TRF becomming Extinct?

[MikeIrving]

When will the AGM proxy vote system be communicated? Last year it was so close to the AGM all kinds of fuss was needed to collect them ( except within Herts TRF probably), anybody would think it was done on purpose.
A good solid vote is needed to rid the TRF of Costalot, Kerfuffle and Saboteur.

you can be sure it will be done at the very last minute and there will be strict rules. The AGM is booked for the 27th November. it was agreed at the last AGM that all directors would need to be reelected but the minutes say different. they will work very hard to to see that they are reelected

[simonw]

...So long as you respect peoples property, crops and animals, and their peace, there shouldn't be an issue. Our rights of way laws are just stupid...

I agree, but therein lies the reason for TROs, speed limits and a whole host of other frustrating legislation - too many people don't respect people's property, crops and animals and are incapable of driving sensibly and safely according to the conditions at the time. And so on and so forth... Frustrating.

[DavidS]

Hi - I've only been here a few weeks, at Mike Irving's suggestion, but have kept my head down initially.
I was, and still am, banned from the TRF Forum for three months!!!! for saying the Board have contempt for the membership by not responding to the raft of four director resignations in a few weeks. Apparently that is classed as defamation and is therefore a hanging offence. That was two months ago and still no response that I can tell from my illicit viewing.

I have been told that, if I grovel, show remorse and also ask my group Chairman to put a word in, they may reconsider but a) Why the hell should I, and b) I wouldn't trust them anyway.

The Board are working for their own glory and gratification and I also have grave concerns about Directors being paid as 'contractors' as I feel there is a huge conflict of interest that would probably get me slung off our Parish Council.

Last year there was a for or against vote for directors but they refused to confirm to me if that was still the case for this AGM, although the current 'emergency' Articles seem to imply that is the case.

If I haven't been slung out before the AGM, I will be voting and lobbying hard to get the 'big three' voted out and try and bring the TRF back to it's roots.

It appears that anything written that is about the TRF, it's operations or goes against (or even just queries) the directors opinion is wiped from the records and we can only post topics about fluffy kittens and which gloves to wear.

Rant over....sorry.

[-Ralph-]

...So long as you respect peoples property, crops and animals, and their peace, there shouldn't be an issue. Our rights of way laws are just stupid...

I agree, but therein lies the reason for TROs, speed limits and a whole host of other frustrating legislation - too many people don't respect people's property, crops and animals and are incapable of driving sensibly and safely according to the conditions at the time. And so on and so forth... Frustrating.

We have hundreds of laws that deal with those people. Trespass, anti-social behaviour, disturbing the peace, noise regulations, criminal damage. There's no need to penalise the rest of us who were bought up to have some respect with a footpath/bridleway/restricted byway/BOAT system. I don't know of any other country in the world that has a system like it, and they don't need it.

The BOAT system is what causes the TRO's because all the traffic is crammed into 5% of the lanes.

And this is the "system" that the TRF are fighting both for and against at the same time. For the "ancient roads" and against the TRO's place on them. We are so indoctrinated by the system we can't think outside of it, and it's so engrained in the Britsh psyche that we can't get rid of it even if we did think outside of it.

Which is why forgetting the whole damn thing and just go enjoy yourself is the way forwards.

[AndyB]

I'm sorry but I don't think deregulating acess to all country tracks and letting anyone ride or drive on them is the way forward. Even a blind man can see that 4x4 vehicles cause damage to trails and while I'd give them acess to rocky or hard based ones 365 days of the year softer trails need time to dry out by putting seasonal restrictions on them.

Ok, concentrating those vehicles on such a small percentage of the trails makes the problem worse but would cars and bikes turn around and go somewhere else if they saw that their planned route was a swamp after heavy rain? Sadly the answer is no

[boboneleg]

You know what, there's something extremely liberating and enjoyable about going wherever you want, sticking two fingers up to the establishment and dropping all concept of rights of way your thought process. Doesn't matter whether your walking (Scotland has the right idea with "Right to Roam"), cycling or on a motorbike.

Tonight I was exploring a 1960's Thor Nuclear Missle launch pad on foot with the dog (not mine unfortunately, dogsitting for a week).

Just going exploring is the most enjoyable form of riding for me. Question "what's down that track?", then just ride it. I'm not into speed, I don't care about the most challenging terrain, most of the lanes I ride can be done slowly in a normal car.

I just want to get out into the countryside, get a feeling of space, and see things I can't see from the road.

So long as you respect peoples property, crops and animals, and their peace, there shouldn't be an issue. Our rights of way laws are just stupid.

And Mike54 is dead right, legal green laning is a losing battle.

What a hero you are :whistle:

[beddowsm]

Ive just come back from a trip to the Balkans. There are no fences or gates. There are no laws stopping you from riding where ever you want. I rode round the edges of farmers fields when needed, and rode anywhere else I felt like. In the remote areas there are shepherds everywhere. Just take it steady past their flocks and they would wave and come talk to you. It really is an amazing place and a great sensation to be able to ride where the trails...or open terrain took me.

When making some progress on tarmac I had to keep stopping and waiting for my dad to catch up. It was easy. Just see a hill climb at the side of the road. Just vere off and blast straight up the hill, trail or not. Got to the top, back down and he had caught up. Imagine having the freedom to do that here in the UK.

[-Ralph-]

I'm sorry but I don't think deregulating acess to all country tracks and letting anyone ride or drive on them is the way forward. Even a blind man can see that 4x4 vehicles cause damage to trails and while I'd give them acess to rocky or hard based ones 365 days of the year softer trails need time to dry out by putting seasonal restrictions on them.

Ok, concentrating those vehicles on such a small percentage of the trails makes the problem worse but would cars and bikes turn around and go somewhere else if they saw that their planned route was a swamp after heavy rain? Sadly the answer is no

I don't think it's the way forward either, simply because it's politically, socially and culturally unfeasible. But as Beddows says, wouldn't it be nice! Unfortunately legal trail riding in this country is heading in only one direction, towards extinction.

I believe the concentration of traffic and creation of ruts that hold and flow water, is the cause of the problem. Without that it wouldn't be a swamp. There simply aren't enough of us to cause damage, if we were spread everywhere. I know some trails near my wifes place in France that are just naturally a swamp in winter, and nobody uses them in winter because of it. And it's not that nobody is using them at all, in late spring you can hardly get down them due to being overgrown, by this time of year they are quite clear because they've been used over summer.

We do have a minority of idiots in this country, but at the moment all those idiots are abusing the same trails.

[-Ralph-]

What a hero you are :whistle:

In 20 years time when either you are riding where you want or you've given up altogther because you lost your precious battle and there's nowhere legal to go, then you can call me a pioneer as well as a hero (thumbs)

[boboneleg]

If I'm still riding in 20 years time I'll have a lot more things to think about to worry about what you're doing