Let's Off-Road!

[skyrover]

The more lanes are closed... the more traffic is forced onto a smaller pool of unsurfaced roads.

[Clivey]

skyrover said:

The more lanes are closed... the more traffic is forced onto a smaller pool of unsurfaced roads.

Then the NIMBYS wonder why people go "off piste"!

[powerstroke]

What I would like the larrylambs of this world is how to tell us is how it affects them??? I am involved in an agricultual business and I've never heard of damage to crops or livestock from green laners !!! I have lots of farmers with dog worrying, gates left open, and crop damage by walkers type storys most would find the lets off road boys amusing as they try not to get stuck themselves go around muddy lanes to avioid it!!! I think the nimbys are just spiteful townie types and retired public sector wkers who still want a way of bossing the little man about... in other words s.....

Edited by powerstroke on Saturday 14th November 18:03

[coppice]

Let's not get too factionalised and start creating lazy stereotypes to suit our arguments eh? Or introducing the tired old canards of motorists paying and walkers and cyclists getting access free of charge - and ignoring the fact that most of both groups are also motorists. My view is simple - if it 's legal then it's ok , especially when the sport (whether off roading, riding or walking ) is practised with some consideration for others . Having encountered illegal off roaders, littering mountain bikers , selfish horse riders and idiotic walkers within a mile of my home I have learned that all can irritate beyond words. But sensitively practised - none is or should be a problem.

[100SRV]

Name of user said:

The car choice depends on how seriously you are going to get into off roading in my opinion.

And about the places to drive around the UK there are green lanes, special roads for off roader use.

http://www.bywaymap.com

This might help you find any lanes near you.

Don't trust the website above, we've found a lot of inaccuracies in the data. Instead try either "trailwise"
http://www.trailwise.org.uk/index.php

Or the interactive rights of way map for the county of interest, most counties have one accessible on the internet.

Otherwise get in touch with your local green lane association rep, membership is cheaper than a tank of fuel and has lots of benefits.

BTW, green laning is not off-roading! They are public highways and subject to the same rules as sealed roads. If you want to know more (OP) PM me.

[tuffer]

Clivey said:

skyrover said:

The more lanes are closed... the more traffic is forced onto a smaller pool of unsurfaced roads.

Then the NIMBYS wonder why people go "off piste"!

This is in no way aimed at you personally...

I live on Salisbury Plain and have nothing at all against green laning and people using the byways. What I do get pissed off about is hordes of off roaders (2 and 4 wheel) who ignore all the posted byway signs and just decide to create their own tracks across private land. Then they find a big puddle and decide to turn it into a private play pit turning the whole area into a mud bath. Last weekend a group decided to conduct a bit of hillclimbing on what was an old track, this is not a byway or even bridleway just an old historical scar on the hill that Military vehicles had used. Extensive work has just been completed to recover the area, fill in all the deep ravines and wheel tracks and then top dress and seed. These clowns decided to ignore that and drive over that barrier at the top and bottom of the area and then proceed to tear up the hillside again returning to the bottom of said area via the adjacent farmers field or via the Bridleway. Due to the recent wet weather, the area is a complete mess again. They then drove around our village looking for the next offroad section to tear up dropping great clods of mud everywhere. The Dakar wannabe's are even worse, creating their own private enduro sections in private woodlands, I saw evidence this week where they had purposely cut through barbed wire boundary fences so they could access certain areas despite livestock being present.
The MOD are getting seriously pissed off with it and I fear that if it continues then serious restrictions will be put in place ruining it for everyone.

I am all for off roading and enjoying the countryside, just keep it sensible.

[coppice]

happensw said:

If you want to green lane get an ordnance survey map of your local area.

...and it won't tell you where you can lawfully off road...Good start yes, but not definitive.