Coming over all ant-equestrian isn’t going to help anyone. They have the same rights of access and enjoyment of Leith Hill as cyclists do, we’re actually all on the same side. If they feel like they should have been consulted, and they weren’t, then they should have been. It’s a shared resource, no one group has any right to impose on another.
I’ve never had any attitude problem from equestrians on Leith Hill, be nice to them, they’re nice to us. Perhaps there’s the odd nutter, well the the same applies to bikers too (and some).
From the article:
But Sam Bayley, National Trust head ranger, said that dedicated tracks for mountain bikers will improve safety, because cyclists have been “creating unauthorised trails at Leith Hill following and crossing many bridleways”.
This causes me concern, I hope we’re not going to lose access to all the secret corners of the Hill in exchange for a point and shoot motorway. Bad deal if so.
I’ve been off the bike for a few weeks due to injury, hopefully I can spin up there at the weekend and take a look at the current layout of the new trail.
As for consultation, the first I knew about this trail was when it started to appear. I ride with one of the best known groups in the area, we meet right at the bottom of the hill. AFAIK nobody asked us if we thought it was a good idea, it just turned up. Perhaps it’s my fault for being out of the loop somehow, but it feels like somehow somebody though it was a good idea, got a window of clearance, and just cracked on.