Strava heat map and “illegal” routes

As a rights of way officer I’ve always tried to stay on legal routes but I am now exploring more and not limiting myself. Been looking at strava heatmap locally and there’s some very interesting routes. Anyone encountered difficulties on unofficial routes taken off strava? Thanks

Only with them not always being passable.

Never in 15+ years have I had issues with walker’s etc on any trails anywhere.

Well, there was a time through a farm, but they were likely correct and wasn’t a right of way at all.

Depends on the route, surely? Some will be a lot more sensitive than others.

It’s up to your own judgement as to whether the route is suitable, and how likely you are to encounter someone in a position to tell you off for it. Eg I tend to avoid FPs that terminate through someone’s farmyard, but there’s one I ride pretty much every week.

Anyone encountered difficulties on unofficial routes taken off strava?

Yep – some of our local land “managers” (I use the term very loosely) who have an issue with MTBers are well aware of strava and the heatmap.  This has resulted in “conversations”.

Define illegal. Public footpaths and forestry tracks, no issues at all (and not really illegal imo). I use heat map a bit to find trails. If its very hot then its well ridden and unlikely to be problematic. If you are following a skinny, feint line then there may be issues, but as above, more to do with ride-ability than anything else. In many years of riding with an “anything goes if you ride respectfully” attitude I’ve had problems maybe 5 times and a few of those I was pushing it a bit (armed escort off Salisbury Plain once!)

Anyone encountered difficulties on unofficial routes taken off strava? Thanks

Well, a strong signal on the heatmap tends to suggest to me that there’s less likely to be conflict, because that’s where everyone is riding. Round here it mostly shows up cheeky handmade trails in the woods that you wouldn’t otherwise find.

(armed escort off Salisbury Plain once!)

They didn’t give you a lift on the back of a tank ? 😐

Anyone encountered difficulties on unofficial routes taken off strava?

That sounds peculiarly naive for a RoW officer.

Certainly not naive. Just want to ride without conflict and wondering how often it occurs. You’d be surprised how infrequent issues between mountain bikers and walkers get reported to local authorities

in Aus’ so well out of fishing range I reckon – use a lot as legal rights less well defined and Googlemaps doesn’t show fences to well..as to in that there England remember no routes are actually illegal*….legislation intended to protect minimum rights of access has been moved to being the only right of access and that is plain wrong …as in the landowner can allow free access irrespective so NT Yorkshire Water other major landowners can simply allow access

*sadly National Park byelaws need shoving up somewhere

There used to be an app to overlay the heatmap on an OS map – exquisite, trail-finding nirvana. But then some permissions changed and it was no longer available (This was a while back so don’t know if it’s still the case).

Heat map is superb for trailfinding – some trails are very one-way (ie it’s a great descent and a terrible climb) but you can usually figure out what’s happening from the map.

Ample potential for argy bargy on footpaths with walkers – just depends on where you are in the UK. I ride where I want on night MTB rides, so sometimes forget this as there’s never anyone about – been surprised a few times in the Peak at the weekend where it’s a different story.

Certainly not naive. Just want to ride without conflict and wondering how often it occurs.

I think it’s partly a ‘where and when’ scenario. If you choose to ride a popular footpath on Bank Holiday weekend in the middle of the UK’s most-visited National Park, there’s a good chance someone will give you evil looks / speak to you / become abusive.

The same route might be fine mid-week or at night. Equally I’ve very rarely had issues with walkers on footpaths. Quite a lot simply don’t care, but mostly if you’re friendly and polite and slow down for them rather than buzzing past them at 20mph, my experience is overwhelmingly positive.

That said, it’s very much down to individuals – it only takes one cross-patchety walker. Equally, if you go looking for conflict, I’m sure it’ll find you.

You’d be surprised how infrequent issues between mountain bikers and walkers get reported to local authorities

I wouldn’t be surprised because I’ve been riding anywhere and everywhere for the last few decades and can count the number of conflicts on one hand, probably. That’s why I said it was naive. (Probably unfairly! 😁 ) BWD sums it up well – if you ride ‘illegally’ like an idiot then you’ll find conflict.

Curiously, of those handful of incidents most have been when I’ve been on ‘legal’ trails, including one last weekend where an old woman told me I shouldn’t be riding on a BW. You can’t win!

Quite a lot simply don’t care

Or don’t know. If you’re walking, the distinction between FP and BW is irrelevant, so they may well not know which one they’re on, or even that you’re not supposed to ride a bike on FPs. It’s the minority of walkers who are determined to be grumpy, fuelled by a minority of bikers who ride like idiots that cause all the pain.

The one FP that I ride regularly near me is used almost exclusively by bikers. I think I’ve only ever seen a walker once on it.

And the only time I’ve actually had any conflict was on a BW!

There used to be an app to overlay the heatmap on an OS map – exquisite, trail-finding nirvana. But then some permissions changed and it was no longer available

Alpine Quest. Still working for me

Well if a rights of way officer says its ok, then…..

similar to above never really had any issues, but i was riding along the other day following a route on strava when i couldnt go any further due to flooding. i decided to carry on and take the next turning, when i got to it there was a no cycling sign on a post. balls to it i thought, dont really know where i am, cant be helped, and set of down the path – i was bitched at by every person came across! i tried explaining to the first bloke, he didnt care so i just ignored the others. i vowed then that i would always take that path in the future!! phuckum! insubordination rules!!