GREEN LANING IN ESSEX
GREEN LANING IN ESSEX
Author
Discussion

Scurry

Original Poster:

64 posts

240 months

Tuesday 14th August 2007
quotequote all
Is there anyone out there doing a spot of Green Laning in the Essex area?

Hooli

32,278 posts

221 months

Tuesday 14th August 2007
quotequote all
nope but im considering it. from a bit of map reading heading to suffolk will produce a lot more lanes. lack of space for a 3rd bike has kind of held me back from any further ideas though.

odyssey2200

18,650 posts

230 months

Tuesday 14th August 2007
quotequote all
Where are green laners legally alowed to ride now.

I was clear right op to the Countryside & rights of way act.

Are we on Byways, Rupps or what?

Hooli

32,278 posts

221 months

Tuesday 14th August 2007
quotequote all
byways.
restricted byways (new class) & rupps are illegal.

odyssey2200

18,650 posts

230 months

Tuesday 14th August 2007
quotequote all
Sadly as part of the CROW Wiltshire reclasified most Byways into Bridleways or Footpaths.

And they closed the Ridgeway too. furious

D1 MAD

383 posts

253 months

Wednesday 15th August 2007
quotequote all
odyssey2200 said:
Sadly as part of the CROW Wiltshire reclasified most Byways into Bridleways or Footpaths.

And they closed the Ridgeway too. furious
Actually only part of the Ridgeway has been lost to motor vehicles and most of that is in Thames Valley. See the below link for details

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ridgeway/downloads....

Also, following the devastation of NERC countrywide, Wiltshire is one of the few counties to retain a large percentage of its rideable / driveable byways, mostly due to the selfless dedication and campaigning for 20 years or more by one very knowledgeable individual (not me).

I would urge anyone interested in riding or driving non surfaced roads legally, to get in touch with their local TRF group for information on usable routes.

There is a voluntary halt on all riding at the moment by TRF members in respect for the worries faced by farmers over the foot and mouth situation.

odyssey2200

18,650 posts

230 months

Wednesday 15th August 2007
quotequote all
No

If you try to get onto the Ridgeway at Silbury hill off the A4 or at Avebury or Hackpen hill near Swindon there are signs banning motorised vehicles.

Stig

11,823 posts

305 months

Wednesday 15th August 2007
quotequote all
odyssey2200 said:
No

If you try to get onto the Ridgeway at Silbury hill off the A4 or at Avebury or Hackpen hill near Swindon there are signs banning motorised vehicles.
Yup - it's a complete bunch of ar$e isn't it. Wiped out 99% of my offroading at a stroke.

Complete load of c0ck. furious

Edited by Stig on Wednesday 15th August 12:40

odyssey2200

18,650 posts

230 months

Wednesday 15th August 2007
quotequote all
All because of the bloody red sock wearing walking stick carrying Ramblers

shoot

Stig

11,823 posts

305 months

Wednesday 15th August 2007
quotequote all
odyssey2200 said:
All because of the bloody red sock wearing walking stick carrying Ramblers

shoot
Yup, the countryside is for 'everyone' - that's everyone except bikers apparently.

Irritatingly, the Ridgeway problems were far more to do with pillocks in 4x4s who rutted it up to bu99ery than bikes.

rsv gone!

11,288 posts

262 months

Wednesday 15th August 2007
quotequote all
odyssey2200 said:
All because of the bloody red sock wearing walking stick carrying Ramblers

shoot
Don't let the fact that the biggest ruiners of trails are agricultural vehicle stand in the way of anything! Pah, what's the truth got to do with it anyway?

odyssey2200

18,650 posts

230 months

Wednesday 15th August 2007
quotequote all
The thing that boiled my piss was when they said that they were closing one green lane because a certian type of plant was growing there.

Well excuse me put that track was being used regularly and the plant had grown there anyway.

When the track was not used the weeds and brambles took over and the plant has now stopped growing there.

Just to add insult to injury the track is now impassible to walkers now and cannot be used at all.

banghead


Hooli

32,278 posts

221 months

Wednesday 15th August 2007
quotequote all
Stig said:
odyssey2200 said:
All because of the bloody red sock wearing walking stick carrying Ramblers

shoot
Yup, the countryside is for 'everyone' - that's everyone except bikers apparently.

Irritatingly, the Ridgeway problems were far more to do with pillocks in 4x4s who rutted it up to bu99ery than bikes.
most of those ruts are from tractors not 4x4s. ive driven a lot of greenlanes in 4x4s & its rare the ruts appear to be from 4x4s. they are often to wide/deep/wrong wheelbase etc to be a 4x4.

anyone remember the fly? (i think it was) on salisbury plain that was dying due to the lack of motorised use of closed greenlanes? seems they needed the churning of the puddles to develop the lavrve.

D1 MAD

383 posts

253 months

Wednesday 15th August 2007
quotequote all
odyssey2200 said:
No

If you try to get onto the Ridgeway at Silbury hill off the A4 or at Avebury or Hackpen hill near Swindon there are signs banning motorised vehicles.
All is not as bad as it may seem. Some of the signs that only apply to the seasonal closures actually get left up all year! They are not enforceable. These signs get notices giving info on the open / closed dates strapped underneath. These additional strap on notices are easily ripped off by persons not wishing to see motor vehicles on the route! Much like the original signs that used to get put up only when the routes were closed got ripped down by persons who were determined to use vehicles on them during these times. That's why expensive signs that are hard to remove got put up, and get left up all year.

The link I put up for the National trails site gives I believe reliable info on what sections can and cannot be used and at what times. I have just spoken with Wiltshire County Council ROW dept to double check this info and they are going to get back to me if it is inaccurate. Sadly their own info section on the Ridge Way has got lost in their web site revamp! How handy is that? Not!

I do share your frustration in having so many of our previously OK to use routes restricted, but all is not lost, it's just very difficult to find out and be sure where you can ride legally.

odyssey2200

18,650 posts

230 months

Wednesday 15th August 2007
quotequote all
Given the shite weather I feel the need to dig the TT out of the garage.
hehe


telecat

8,528 posts

262 months

Thursday 16th August 2007
quotequote all
There is a lot of crap talked by ramblers and councillors who think No Vehicles should be allowed on unmade roads. Most of the ruts for example are caused by Tractors. Try fitting 4x4's into the ruts and the car slithers around as the track is too small to fit the ruts. Some Farmers are known for blaming Bikers and 4x4's as well despite this. Parts of Ilkley Moor have had to be worked on to get them back to the state they were in 20-30 years ago. Why? well only the walkers go up and they don't keep the vegetation down. Where does the restoration material come from?? Harden Moor, where Motorcycle Trials Radio Control Model flying and Walking exist side by side with a quarry. Walkers have caused more damage to the local environment by wearing out path's, littering and damaging fences and hedgerows than any Motorcycle's and 4x4's.