Child's Quad and Public Land?

[Martin43]

Evening all,

I'm considering getting my little lad a quad bike for Christmas and I have a question surrounding where it can be used.

I was at a dealers today and we were discussing the best kind to get. I'm aware that a petrol quad cannot be used without the landowners permission so we wouldn't be able to use it on the local football pitches or green space.

The dealer suggested getting an electric quad as these could be used on the parks, pavements etc without fear of getting in trouble from the authorities. His argument being that mobile scooters for the elderly can be used in these places and there is no difference between the two.

Obviously we as response parents wouldn't let him use it on the pavement or on parks where they are busy or in use for their primary function (football, rugby etc).

Can anyone shed any light?

Thanks in advance.

[Red Devil]

I wouldn't take a dealer's word for this. Ask him if he is willing to indemnify you should you be prosecuted.
If he isn't prepared to give you a written undertaking to that effect then exercise extreme caution.

A golf buggy is not an 'invalid carriage' in law so I very much doubt an electrically powered quad bike is either.
https://www.askthe.police.uk/Content/Q805.htm

Phillip Coates was prosecuted for, and found guilty of, riding a Segway on a pavement.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7887212/S...

It remains an offence to do so.
http://www.legalisesegways.co.uk/cms/default.aspx?...

Assuming this is not a spoof/wind-up, is it an example of double standards?
You're not allowed to but we will be*.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greate...

 * under what exemption I wonder?

[austinsmirk]

varying classes of mobility scooters have to be registered, taxed and insurance held. - basically depends on the power.

problem you have, he wants to sell you a quad...........

its more likely to be an issue if yr annoying neighbours, dog walkers, nearly running down other kids............. and you actually happen to get caught.

has anyone ever seen a quad bike being ridden responsibly ......... I'd argue I haven't, unless on a farmers field, by a farmer for work.

I do get yr trying to go the right way about things though- are their any quad clubs etc you can use their land ?

[Mandalore]

Every Xmas day afternoon the local council football pitches get churned up and ruined by people and kids out on their new quads.

The manager of one of the kids teams that use it as their home ground is within earshot and every year the BIB roll up and turf them out. Even then the first game of the new year is usually deferred until the damage is flattened out.



I often wonder if the kids quads ever get used again especially if the parent concerned doesn't have a large estate car to take it somewhere where they can be ridden.

[anonymous-user]

I'm afraid I am of the opinion that things like quads and dirtbikes should only be purchased by people who have either substantial land of their own, or a place where they can take them to be legally ridden.

I'm not against kids having fun, I mean I've had quads, off-road buggies and dirtbikes since I was about 7 years old, but the damage and nuicence they can cause to others is substantial if used in an inappropriate place.

If you are going to get one, then I would get him a proper petrol one, a trailer, and take him to a pay 'n' play type quad park at the weekend. It'll be more fun anyway rather than driving round your local park desperately hoping you aren't annoying anyone.

[Bill]

austinsmirk said:

has anyone ever seen a quad bike being ridden responsibly ......... I'd argue I haven't, unless on a farmers field, by a farmer for work.

I don't know, I know one locally who seems to spend an awful lot of time sideways while rounding his cows up.