Public Footpaths - Are we allowed to cycle down them?
Discussion
Out on my local XC ride today, I was stopped by a homeowner who has a public footpath down the side of their house (I'm not 100% sure if its footpath or bridleway) but initially I was asked to turn back as I was on Private Property, I pointed out that it was a public footpath to which she replied yes but not for cycles so i got off and walked through the few meters that was part of their land.
I've been using the route for years with no issues, a group that I have been out with previously use it and mentioned the owners don't like it but they carry on anyway...
Most of my ride is made up of Footpaths / Bridleways, if I ever see walkers I always slow right down, politely ask to pass or move out the way if coming head on, no one has ever said anything to me before...
Just wondering what rights we have to cycle down these paths if any?
Thanks.
I've been using the route for years with no issues, a group that I have been out with previously use it and mentioned the owners don't like it but they carry on anyway...
Most of my ride is made up of Footpaths / Bridleways, if I ever see walkers I always slow right down, politely ask to pass or move out the way if coming head on, no one has ever said anything to me before...
Just wondering what rights we have to cycle down these paths if any?
Thanks.
Legally no, foot paths are not for bikes, annoys me when adults teach their kids to cycle on pavements at the roadside when I'm walking the dogs and have some kid wobbling down the path at me - I know these days the authorities like to blur the lines by painting cycle paths on to pavements but that's another matter.
We can cycle on roads, bridleways & green lanes we don't really need to ride on footpaths as well - although I totally agree that it would make sense for MTB's to be allowed to use countryside paths because as long as riders are considerate I think bikes mix better with the few sporadic pedestrians seen in the countryside than with horses.
At Aston Hill downhill the push up is on a public foot path and there are no cycling signs and that's in a trail centre, its pretty clear cut.
We can cycle on roads, bridleways & green lanes we don't really need to ride on footpaths as well - although I totally agree that it would make sense for MTB's to be allowed to use countryside paths because as long as riders are considerate I think bikes mix better with the few sporadic pedestrians seen in the countryside than with horses.
At Aston Hill downhill the push up is on a public foot path and there are no cycling signs and that's in a trail centre, its pretty clear cut.
okgo said:
Himself said:
A FOOTpath is exactly that, so no, you shouldn't ride your bike on it.
any FOOTpaths are shared use. You can only cycle down roads, bridleways or Byway open to all traffic or a Restricted byway. Not paths marked as a footpath.
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/blog/2011/08/right...
Edited by el stovey on Saturday 14th December 16:31
el stovey said:
They're certainly not.
You can only cycle down roads, bridleways or Byway open to all traffic or a Restricted byway. Not paths marked as a footpath.
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/blog/2011/08/right...
fYou can only cycle down roads, bridleways or Byway open to all traffic or a Restricted byway. Not paths marked as a footpath.
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/blog/2011/08/right...
Edited by el stovey on Saturday 14th December 16:31
k knows why it corrected it to any, I meant to say some. So just because the word foot is in the name it doesn't mean that they're always no bikes. As mentioned ^^^^ cycling on a Footpath is not legal, and that it is a breach of "civil" law not "criminal" law.
However, if we are honest, the only real reason foothpaths are "foot only" is because MTB's didn't exist when these rights of way were formed. It's clear that anyone with a sensible attitude to sharing our rights of way could make a sensible split between human powered travel (feet/bike etc) and externally powered travel (Horse, Internal Combustion Engine etc). Scotland and Europe have much more sensible attitudes to this exact issue.....
It's currently not even clear if you can push your bicycle down a footpath legally!
In reality, however, it's worth trying to avoid clashing with walkers, who out number cyclists, but i have to say that you do find a lot of "miliant" walkers who seem to think that the countryside is all theirs and no one else should be allowed to use and "spoil" it.......
However, if we are honest, the only real reason foothpaths are "foot only" is because MTB's didn't exist when these rights of way were formed. It's clear that anyone with a sensible attitude to sharing our rights of way could make a sensible split between human powered travel (feet/bike etc) and externally powered travel (Horse, Internal Combustion Engine etc). Scotland and Europe have much more sensible attitudes to this exact issue.....
It's currently not even clear if you can push your bicycle down a footpath legally!
In reality, however, it's worth trying to avoid clashing with walkers, who out number cyclists, but i have to say that you do find a lot of "miliant" walkers who seem to think that the countryside is all theirs and no one else should be allowed to use and "spoil" it.......
I'm surprised by the confusion on this. The simple answer is to check on an os map, a small dash line on the map is a footpath and riding a bike is illegal, I've been harassed for just pushing a bike on footpaths before. Long dash is a bridleway and all legal, same as RUPPs and BOATS.
www.streetmap.co.uk is pretty useful as it has an OS overlay, where is the path in question?
http://www.sysmaps.co.uk/oskey.html
www.streetmap.co.uk is pretty useful as it has an OS overlay, where is the path in question?
http://www.sysmaps.co.uk/oskey.html
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 14th December 17:43
el stovey said:
Where is it? 
ETA, Didn't work so here is the link;
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=571301&Y=...
If it's the section going north and south through 'the grange farm' then it's a public footpath through private land and you shouldn't be cycling on it.
You can cycle on the longer dashed lines nearby or where the large circles are (national cycle routes) and even the crosses but not the shorter dotted lines through the farm.
You can cycle on the longer dashed lines nearby or where the large circles are (national cycle routes) and even the crosses but not the shorter dotted lines through the farm.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff