TRF becomming Extinct?

[AndyB]

Ralph, the flaw with relying upon riding illegally, is that access will become impossible on most/some lanes as farmers/local authorities will quickly install gates/fences/obstructions.

So the loss of legal trail riding really means the loss of trail riding IMO.

Can't see it myself, too much money to install gates and fences unless there's a problem with people not respecting the land. So yes, maybe if your farm borders an edge of town council estate full of tossers with crossers, then gates will go up, and they are probably up already because tossers with crosser don't care about rights of way laws.

But out where I live, there's no reason to, I don't think I've ever seen any other motorised traffic on the legal lanes we have now. Farmers having to keep a massive bunch of keys in every tractor, jump down and spend 5 minutes finding the right one at every gate? Spending thousands putting up gates because once in a blue moon they see an illegal trail rider? No, won't happen.

Ralph, no idea where you go , however where I walk, cycle and ride, farmers already use locked gates to limit access to their fields, tracks etc, do you really think they won't jump at the chance to keep you "orf my land"?

Unless of course, it's just me they're targeting ! hmy:

It's not just you. Where I live they leap at the chance to put up barriers and a lot of what look like very tempting trails have chains and padlocks or drop down barriers across them.

One of the local farmers cheerfully admits that he removes signs showing footpaths and bridleways once they're away from the roadside where they can be checked and if he doesn't remove them he lets hedgerows grow over them to obscure them. He's ok though because he says I can use any of the tracks crossing his land or skirt round the edge of the fields when I'm on my mountain bike because I buy him the occasional pint down the pub and we always sponsor his wife when she does her regular charity runs (thumbs)

[johnnyboxer]

Just spent 4-5 hours riding today in a 140 acre private motorcycle playground, set in a beautiful valley on the edge of NY Moors

It has deciduous woodland, rivers,streams,rocks,waterfalls plus open moorland and heathland

It runs very much like a members only Golf Club

There are toilets, a cafe at weekends and picnic benches, a 1 mile concrete access road, a locked gate at the entrance, to keep out undesirable non members........and a large tarmac car park to park your van/pickup or car & trailer

Me and a mate had the whole 140ac area to ourselves today

We were free to use any part of the offroad playground, just for bikes

Nobody to bother us, nobody to tell us we shouldn't go here or there

A few walkers came through, on a public path, but there are signs that this a private motorcycle adventure park and they may encounter motorcycles

It costs me £90 per year for my own access whenever I want, that's twice the annual TRF £45 membership fee, that I pay

I think I am now beginning to realise......... which represents the best value (thumbs)

[Dave DRZ]

Sounds interesting Johnnyboxer. Is it a secret word of mouth thing or is there a website!

Dave

[-Ralph-]

Now that I would pay 90 quid for! If it wasn't in N Yorks.

Not much in the way of gates or barriers near me chaps, not locked ones anyway. Only one I can think of locally which is locked, full width 6ft high because they are there to prevent walkers from taking a lazy shortcut into a village. Even that one if you've half a brain you'll figure out there's an alternative route which starts and finishes in the same place.

[micksea]

I would be interested in the north Yorkshire riding area too,if you wouldn't mind telling JB

[SteveR]

Just spent 4-5 hours riding today in a 140 acre private motorcycle playground, set in a beautiful valley on the edge of NY Moors

It has deciduous woodland, rivers,streams,rocks,waterfalls plus open moorland and heathland

It runs very much like a members only Golf Club

Sounds idyllic, but my experience is that one tends to get bored with "same old", after a while?

Now 1400 acres, and then you are talking... (thumbs)

[beddowsm]

One of the local farmers cheerfully admits that he removes signs showing footpaths and bridleways once they're away from the roadside where they can be checked and if he doesn't remove them he lets hedgerows grow over them to obscure them.(thumbs)

This can seriously backfire against farmers though. I was out with the dog yesterday and followed a footpath sign from the road. Once in the maze of fields there were no signs,and no obvious path. So I took that as the right to walk where I wanted...so I did. With the knowledge in mind that if I did get caught Id plead ignorance as it wasn't signposted. And Id do the same whilst riding if its not obvious or well signposted enough. As long as I have a map to back my actions up then alls good.

[SteveR]

One of the local farmers cheerfully admits that he removes signs showing footpaths and bridleways once they're away from the roadside where they can be checked and if he doesn't remove them he lets hedgerows grow over them to obscure them.(thumbs)

This can seriously backfire against farmers though. I was out with the dog yesterday and followed a footpath sign from the road. Once in the maze of fields there were no signs,and no obvious path. So I took that as the right to walk where I wanted...so I did. With the knowledge in mind that if I did get caught Id plead ignorance as it wasn't signposted. And Id do the same whilst riding if its not obvious or well signposted enough. As long as I have a map to back my actions up then alls good.

I'm a farmer and it winds me up summat rotten when cross field routes are effectively wiped by a crop by growers that don't give a dam'n. My philosophy as someone on the edge of urban man, is to waymark the footpaths to an inch of their lives and then there is no disputes. Mind, you still get idiots... the fave over the years was two couples dressed ready for a visit to the local Restaraunt, women in totty heels etc, then the one woman kicked off that the footpath (across farmland) was not paved....! :laugh:

There is a legal requirement to reinstate cross field paths and pretty onerous penalties for breaches, with reductions in the support payments made for each breach. However, the local Council RoW folks don't give a hoot, even though a couple of high profile busts would focus minds... In theory the RPA inspectors should flag these up too, but I have never heard of any instances where they have taken action publicly. Ho Hum...

[johnnyboxer]

Just spent 4-5 hours riding today in a 140 acre private motorcycle playground, set in a beautiful valley on the edge of NY Moors

It has deciduous woodland, rivers,streams,rocks,waterfalls plus open moorland and heathland

It runs very much like a members only Golf Club

Sounds idyllic, but my experience is that one tends to get bored with "same old", after a while?

Now 1400 acres, and then you are talking... (thumbs)

On the bikes we ride there are loads of options to ride & not get bored on the whole 140 acres - it is not fields !!

It's a Trials Club

So Trials bikes only, no exceptions

Trials tyres too

Operates as a private members club, so no non members or guests - however there are 500 club members and a waiting list

To join you have to be nominated by 2 current members, attend a committee meeting and be interviewed by the committee as to your suitability to use their facility

If you pass you are in, pay your £90 and they give you a pass & your own key for entry

You are then free to use it 24/7 & 365 days as you want

Leave it as you find it

[SteveR]

On the bikes we ride there are loads of options to ride & not get bored on the whole 140 acres - it is not fields !!

It's a Trials Club

So Trials bikes only, no exceptions

Trials tyres too

Operates as a private members club, so no non members or guests - however there are 500 club members and a waiting list

Ah, quite different to the riding mx bikes type of location then... :cheer: