Research - please read!!!

D you have problems with motorised bikes on bridleways?

  • Total voters
    0
M

moley087

Active Member
Joined
17 October 2010
Messages
42
Location
Brighton
Visit site
Afternoon all,
Just doing a bit of research for an article I'm thinking of writing. Figured i'd put a post on here and test the water before I took it any further.
In your part of the country do you find yourself having problems with dirt/motorbikes using bridleways? I personally have had trouble with them and narrowly avoided a couple of nasty incidents. Do you often come across them? Do you often see tire tracks on bridleways? Do you know anyone who has had accidents directly caused by this problem? Interested to know if this is just a local issue or a national one.
Also what are peoples general views about upkeep of bridleways, good all in all or plenty of room for improvement. Are there enough bridleways in your area?

Any general thoughts/musings appreciated!
 
I'm in South Glos.

We have had problem on the bridleapth that runs right outside our yard, Most of the bridlepath is a concrete track so they use it as they please :mad::mad:

Never seen any on bridlepaths that are through fields.
 
East yorks and I don't think I've ever come across any but then it's not often I ride on em. Came a cropper cos of a man letting his dog loose ran right between horses legs talk about a 360 lol
 
Never seen them around here because we don't have any bridleways near where I live/keep the horses? :(

We have to box to go riding off road - I have never seen motorbikes where we ride there.
 
We had a terrible problem with them when I lived in North Yorks. It was bikes, off-road bikes and kids on the tiny bikes all over the bridleways, all the time, going hell out of leather and then stopping for a beer!!!!!
 
Sometimes it depends on the designation of a "bridleway" as to its access/who has rights of way. What we have near us to ride on is an RUPP and it did allow bikes/motorised vehicles until 2006 when the local council bylaws changed and they could then restrict them (they're now banned and signs up but we still get the odd one chancing their luck). However at the other side of the village is another track and bikes are still allowed there so it's probably worth checking what your tracks/bridleways are as some of them do have permissive rights for motorised vehicles. Interestingly on the one where the bikes are still allowed they all seem to be proper biking green laners and hand signal to each other to stop, pull over and kill their engines to allow us past. I have absolutely no problem with sharing tracks with people like that, it's the same courtesy horseriders have to give to cyclist, walkers, etc. For me it's only the youngsters on scramble bikes going hell for leather with no consideration to other users that are a danger.
 
We have quite a few on bridleways and tracks around my yard, however *touch wood* they have never been a problem as sucjh. Everyone I have encounterd has stopped and waited for me to pass and been pretty polite.
 
Hey all,
Cheers for taking the time to read, vote and reply! I have been getting similar feedback from other forums so you guys aren't alone with hacking problems! The BHS estimates that there are over 3000 incidents every year involving horses and cars, i'm sure you agree that none of us really want to be on the road we just dont have much of a choice!

Ben Scott
 
Monkeybum, where are you in South Glos?

We have problems in that the ********ers race up and down our lane ocasionally. But the bigger issue (thankfully never met one on a horse) is that a lady down the lane had one smash in to the front of her car and flip straight over the bonnet.

Understandably, she was scared, so everyone now hoots before they get in to the really narrow part of the lane. Which is right outside our yard, and drives me nuts. xxxxx
 
South Hants, never had problem with decent bikers. Only with kids on mopeds and little scramblers trying to outrun the police. It happens on our local track occasionally.
 
Hampshire. Never had any problems with dirt bike riders see them around quite a bit. They always slow down and stop most turn off their engines for me to pass. AND after some bad storms they helped by moving a small fallen tree that was blocking the track for me. I didn't ask them to they told me it was there came back with me to see if I could pass and when I went to turn back they moved it for me with out my asking.

In my area they are fantastic. Mind you I know lots of them by sight because I have been to lots of dirt bike style events to watch my brother.

Speak to them nicely and explain your problems and they are, in general, cracking people who will bend over backwards to help.

I think as horse riders/ owners we forget that not everyone understands there are things you should and shouldn't do around them. We have to respect that and talk and be nice to people about it. I have also found that talking to them about the problems they face is also a good ice breaker. At the end of the day they are just like us but they like to ride round the tracks on bikes not horses.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top