Peak District -Off roaders

Derbyshire 19

Image by thesweetcheat

moss Oct 24, 2012 13:00:16

Something I hate, those deep muddy lanes heavily rutted by and ruined by 4sx4s, bikes etc,
anyway the final date to say anything is 2nd November for those who are up North....

"The Peak District National Park Authority is consulting on whether trail-bikes, quad bikes and 4x4s should be permanently banned from two key green lanes.

A six-week public consultation is running until November 2 on proposed Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to exclude motor vehicles from the Long Causeway (a 3.6km route between Sheffield and Hathersage) and the Roych (a 3.5km stretch of the Pennine Bridleway near Chapel-en-le-Frith).

Both are former packhorse routes. The Long Causeway crosses the spectacular Stanage Edge, following a route between Redmires and Hathersage. The Roych track is part of the Pennine Bridleway, a national trail dedicated principally to horse-riders"

http://www.friendsofthepeak.org.uk/Latest_News/2012/09/21/

juamei Oct 24, 2012 13:54:07

Replying to moss

Thanks for that, I meant to comment having almost been run over on The Roych by one motorbike amongst several who didn't slow down as they passed. The Roych goes past Green Low.

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/4808/green_low.html

BPR_MiK Oct 24, 2012 22:09:33

Replying to moss

Hmm this is a tricky one for me.
Although as a walker I hate the rutted paths and the noise of off roaders I also think it would be better for the NT to do something so we can all share the countryside rather than trying to ban one set of countryside users.
After-all, the kinder trespass was all about freedom for everyone and will it take an off-road mass trespass to get rights for everyone ?

Harryshill Oct 25, 2012 14:28:21

Replying to moss

I'm not supporting 4X4's and the like but, bridleways came about as thoroughfares for horses at a time before these 'green lanes' were used for recreation. At a time when horses were the main form of transport. They would have been churned up by the horses at certain times of year and I bet pedestrians complained about them as well.

I can't remember if it was Surrey or Sussex but I was with a sizable group of people walking along a bridle path, when we encountered two or three people on horses. They weren't happy to confront us and were vocal about it and we was weren't happy about them and the churned up lane.

Recreational use, has altered the status quo.

moss Oct 27, 2012 15:59:52

Replying to moss

As always the argument falls on several sides on this one, there is no answer to the point that 'freedom is the prerogative of all' except that in a small country of 60 million people we have to have some rules....
so asking the question 'why is off-roading so destructive' the Friends of the Peak District have answered it...

http://www.friendsofthepeak.org.uk/Campaigns/Take_back_the_tracks/Our_answers_to_your_questions!/

It falls beautifully in the centre of the argument....

The Eternal Nov 4, 2012 00:20:50

Replying to moss

moss wrote:

Something I hate, those deep muddy lanes heavily rutted by and ruined by 4sx4s, bikes etc,
anyway the final date to say anything is 2nd November for those who are up North....

"The Peak District National Park Authority is consulting on whether trail-bikes, quad bikes and 4x4s should be permanently banned from two key green lanes.

http://www.friendsofthepeak.org.uk/Latest_News/2012/09/21/

Moss,

I quite agree.

Whilst I detest 4x4s, both on-road and off-road, I do think that people have a right to engage in their off-road passtime, but not in inappropriate areas.

A solution would be to make every effort to provide facilities away from the "unspoilt" countryside. Unused quarries, spoil heaps, old landfill sites, artificially made courses, and even farmland, in certain areas, turned into 4x4 routes, which would also provide extra income to farmers.

All green roads should be banned to 4x4s, as they now are in many areas, as should all public access areas. After all, so much of our country is dominated by cars, be it their presence, or their distant noise.

Cheers,
TE.