Is there a gradual shift amongst "proper" MTBers…about riding on FP though?
Nothing gradual, I've always done it.

[soapbox]
I assume I'll get flamed for having a "holier than thou" attitude, but I don't care. I never, ever, ride on footpaths and would never consider doing so. I remember getting abuse and threats riding in the Peaks 20 years ago on legitimate bridleways. Lots of walkers did not like the cyclists and I was determined never to antagonise them, as it would only make the situation worse.
There isn't, IMHO, ever a reason to ride on a footpath unless, maybe, you are lost and really don't know where you are or possibly a medical emergency (although the footpaths tend to be slower so this probably wouldn't happen anyway).
If in a few years time we have lots of sanctions and law changes which severly limit where we can ride in the UK, I hope you FP riders will be happy that you've done your part.
Riding along an illegal footpath (i.e. one that isn't a permissive bridleway as may the case in some places) is selfish, arrogant, disrespectful and self-defeating.
If you think a FP should be BW then lobby whoever you need to and go down the proper channels. The countryside isn't there just to serve you and your bike, it's for everyone.

[/soapbox]

Stay on the road.

Keep clear of the moors.

Beware the moon, lads.

I do a lot of riding up rivvi and would love to catch these doing this sort of stuff. If its not nails then just where the stone path starts they push the grass over and put rocks down in the hope you will come off. There is a difference between not liking people sharing these locations on bikes and potentially injuring people an their livelyhoods etc.

They put stones across the bit at the start of where you go over to great hill and turn left to lead miners aswell. Some miserable fekkers about.

What a load of crap the English law is! A throw back to feudal w*nkers who had nothing better to do than annoy the oiks! I love that in Scotland I can go where I want when I want and noone can say nything about it. All this searching out paths, and "ooohh can I ride there or can I not?" would put you off biking completely!

But it's not illegal to ride a bike on a footpath.

To the best of my knowledge, no-one does know who he is, but his actions are known. The Caltrop thing cropped up about 3 years ago and it was investigated, might have been the runner incident that Footstomper mentioned.

As for access on the footpaths. I don't give a toss what anyone says, I'll ride them as I see fit and have done since 1985.

So what if its not technically "illegal" (yes I know it would be a civil matter), the blatant disregard for rights of way access will still have the same effect down the line.

This whole thread is very amusing given the what to shout at pedestrians thread here. Some people her are blatantly contradicting their own posts on that thread.

If that is aimed at me its a very different situation and I shout to warn them not to abuse them. Someone steps out in front of me – "Look out" loudly. A walker on a path infront of me "ding ding" "May I squeeze past please?" – "thank you"

However don't let the truth get in the way of your stalking of me you sad pair. Jeezo your lives must be dull

TJ, why do always assume that anyone makes a slightly sarcastic remark is 'stalking you' ?

As for a dull life, well you're either being gratuitously insulting (which from a zen-master of politeness and professional cheek-turner isn't really 'on message') and/or making assumptions (and posting them) on something about which you know nothing.

So what is it Jeremy, insult or ignorance ❓

TJ – understood, thankyou. 😉

on another point i'm not sure that i accept we shouldn't ride footpaths. as has been mentioned, walkers got their right of access through methods that were contrary to the law, and another example that might be worth considering is the problem of access for kayakers. the BCU have long preached an approach of appeasement wrt anglers and landowners, which in many cases has left them with very little access to some rivers, and only now that they are taking a more, shall we say, proactive stance are they seeing headway being made.

Indeed. It could be said that we owe it to future generations to ride footpaths, and other not-bridleways, now, so future generations can have their access rights protected.

As an example, our local council were going to build a bike path along a council-owned field that separated a housing estate from a river. As part of this, they were going make the 'spurs' coming off this path and into the housing estate pedestrian-only, with gates to enforce this. When I pointed out that I'd regularly ridden my bike down these access paths since the estate was built 27 years ago, so could apply to have them designated as bridleways, they changed their plans.

A new bridleway can be 'created' by riding a visible track for 25(?) years without anyone attempting to make it known that the landowner objects

Is that right ?
I've been riding the footpath along the River Severn near where I live for almost that long. How do I go about getting it upgraded to a Bridleway ?

Contact the council ROW department.

"In England and Wales, a footpath, bridleway or restricted byway may be expressly dedicated by the owner as a public right of way. Furthermore, unchallenged use by the public, as of right, for at least 20 years, may give rise to a presumption of dedication under Section 31 of the Highways Act 1980. A presumption of dedication may arise under common law after any appropriate period of time." – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rights_of_way_in_England_and_Wales#Creation_of_new_public_rights_of_way

Basically, if the owner of the land hasn't ever challenged access, by erecting signs for example, it is presumed that they wish to dedicate the path.

You sometimes see signs stating that although access isn't being prevented by the landowner this does not constitute a dedication. We have these locally on a well-used path through the local hospital, and on some cyclepaths on council land (those are usually to stop horses riding them).

A wise man, who has an arse photo fetish, once told me that "As for 'legality', the common law allows one to go where one wishes so long as there is no criminal intent or breaking in, and most land 'ownership' is the result of theft from the common wealth by the enclosures (or former robber barons) so I'd not take the protests of landowners too seriously, never mind that the nail setter is a 3rd party with no rights in the matter."

vandalism & putting people at risk of serious injury, I hope I would have the foresight to get my phone out and take some pictures of the culprits if I came across anything the OP showed.

Is TJ telling us all how we all ought to behave when we come across walker's, very presumptuous to think a lot of mtbers are guilty of abuse to walkers, in my experience its to the contrary, walker being rude and abusive to mtbers and on bridleways or designated mtb trails in trails centres.

I am often shocked my their behaviour I am just wide mouthed and aghast, I point out the dangers rather than give them a mouthful, its dog walkers who don't keep any control over there pets that will get a telling off.

😆

i think he sound like a cock.