Did you know...

[Clava]

that the BHS has a formal policy of promoting/supporting public vehicular rights on green lanes. Use by motor vehicles is wholly contrary to the interests of equestrians. I am writing to complain to Mark Weston of the BHS as it is my experience that vehicles (4 x 4s or motorbikes) just damage our byways and make them unsuable for us. What do you think? If you are a member do you support this?

 

[old_woman]

Is this really true?

I know our local Trail Riders Federation (polite, controlled motorcyclists who do a lot of work to maintain BOATS and assist at LD rides) and their members were very disappointed a couple of years back when the BHS declined to support them over some access matters, after they had always cooperated with BHS requests for evidence of use in right-of-way enquiries.

TBH I don't see the problem in APPROPRIATE use of byways by considerate motor vehicles. However it has to be taken on an individual basis for each byway, and there need to be much more stringent - and easily enforceable! - penalties for those who break the law or breach traffic regulation orders.

Up here, if it weren't for the use of byways and green lanes by the TRF, many of them would be totally impenetrable or even worse, lost for ever.

 

[Clava]

Is this really true?

I know our local Trail Riders Federation (polite, controlled motorcyclists who do a lot of work to maintain BOATS and assist at LD rides) and their members were very disappointed a couple of years back when the BHS declined to support them over some access matters, after they had always cooperated with BHS requests for evidence of use in right-of-way enquiries.

TBH I don't see the problem in APPROPRIATE use of byways by considerate motor vehicles. However it has to be taken on an individual basis for each byway, and there need to be much more stringent - and easily enforceable! - penalties for those who break the law or breach traffic regulation orders.

Up here, if it weren't for the use of byways and green lanes by the TRF, many of them would be totally impenetrable or even worse, lost for ever.

As far as I know this is true. I have heard of one well known member supporting 4x 4s at an inquiry at least and I understand that this is not a one off situation.
I have the opposite problem to you, 4wds and motorbikes have so badly damaged my lanes that they became impassable, certainly didn't help to keep them open! The council has now cleared them which has greatly improved their status, but motorbike access still is causing much damage.

 

[Sarah_Sayers]

I'm not a member, but I can imagine as Old Woman states, some lanes need as many people in support of their use to keep them opened/maintained. I would rather share a lane with a 4x4 than not be able to use it at all I guess.

Also we are lucky in our area, we get very few 4x4's down our tracks, and the motobikes we get are extremely considerate, really go out of their way for us.

 

[Clava]

I'm not a member, but I can imagine as Old Woman states, some lanes need as many people in support of their use to keep them opened/maintained. I would rather share a lane with a 4x4 than not be able to use it at all I guess.

Also we are lucky in our area, we get very few 4x4's down our tracks, and the motobikes we get are extremely considerate, really go out of their way for us.

I've always found morotbikes considerate, but sadly the damage they do makes my lanes impossible to use. I have 5 byways at the bottom of my field, all were unusable last year due to vehicle damage, in no way did they keep it clear!

In my case it is the Council's job to keep the byways clear, which after pressure they have now started to do (and they have done a wonderful job) and they do not cause huge wells of mud and ruts over a foot deep.

 

[wildponies]

Without wanting to sound thick...

Where I live, these 'grass tracks' as I call them often connect fields and are not only used as bridlepaths but also to allow tractors to gain access to the fields?

Tractors are notorius for churning up the ground when went especially near gateways but is this not unavoidable?

We don't have an issue with motorbikes in my neck of the woods so can't comment on that.

4x4s also use the lanes but obviously don't cause as much damage as tractors. But the use of tractors is essential in maintenance of the surrounding fields so damage is inevitable?

Sorry if I am missing the point

 

[Clava]

I believe that even landowners are not allowed to damage byways (and high ways) so tractor damage can be illegal depending upon where it is . My point really was about public vehicular rights, where they are established the green lanes can be lost to other users through the damage they do. If a TRO had not been placed on my local lanes then it would be only 4 x4s and motorbikes using them as no-one else could.

I just don't think an equestrian society should be promoting something which in no-way helps horses and riders. No-one has the right to cause damage and we should not have to put up with any damaged routes in some strange trade off for maintenance. If it is a local authority byway then they are responsible for keeping them clear and useable.