Mountain bikers on a footpath. What to do?

Honey08

Honey08

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We have a footpath at the bottom of one field, against a small river. We've never had any problem with walkers for the past forty years, however a lot of the stiles have been made into small gates so a lot of mountain bikers have started coming up the path. It gets quite boggy in one corner of out field. The council did a lot of work putting wooden walkways over some of the worst bits and we fence one corner of the field off so that sheep can get in but not the horses. There is also a huge drainage hole that is hidden in the rushes and I don't want the horses near it.

For th past couple of years the plain wire across this corner of the field (and path tub with a small gap for people to get through) keeps snapping. I thought it was my husband's horse leaning on it. Last year my mare got it wrapped around her legs and needed vets treatment. Last week my gelding came in with wire caught between his shoe and foot, luckily no injury. I replaced the wire with electric tape. Today it is snapped/cut.

Yesterday I was getting the horses in and saw a mountain biker coming up the path. I watched as he got his bike stuck in the kissing gate (gate out of our land onto the lane) of the footpath, he was yanking and pulling at the gate, nearly breaking the post and rail. I shouted down to him that he was on a footpath, he rode off up the lane, waited until I had led the horses a bit further up the lane and then went back down the footpath.

What would you do? Suggestions welcome. My first thoughts are contacting the council rights of way officer to see if they can make some of the stiles less bike friendly. But how to fence the gap? They have tools to cut wire, it seems, and it leaves loose wire on the ground endangering the horses. Post and rail could be smashed down. I've got about 10' between the path and the river (on a slope) to fence. I was wondering about getting a couple of the big square straw bales and soaking them with water so they can't be moved or burned? I'd dump a load of manure (zero make it unpleasant to ride through).but it's probably illegal next to a waterway. Or perhaps a metal gate?

Sorry for the long post! I can't do short ones.
 
We also have this issue, and get mouthfulls of abuse if you dare to say anything after you've nearly been ridden down by them. The council did put up signs which were ripped down and any fences or obstacles they simply carry the bikes over. Everyone has pretty much given up trying to stop them now, there are literally dozens of them, even in the dark they come with head torches on. :(
 
Could you electrify the electric tape, with warning signs in place of course. Anyone trying to cut it then would get what they deserved.
The whole situation reminds me of the farmer in Somerset who fenced off a stretch of footpath with 6' high steel fencing because walkers were wandering about in his field; the locals were up in arms but he was within his rights
 
I think if I electrified the tape the energiser would get stolen or damaged.

I could cope with them coming up the path (just!) but it's the ripping down fences to make their ride faster and thus endangering our horses that bothers me. I thought if I could put up obstacles that at least slow them down (like the double stacked big bales) and mean they have to keep stopping and lifting their bikes over it may spoil their enjoyment and stop them using the route so much. There are a could of small pedestrian gates further down the path next to stiles, I was thinking about putting bike chain type locks around them so that they'd open enough to get a dog through but not a bike (they're not on my land so I'd have to speak to my neighbours).
 
Yes that would work, but it's getting them there when we've no tractor, and it would bug me having logs somewhere I couldn't jump them!
 
OP, I feel your pain. Last year a 'clever' mountain biker thought he'd got the better of my kissing gates by removing the gate catches with his bike spanner which made it easier to manoeuvre big bikes as you could move the gate with one hand . Oh dear, what a mistake to make. He was spotted by a dog walker (they're not all bad) who told me where to find the bits. Having got them back I put it all back together again and superglued the nuts to the bolts. (And I put three nuts on each bolt!!!)

I also have 'no cycling' signs, not that they do much good, but at least it gives me a good excuse to shout at them as I can then point out the signs which funnily enough they always claim not to have seen :(

I'd give it a go with the big bales or replace the wire with equimesh fencing.
 
Honey08 said:
I think if I electrified the tape the energiser would get stolen or damaged.

I could cope with them coming up the path (just!) but it's the ripping down fences to make their ride faster and thus endangering our horses that bothers me. I thought if I could put up obstacles that at least slow them down (like the double stacked big bales) and mean they have to keep stopping and lifting their bikes over it may spoil their enjoyment and stop them using the route so much. There are a could of small pedestrian gates further down the path next to stiles, I was thinking about putting bike chain type locks around them so that they'd open enough to get a dog through but not a bike (they're not on my land so I'd have to speak to my neighbours).
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You shouldn't have to "cope" with them on the footpath as it's illegal for cycles to use them.
We have them in the woods here where I live, absolute menace, they charge down paths at you when there's no where for you to go to get out of the way.They shout at you if you dare say anything, few years ago 2 men came down the path in the woods I was on with my dogs, told them they shouldn't be there, got the reply "well you should b***dy pick your dog s**t up" and as it happens I had a FULL bag of dog poo in my hand which I promptly threw at him, think he got the message!
Trouble is in the fast paced, cash strapped society we live in no one in authority seems to take it seriously and those who do have no powers or means to do anything about it.
How about a stinger across the path!
Only joking but wouldn't it be worth it to see all the punctures! ;)
Oz
 
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We took some rather drastic action because of a bridleway that runs through one of the fields - we've had mountain bikers leaving the gates open resulting in mares with foal at foot ending up on the path, we've had people on horses cantering through the middle. When we tied the gate up with wire the mountain bikers cut it. We ended up rescuing a foal and a couple of sheep from the boundary fencing where they had got stuck after being frightened.

The local council did diddly squat in response to our complaints so we chained up the gates at either end and also knocked fencing posts either side so even if they cut the chain the gate still won't open. Then we sat and waited for the council to get back to us - which they soon did because we'd blocked off a right of way.

After numerous visits by people from various departments notices were posted (by the council) that it was a footpath and bridleway only (no mountain bikes) and that anyone on a bike carrying on down the path would be open to prosecution. The signs also reminded riders that the bridleway was concenionary (sp) and could be closed if abused.

What wasn't on the signs was that cameras had been put up near both gates (with full knowledge of the council) which were motion activated and linked directly to a recorder. The council sucessfully prosecuted a group of 5 bikers - after that the word soon spread and bike traffic stopped. We still get the occasional idiot who wants to have a charge up the middle of the field but after the last round of notices that I took round to all the local livery yards advising that the bridleway would be revoked if they didn't behave seems to have cured that as well.
 
I'd start with a polite notice reminding users that the path is a footpath only and asking cyclists who wish to enjoy the use of it to be considerate by keeping speeds down and avoid damaging the fences.

Live and let live if at all possible.
 
pennyturner said:
I'd start with a polite notice reminding users that the path is a footpath only and asking cyclists who wish to enjoy the use of it to be considerate by keeping speeds down and avoid damaging the fences.

Live and let live if at all possible.
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BUT they shouldn't BE there, there's no giving in to them in my books it's illegal for cycles to USE footpaths!
 
I shouted to the bloke last night politely that it was a footpath, and he just waited until he knew I was too far out of range to get to him and carried on. A polite sign wouldn't do anything.

Believe me I've thought about stingers etc in my angry moments, but it would be my horses or someone's dog that suffered (it's a popular footpath). I'm highly tempted to feed my horses their hard feed in the field and arrive up the path on a mountain bike with it, so they run at anyone on a bike (big greedy ISH), but I'd just end up getting sued.

Half the problem is at the other end of the path a lot of the gates have been removed and not replaced, so there aren't many difficult/slow bits until you get to mine.

I also thought about digging some huge drainage ditches either side of the stile with a pipe going under the thin footpath, so it's a boggy wet mess either side of the stile and a nuisance for them. The boggy soil around the stream is full of iron so goes rust red and stains clothes....

Trouble is, it makes life harder for the walkers that do respect the path and our animals.
 
If I had a footpath running through my field (which I don't as up here anyone can go anywhere but nobody has ever set foot in my field!) then I'd electric tape off a bit along the side of the field for them to go, so they're totally seperate from my horses. I'd hate the thought of random people wondering amongst my animals! Surely it would then get overgrown... but hey ho not your issue and would probably stop cyclists using it if it was high in grass/weeds?
 
cremedemonthe said:
BUT they shouldn't BE there, there's no giving in to them in my books it's illegal for cycles to USE footpaths!
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It's illegal for horse riders to use footpaths too, but in many places we do, permissively or otherwise.
Personally I'd like to live in a world with fewer 'no entry' signs... which means acting responsibly as a user, and generously as an owner.

I'm a bit biased because there's a landowner over the way who takes just that attitude regarding a stretch of the Test Way - which turns a potential long distance bridleway into a battlezone with the local gamekeeper, just because it was never designated a bridleway.
 
I have another footpath through a field and I do fence it off completely. It saves a lot of hassle. But this one runs well into the field, there is about 40metres from the footpath to the fence, and the river runs level - the river that the horses drink from and stand in on hot days.. Most people don't go anywhere near the horses or bother them (they're big horses, most scuttle past). I've had horses on this land on and off for 35 years now with no issues. It's just the fact that the horses are getting out into a dangerous corner that's the problem.

I actually think I saw the guy today on his own drive when I was out hacking. If I had been 100% sure I might have jumped over his front hedge into his garden and out over the side hedge back onto the lane! seen how he liked a bit of trespassing!

I was just thinking a dry stone wall may be the best way, although expensive.
 
If people respected their surroundings then these 'no entry' signs would not be needed, its the people that abuse and cause damage to fences/gates that cause the issue!
 
The thing is, round here Penny there are miles and miles of little unused lanes and tracks, so there is no need for riding or mountain biking on footpaths. We're in the Pennines, so open countryside with tracks as far as the eye can see. If it's the guy I saw today he will be using it because he lives at the start of the footpath so it's a shortcut.

The other point is, he is damaging fences, gates and stiles, and also churning up a wet path therefore spoiling it for legal users, ie the walkers.

I have no issue with people crossing our land, I just want them to do it legally..
 
Honey08 said:
The thing is, round here Penny there are miles and miles of little unused lanes and tracks, so there is no need for riding or mountain biking on footpaths. We're in the Pennines, so open countryside with tracks as far as the eye can see. If it's the guy I saw today he will be using it because he lives at the start of the footpath so it's a shortcut.

The other point is, he is damaging fences, gates and stiles, and also churning up a wet path therefore spoiling it for legal users, ie the walkers.

I have no issue with people crossing our land, I just want them to do it legally..
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Agree. The comment earlier by another poster about horse riding on footpaths also is right they do and I have successfully shamed out local council in to getting something done about it in a local park. A ladies dog was kicked by one off the bridle path and on a footpath where they shouldn't have been, leaving the dog's owner with a £200 vet's bill and scared dog,so it needs dealing with.
You cannot have horse or cycles riding often at speed on footpaths where people, children and dogs walk and if you could rely on people behaving themselves we wouldn't need a police force. In other words you can't, so therefore it needs enforcing that it is illegal for horses or cycles to use footpaths on private land if the owner of the land hasn't given permission which by the sounds of it OP you haven't
 
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What thus guy is doingisn't just trespass - it's criminal damage. Have a word with your local police/security system company about the best way to record who is doing it & getting court admissible evidence. A motion detecting camera is going to be cheaper than a dry stone wall.
 
RunToEarth said:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ear...perty-by-erecting-300ft-long-metal-fence.html


...In jest, obviously. But it is the only way. There are so many people who just absolutely take the mick with public access, its no wonder landowners are resorting to large measures!
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That article refers to the guy who supplies my hay. He's a nice guy and to be honest, I'd rather there wasn't dog c**p in the hay he supplied! (not that there is any, but if the dog walkers were left to their own devices there probably would be)
He bought that land fair and square, people trespassed on it and refused to stick to the footpath. Totally understandable that he wants to protect his investment and income from dog fouling.
 
cremedemonthe said:
Good for him!
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I second this. It always amazes me that people think they have right of access to other people's land to do with as they will when they've not paid and won't pay a penny towards it! If the school wanted to keep going there they should have bought it and put up with all the dog mess themselves. Same for the wildlife nutjobs. I can be a bit of an ecowarrior myself on occasion, but same goes for them - if that concerned why didn't they buy the land?
 
Could you concrete in a couple of concrete fence posts and use an arris fence panel dropped in and bolted? Arris panels are relatively cheap and about 3.5m long, or failing that plant a really nasty patch of nettles and hope they fall into them!
 
I think we'll have to differ on this. I think behaviour like that by landowners breeds resentment and has no place in civilised society. Not saying there aren't some pisstaking scum about, but treating everyone who uses the footpath with that kind of contempt is horrible, antisocial and crass.
 
madlady said:
We took some rather drastic action because of a bridleway that runs through one of the fields - we've had mountain bikers leaving the gates open resulting in mares with foal at foot ending up on the path, we've had people on horses cantering through the middle. When we tied the gate up with wire the mountain bikers cut it. We ended up rescuing a foal and a couple of sheep from the boundary fencing where they had got stuck after being frightened.

The local council did diddly squat in response to our complaints so we chained up the gates at either end and also knocked fencing posts either side so even if they cut the chain the gate still won't open. Then we sat and waited for the council to get back to us - which they soon did because we'd blocked off a right of way.

After numerous visits by people from various departments notices were posted (by the council) that it was a footpath and bridleway only (no mountain bikes) and that anyone on a bike carrying on down the path would be open to prosecution. The signs also reminded riders that the bridleway was concenionary (sp) and could be closed if abused.

What wasn't on the signs was that cameras had been put up near both gates (with full knowledge of the council) which were motion activated and linked directly to a recorder. The council sucessfully prosecuted a group of 5 bikers - after that the word soon spread and bike traffic stopped. We still get the occasional idiot who wants to have a charge up the middle of the field but after the last round of notices that I took round to all the local livery yards advising that the bridleway would be revoked if they didn't behave seems to have cured that as well.
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I'm confused because you said this was a bridle way which cyclists would be completely allowed to be on!?

Also there are several footpaths they I ride on with permission of landowner - and have never found terrorising walkers to be an issue.

Hope you come up with something they works though OP. Something large and solid and hard to lift a bike over seems best.
 
pennyturner said:
I think we'll have to differ on this. I think behaviour like that by landowners breeds resentment and has no place in civilised society. Not saying there aren't some pisstaking scum about, but treating everyone who uses the footpath with that kind of contempt is horrible, antisocial and crass.
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That fence will have cost tens if not hundreds of thousands of pounds - can you begin to imagine the scale of trespass to warrant that kind of expense.

I am sick of telling people they are trespassing to be met with dumbstruck looks or a full on earful- it is not the odd few disrespectful people, there are a LOT of them.

Mad lady - completely respect the action you took but I think that erection cameras without signage is an offence.
 
As it isn't just trespass, but criminal damage, I would put cameras up with suitable signs, and hand the evidence on to the police. I think that public rights of way are important, but hate it when they are abused.
 
The first port of call when landowners make a breach is the local ROW officer - so I would be campaigning feverantly at their door - those who shout loudest are heard and all that. Completely sympathise with you OP.
 
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