Small child on motorbike on footpath with angry dad - HELP!!!!!

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Pilib

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Very close to my house is a lovely footpath that is also a permissive bridle way made of really wide field margins. It's lovely and flat and allows riders to miss a busy single track road and includes a lovely place for an uphill canter. I use it evry day to walk my dog along and regularly make use of it as a rider.

Last Saturday morning I took my dog for her morning walk only to find a man (who also lives on the same street as me but closer to the footpath) teaching his son to ride a mini-moto or a small trail bike. When I got close to him I asked if he knew that really he shouldn't be on there with the motor bike. In return I got a very aggressive reply that he he would do as he pleased and knew that it was illegal but was going to do it anyway. I explained that it was churning up the track and that the footpath was also a bridle way so it was dangerous the reply I got was that there weren't any horses using it at that moment so he would do as he pleased, but once his son was more confident he would take him to land he owned and he would ride there.

On the following Sunday I went to the yard where I keep my horse (which is only about 5 mins from the footpath in question and my house) and went for a hack. Upon going up a different bridle way I come across this man and his son riding the bike on a small field. Excellent I think he's taken my advice and won't be on the track anymore (this small field is right behind the village church and the bike is quite noisy so it can't have been very nice for those trying to enjoy a church service or quietly tend to graves but I don't think this man has a social conscience!)

So all is well until I drive home Wednesday evening and go past the entrance to the footpath and see them on there. Later I took my dog for her evening walk and the footpath is trashed. There are tyre marks everywhere and it's made it so muddy. I am furious, I really don't want this lovely track to be ruined for those that are entitled to use it. Any one know who I should contact to get this stopped? He's quite an aggressive man and he's going to know it's me that's reported him...........

Any ideas?!

Hot chocolate and double choc chip muffin for anyone who made it to the end!
 
No advice, but I really sympathise, I hate those mini-motorbike things
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There were two kids sharing on where I walk my dog sometimes a few weeks ago, the racket was awful, I couldn't let the dog off the lead in case the stupid little sods ran into us, it stank of exhaust fumes, and their stupid fat parents were sitting in their shiny car watching their stupid fat children tear the place up
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Even right in the very far side of the site, which is a very large area, you could still hear them. I didn't know it was illegal, if I had I'd have called the police!
 
Tell the landowner. If it is a Permissive Bridleway under the Environmental Scheme he would have the support of DEFRA people as well.

We have a close Permissive Bridleway and the DEFRA lady said that the farmer was having troulble from people wandering all over the place, through the farm yard. NOT from riders who are only too grateful for the extra riding.
 
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Council.

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And the landowner. A permissive bridleway is different to a byway. So people and horses can be on there but not motorised vehicles.

This idiot could spoil it for all of you if he ruins the track as the LO might revoke the permission.
 
the only thing to beware of is that when these probs arise councils/landowners first instinct is to only allow pedestrians and put up barriers to stop the motors which then stops the horses!

Personally I would also contact the police, they are very keen to stop these dangerous things being where they shouldnt. God knows why parents ever buy these things, if they want to kill their kids in other ways they would be stopped. And since you know where they live the police could go and have a word. Does he really own all that land to move onto, sounds like made up story, as no reason he couldnt teach the kid there...if he doesnt then theyll never go unless something is done.
 
I would contact the landowner, local rights of way officer and the police, especially as he has been aggressive towards you.

Round here, we get folks motorbiking on bridleways and on a local common where they are not allowed, but whenever I have met any whilst out on my horse, they have been ultra polite, turn off their engines without being asked, etc, probably in the hope that I would not report them!
 
Police, call the non-emergency number. Our local force has a specific officer for dealing with this, I got a leaflet a while ago that advised walker, cyclists, and horse riders what to do if they found paths being misused by trail bikes and 4x4s.

Call them up and ask them about it, you know the guy so can give his name.

This isn't just about the mis-use of the path, there may well be other issues too, is there appropriate insurance in place, is the bike legal, the child is underage and unlicenced and as such cannot drive on public roads etc etc etc.
 
Contact your council and your local police officer - we have an RUPP that changed rights a few years ago and motorised vehicles of any sort were banned but we still get the odd person giving it a go. I speak to them nicely (once they stop, these are people usually going at vast speed on scramblers, plus like you fathers with kids on mini motorbikes)and let them know they aren't allowed there (though there are signs everywhere at either end to say they aren't) but after getting a mouthful of abuse and a deliberately revved engine close to my horse from one scrambler I contacted the police. They took it seriously and for next few weeks had a CSO on a push bike going along it occasionally to keep an eye out and asked all of us at yard to report any other incidents. Our council are also good with complaints about such things.
 
Ditto katt, our local police have been very interested in the past and have responded if in the locality.

We have recently had a kissing gate put back to a horse gate (there is no right of horse access but we have access to othe environment agency land and if we are sensible and insured they are happy for us to have permits) When we spoke to them they said they were trialling not having the kissing gate which has been there a couple of years as they had had less problems recently. The trouble is (and worth pointing out if they want to go gates options.) mini motos can easily be lifted over kissing gates anyway.
 
Our local police do a tour of the woods and lanes ( on off road m'bikes!) and they stop the bikers and send them on their way...if they stop the same person twice in the space of a year they confiscate the bikes...yay!

We have a number to ring the council and they send out the patrol.
 
Ok, I've reported on-line to local police.

I know he will know it's me though so am a bit worried about that.

Now off to report to council!

Thanks for all the advice on this one I am glad that you all don't think it's petty for me to be annoyed by this!
 
Actually a good thing might come out of this!

I've looked on the BHS site to see who is our local access officer and there is a vacancy. I've enquired about the courses and if I could voluneer to do this!

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This is the reply I've had from the police............ not helpful

.........I would advise that you contact your local council regarding this on going problem as it is more then likely that the land/footpath belongs to them and they may be able to send a letter or put up signs.

So basically there isn't anything they want to do. I really don't think a sign will stop angry dad!

Fingers crossed the council are a bit more helpful!
 
What parp......don't know where you live, but where I am it actually states that it is illegal to ride motor bikes/quds etc on council land.....

....we ring the council, and complain about the bikes and say that they caused/nearly caused/have potential to cause an accident or injury to horse/rider......and they act swiftly I have to say.
 
Police and local council. We have a similar problem with a piece of council land near to us, basically across the road and behind our houses. It has designated footpaths and bridleways on it, signs saying no motorbikes or vehicles, but local yobs still use it as a race track. They have made a total mess of all of it, thoroughly churned up. The council put up barriers to stop them but they just come along with saws (or something like that) in the night and cut them back down. If you say anything to them, they threaten violence and once chased a neighbour with a knife.

Everytime they are down there, everyone who sees them has to ring the Police station who send a patrol down to move them on. They have managed to successfully prosecute one guy and take his bike off him as he had no insurance. The council don't do much but our local Police are quite hot on it as they class it as antisocial behaviour, so they do try to help. Unfortunately there doesn't really seem to be much they can do as the bikes just drive off when they see the Police turn up, and the way the land is set out means that they Policemen have to leave their car and try to chase on foot.

But back to OP, I would contact the Police. If the guy threatens you, report him to the Police again.
 
I e-mailed back and said it wasn't good enough and they replied

Please be advised local officers have been aware of the situation on CAD ref........ and will take approaite action should the male be seen and monitor the situation. Officers may also deliever words of advice to the male at number.........

So fingers crossed they will catch him in the act!
 
we also have a major problem withadults on quads , trikes and dirt bikes, we were given access to ride / lead out youngsters etc on an old privately owned railway -all tracks removed- about 4 miles long -and the bikes gangs have taken it over, the owner put up substantial metal barriers well concreted in , and gave us riders keys ,the next day they -bikers etc had pulled all the barriers out,they have been put up a few more times only to find them pulled out again they do not stop if they see a horse and just chase you or stand revving their engines, usually shouting abuse., police have done nothing as they say the land is private , landowner has given up, the ground--bear in mind this was a railway line and was lovely and firm to have a canter on -is now a deep rutted muddy path .so no riding out now
Good luck I hope you score a few points for us riders
 
In Perth, locals have taken to booby trapping such paths with home made 'stingers'. Whilst equally dangerous to pedestrians and equestrians, it alerted the police to the fact they needed to patrol the area before someone got hurt!

Not that I condone booby traps that cause harm, especially as 'stingers' will cause damage to horses feet, but some way of putting these prats off will save the path for the future!

Have to admit, only people I ever knew who used motorbikes, two and four wheels, on offroad tracks were VERY polite, turning the vehicles off when I passed, warning each other by radio that there was a horse on the tracks. It doesn't kill to be nice to each other.
 
I don't have an issue with motor bikes at all but it's just so dangerous the child is too young to have propper control and it's only going to end in an accident.

I guess the police will do something when someone gets hurt.
 
Take your horse into his garden and leave hoof prints everywhere
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Some people are total idiots! If it was near me I would take my lad up - he hates children and would happily trample little sod and motorbike to death!!!!
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