Via Cycling UK and worth a read – https://www.cyclinguk.org/blog/dartmoor-criminalising-cycling

The byelaws governing access in Dartmoor National Park are being reviewed and there’s just a week left to have your say and help change them. Cycling UK’s off-road policy adviser Kieran Foster sets out the case to bring access for cycling in line with other activities –

Punishing straying off the path sounds an odd thing to do in a National Park which is supposed to promote ‘public enjoyment’ of the area – but that’s the situation we still find ourselves in with Dartmoor.
As the National Park approaches its 70th anniversary on 30 October, the byelaws governing public access to the land are currently being reviewed. This review provides an opportunity to call for a more reasonable and evidence-based approach to access for cycling. Cycling UK will be responding to the consultation and we’re urging you to do the same, especially if you ride on Dartmoor.

Unsure if it’s been covered on here. 1 week left to have your say.

A link to the consultation is at the bottom of the article.

Thanks for reminder will have a look. I thought they can already fine for being off bridleways (although most of the best South Dartmoor descents are bridleways thank goodness apart from my favourite off Smallacombe rocks)?

* 3. BYELAW 4 VEHICLES
No person shall without reasonable excuse drive, ride or propel any mechanically propelled vehicle or any pedal propelled vehicle on any part of the Access Land other than on a highway where there is a right of way for that class of vehicle.

Do you agree with the amendments relating to the byelaws on the use of vehicles?

Yes

No

No opinion
Please provide the reason for your answer (optional)

https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/about-us/who-we-are/byelaws-consultation

– survey here, above is question 3. Last few days of your right to input. If anyone has a legally smart reason for answers, please post up.

There are only a few unclassified tracks that are of any interest to a cyclist on the common land. They generally have good surfaces eg one prominent track is an old mine road. Otherwise the common land off the rights of way would only be of interest to the most determined and adventurous cyclist – the surfaces are simply not good riding. No harm is done by cycling on a track that is suitably surfaced.
Cyclists don’t have an implied right to be on a footpath and can be told to leave by a landowner’s representative. That should suffice here if it does in the rest of the UK and criminalising via trespass is out of proportion to the act. The classification of tracks is not always clear and shouldn’t need to be made so by landowners. Additional signposting would be to the detriment of the area.

TBH many of the byelaw amendments try to ban entire activities rather than addressing the problems associated with antisocial use in general. The wrong approach imho. We should be encouraging people to fly kites or camp out in small groups in wild places as well as making best practice advice readily available. If no harm is done… The damage is done by those who feel excluded, that it’s not their land and ‘f the elite’ attitudes come into it. When we all have a stake in the value of a place we tend to respect it and self-police better?

There are only a few unclassified tracks that are of any interest to a cyclist on the common land

More than a few.

Probably a lot of those unclassified mining tracks etc are “lost ways” that need classifying before 2026!

There are only a few unclassified tracks that are of any interest to a cyclist on the common land

More than a few.

Was told there weren’t many that were of general interest to cyclists – expect there’s more steep rocky paths that would appeal to MTBers. Maybe best not to mention those..