roaming wild in the area/on the unfenced roads might also affect the emergency services ?
Do they think that 4000 cyclists are all going to start at the same time and rock round the forest in some monster peleton, crushing everything in their wake.... 8)
The CDA - now there's a surprise.
Their only interest is in preserving the forest as a huge, free (in fact subsidised) farm for them to let their livestock roam in. They actively promote closing the forest campsites, closing car parks, even closing some roads to restrict access.
Unfortunately, the CDA is populated by the same people who are also the Verderers, the New Forest Association and even the National Park Authority. They have the ear of local landowners and MP's as has been demonstrated by Julian Lewis bleating to parliament.
There is no substantiation for their actions. It is discrimination against people who dress differently to them and enjoy different interests. Its hate crime.
Trade the word 'cyclist' with 'gay' or 'black', and see what response their actions would invoke from the authorities then.
[url= http://road.cc/content/news/81182-early-riser-cycling-and-music-festival-coming-new-forest-august ]Party on people )[/url]
I live in the New Forest and ride there at least 2/3 times a week - and all this has really annoyed me. The amount of business that cyclists bring to the Forest must be immense with B&B's, people eating out, bike shops etc, and I just don't get the hatred against it. Where I live is ALWAYS full of people o bikes all year.
As for the cyclists spooking / hurting horses debate that's a kind of non-point as well - the horses tend to (largely) stay off the roads and if they are around, you just flipping avoid them! In a cyclist vs horse incident I know who's going to come of worse - and it's not the horse - so everyone is careful anyway.
It's just a few ignorant locals making us all look like loons 🙁
As for the cyclists spooking / hurting horses debate that's a kind of non-point as well - the horses tend to (largely) stay off the roads and if they are around
That's where I tend to ride, and horses tend to just run off. Unless it's night time and you have lights, you stop for a mechanical, look down for 5 min, look up and there's a whole herd around you - freaked me right out!