Yesterday, out enjoying the sun on our moutain bikes I thought I’d try a new track. On the OS map it’s marked as ‘Other route with public access’ (basically, green balls). For those that might know the area, it’s off Beddlestead Lane in Kent, heading towards Biggin Hill.

Having got about 100 metres onto the track we noticed a big silver 4×4 come tearing down the track towards us. It had three blokes in it dressed like survivalists. The one in the front passenger seat was holding what looked like an assault rifle, with the barrel pointing skywards out of the window. The driver did all the talking, telling us to clear off and saying that he was going to put wires across the tracks to throttle cyclists.

It was an odd incident. I’m pretty sure we had a right of way, but I wasn’t about to force the issue. I was left wondering what to do. Report it to the police, Bromley Council’s right of way officer, do nothing??

Any thoughts?

going to put wires across the tracks to throttle cyclists.

Sounds like a threat to me, report it.

Then again, it could be hot air, to impress his rambo mates?.

No offence to you OP but I’d be calling the Police and reporting the incident asap.

I’d say report it to someone. ‘Who’ is another matter. If they used threatening behaviour then try the Police. Other wise I’d go to the council to report them for denying access.

The assault rifle could have been an airsoft (BB) gun and they were just trying to get you away from their game.

Hmm what a bunch of tools. Best bet would have been to get reg number of 4×4, enquired if they were the land owner/agent and if so what access was allowed fp etc then definitley report them for the threatening behaviour. Easy to say that now without guns/menacing people about tho.

Check with your local rights of way officer on the track in question. I got collared by a farmer once for trying to ride through his yard. Nothing aggressive, but I swore blind to him it was a bridleway and even went back another day with my map to prove it. As it happens it was a mistake on the map and it was (and should still have been ) a footpath. Mistakes are made.

That aside I do still think you should report it. Having two scars across my biceps from being ripped off a bike by bailing twine, I can testify that it is not a nice experience.

Get it reported. I reported a lad to the Calder council AND the local Police incase anyone experienced him again (guaranteed) and ended up planting the fella in question. (I was pushed/shoved and blocked- naturally I didn’t rise as he was smaller and older than me)

That sounds like Norheads Lane, if it is I think you have every right to be there. I’ve been riding it for about 15 years although I must admit I do peel off it and ride the footpath that goes across to the next byway. I’ve never been stopped by anyone even on the footpath.

Report to the police immediately. Some bellends actually do this sort of stuff. It’s irrelevant if your had right of way or not. Garrotting is not the accepted punishment for trespass.

You could have rolled two handgrenades through the drivers window

Thanks people. I would have pressed the matter yesterday but my wife was tugging me away (and I don’t mean that in a smutty way).
Spot on with Norheads Lane rc200f8.
Yep, think I’ll try the rights of way bloke as a first port of call.

I’m more concerned that someone can brandish what is or looks like a gun when confronting the public.
Having a weapon to hand is a very serious threat, even if it turned out to be an air rifle or airsoft etc.

it’s marked as a white lane on my OS map no row marking at all.

Why wouldn’t you report it to the police? Guys with guns threatening cyclists – I’d have phoned the police immediately and stressed the assault rifle part of it.

As above, report it to the police now, not just rights of way, they take a *very* dim view of people with guns making threats

Someone threatens to kill cyclists whilst his mate is brandishing a gun and you are unsure if this is something you should report to the police. Are people able to make any basic decisions themselves without consulting the internet?

OP what you have to remember is this person(s) may repeat/threaten numerous cyclists and if a pattern becomes evident the Police are more likely to take this seriously.

Reported to the Council. Police are the next call.

Hmmm. Pressure on my bladder. Do you think I should go for a pee? Any advice appreciated.

Just sit where you are and relax – good practice for when you get a bit older.

I would have gotten clear of the immediate incident, then reported it to the police there and then – couple of years ago some tool shot me with an air rifle as I was commuting into Glasgow along the Forth & Clyde canal. I called it in, and it was very gratifying to see the speed with which the police helicopter arrived overhead. Cops up here take a very dim view of people waving weapons around in public – I can’t imagine the police in Kent would be much different.

Thats just reminded me when I was a kid. An Asian lad was taking pot-shots out of his bedroom window and just missed me. It was in the days before mobile phones and I went straight to the front door and banged away- his Mother called the Police (on me)- however when the Police came and understood what was going on they stormed in en-mass and came out with the gun (hidden) and the lad received a caution 😀

I assume you noted his registration number. That and a report of what was said / done go to the Police. You keep a note of the reg, in case of any trail sabotage it may be of use. Pesonally i’d have called them there an then if a gun of any kind was on display in a public place.

Now reported to the police. We’ll see what happens. If I’m never heard from again then thank you for your help.

Once I’ve established whether there is a definite right of way it’d be interesting to get a big group of us up there.

I called it in, and it was very gratifying to see the speed with which the police helicopter arrived overhead. Cops up here take a very dim view of people waving weapons around in public – I can’t imagine the police in Kent would be much different

They do, I called the local police number because some fairly old blokes were in woodland behind the house shooting birds. Just expected a police Alegro to turn up, but all these men in blue overalls with dogs turned up and carted them off.
And a few years back I strayed off the path on my first Peaks ride and was confronted by a bloke with a shotgun, the barrel was locked and not broken like you’d expect if someone was on a footpath. Didn’t do anything that time.

my family ownes a shit load of land, i bet you it wasnt there land, ring the police right now, they will go see the land owner, and i bet you it wolnt be them. mainly coz we all go shot guns not rifles and dont act like lower class people

there’s plenty of pikeys up that way, you probably nearly caught them flytipping!!

Definitely one for the police. Serious offences being commited there even if its a bb gun

my family ownes a shit load of land, i bet you it wasnt there land, ring the police right now, they will go see the land owner, and i bet you it wolnt be them. mainly coz we all go shot guns not rifles and dont act like lower class people

Post of the day!

my family ownes a shit load of land, i bet you it wasnt there land, ring the police right now, they will go see the land owner, and i bet you it wolnt be them. mainly coz we all go shot guns not rifles and dont act like lower class people

Glad to see the money spent at Marlborough wasn’t wasted.

my family ownes a shit load of land, i bet you it wasnt there land, ring the police right now, they will go see the land owner, and i bet you it wolnt be them. mainly coz we all go shot guns not rifles and dont act like lower class people

my family ownes a shit load of land, i bet you it wasnt there land, ring the police right now, they will go see the land owner, and i bet you it wolnt be them. mainly coz we all go shot guns not rifles and dont act like lower class people

Post of the day!

Agreed.

Let us know the outcome (and chase the Police to do something!) – waving weapons at people is NOT acceptable.

dont act like lower class people

To be fair, you don’t often hear ‘GET ORF MOI LAND’ shouted in council estates though, do you? It’s often the ‘landed’ amongst us that have the biggest issue with public access.

GET ORF MOI LAND’ shouted in council estates though,

that’s because is not their land. Just because some one is on youre land it does not make it right to try and shoot at them.

report it for certain.plenty of idiots have strung wire across trails/put logs on descents e.t.c.

that’s because is not their land. Just because some one is on youre land it does not make it right to try and shoot at them.

Agreed, of course. Unfortunately not always the view of shotgun toting landowners though; although less common these days, land disputes still represent a high proportion of non-urban firearms incidents.

Also, technically its not your land either, it all belongs to the Crown. You just happen to possess the right to look after it for free; the freehold deeds.

Also, technically its not your land either, it all belongs to the Crown. You just happen to possess the right to look after it for free; the freehold deeds.

yes and you only have the right to look after the top bit you only own the first 5 foot after that depth the soil belongs to some one else (mineral rights).
When some **** dog rips apart some calf you spent untold hours keeping alive, suddenly trespassers become more annoying, shooting at trespassers is wrong, shooting there dogs is right (if there worrying, chasing riping apart animals at the time) Also a large number of people killed on farms are trespassing there.

Again agreed, obviously. Where I disagree with you is when you seem to assume that people with land are somehow more ‘civilised’ than those less fortunate. More to lose maybe, better manners, probably. But strip away the thin veneer of socialisation and the same animal is beneath. There are eejits, numpties and downright bad eggs in ALL strata of society, regardless of wealth or favour.

(I also like to hope there’s plenty of decent people at all levels of society, although sometimes I do wonder)

Where I disagree with you is when you seem to assume that people with land are somehow more ‘civilised’ than those less fortunate

when did i say that?

Also a large number of people killed on farms are trespassing there.

How many people are killed whilst trespassing on farms? If it’s more than one or two a year I’d be very surprised.

How many people are killed whilst trespassing on farms? If it’s more than one or two a year I’d be very surprised.

http://www.bmj.com/content/305/6844/23.full.pdf

two people have died on our farm in the last 10 years both of them shouldn’t have been there , PRO TIP dont go climbing round bales there round and can roll, and weigh 1000kg.