Off-Road Access

Your chance to help open up the English rights of way network for cycling

By Cherry Allan on 6 July 2012

6 August 2012

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' consultation on the processes for recording, diverting and extinguishing public rights of way (England) is a chance to suggest ways to make it easier for cyclists to engage with the system and help open more of the countryside for cycling.

This footpath is a metalled road, but the bridleway is a muddy trail!

At the moment, the system is extremely bureaucratic, but the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (Defra) consultation on the processes involved is a good opportunity to press for the changes that will help enhance the experience of cycling in the countryside.

Forest Access Panel - green light for walkers, amber for everyone else

By Chris Peck on 6 July 2012

6 July 2012

The Independent Forestry Panel was set up in 2011 to advise the Government on the ownership and management of English forests following the public outcry over plans to sell off the English Forestry Commission forests. That panel has now reported and the recommendations are helpful.

Nearly all dedicated off-road trails are located on Forestry Commission land

In its final report the panel recognises the high value of these woods for recreation, and recommends that they should continue to be publicly owned and managed for timber, recreation and conservation, and that this is best achieved if the Forestry Commission is managed as a trust on behalf of the nation.

The Government has welcomed the report, indicating that it is minded to retain forests in public ownership. A formal response expected in January 2013.

Respond to the Government's consultation English rights-of-way legislation

By Cherry Allan on 6 July 2012

Why do cyclists need to respond to this consultation?

At the moment, the system for recording, diverting and extinguishing public rights of way in England is extremely bureaucratic, but the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (Defra) consultation on the processes involved is a good opportunity to press for the changes that will help enhance the experience of cycling in the countryside.

Seaside cycling: the coast, promenades and sea fronts (England & Wales)

By Cherry Allan on 7 June 2012

A good proportion of the English and Welsh coast could be safely and beneficially opened up for cycling...

Headline Messages:

The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (Part 9) has placed a duty on the Government to create a path for walkers all round the English coast. However, any cycling provision would result only from local negotiations with relevant landowners.
While the Wales Coastal Path, opened in May 2012, was primarily developed for walkers, the Assembly Government encouraged the inclusion of cyclists on a number of sections.
Currently, only a tiny part of the English coast - 1.5% - is available to cyclists. While the Marine Act may help open up more cycling routes, success will depend heavily on agreements with landowners and, if this is not forthcoming, concerted local pressure.
Many councils have opened up promenades and sea fronts to cycling, providing benefits for cycle safety and local tourism. Concerns about conflict with walkers have generally proved to be unfounded. Other councils should seriously consider revoking any bye-laws that prohibit it.

CTC View (formal statement of CTC's policy):

A good proportion of the English and Welsh coast could be safely and beneficially opened up for cycle use.
The provisions of the Marine Act are extremely weak in terms of delivering cycle access along the English coast. Ultimately, it still depends on gaining the landowner’s agreement and, as such, on sustained local activity and campaigning.
Councils should revoke bans and allow cyclists to use sea fronts and promenades as scenic, traffic-free routes and links for recreational and utility purposes.
Segregating cyclists and imposing speed limits on them along sea fronts and promenades is unnecessary: research shows that cyclists modify their behaviour in the presence of pedestrians (e.g. by slowing down, taking avoiding action or dismounting as necessary).

Download full campaigns briefing:

Seaside Cycling - coasts, promenades and sea-fronts

Publication Date:

June 2012

Welsh plan for connected communities - why detail is important

By Chris Peck on 10 May 2012

The Welsh Government is about to legislate to force local authorities to map out and plan improvements to the cycle networks. Although a great step, I think it's vital that the routes are of a proper standard to make cycling attractive and feasible.

I greatly enjoyed a tour cycling the length Wales using National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 8 - Lôn Las Cymru - a couple of years ago. The route follows minor roads and, if starting from the south, begins on the Taff Trail, a traffic-free route that heads north from Cardiff. It's routes like these that local authorities in Wales will have to map out and plan improvements to under the proposed legislation.

Where can I cycle off-road?

By Andy Hawes on 18 April 2012

Here in the UK we have a comprehensive network of routes and trails available to cyclists to get you out into the countryside. Here we clarrify where you can legally ride off-road.

Where can I ride...?

Off road cyclists' can legally cycle on the network of byways and bridleways across England and Wales. For families and beginners there are also a number of old railway tracks and canal tow paths across the UK that often form part of the national cycle network and make for excellent training ground.

Bike Club Comes to The Trax

By Frances Chaloner on 5 April 2012

5 April 2012

The Trax Off Road Racing Club in Tottenham has been successful in a bid for a Bike Club grant.

Illustration of The Loop (Back On Track, by kind permission of the Trax)

The Trax Off Road Racing Club in Tottenham has been awarded a Bike Club grant to encourage young people in the area to take up cycling.

The superb new Lordship Loop BMX and MTB pump track, will be looked after by Haringey Council through The Trax who are holding a Launch Event.

Daniel Mintz of The Trax says:

Developing new paths for cycling in the countryside

By Cherry Allan on 22 March 2012

Do you ride - or want to ride - on a particular path, but can't tell whether you're allowed to do so? Does your favourite bridleway suddenly turn into a footpath and you wish it didn't? Do you want to do something about it? Read on...

Background

How to tell where cycling's legal

Footpaths are open to walkers only (yellow waymarkings)
Bridleways are open to walkers, horse riders and cyclists (blue waymarkings)
Restricted byways are open to walkers, cyclists, horse riders and horse drawn vehicles (plum waymarkings)
Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs) are open to walkers, cyclists, horse riders, horse-drawn vehicles and motor vehicles (red waymarkings).

A list of all recorded public rights of way i

Reporting obstructions (England and Wales)

By Cherry Allan on 13 March 2012

What's the best thing to do if you find your favourite bridleway or byway impassable because of a fallen tree, or a gate that wasn't there before? This guide explains the process.

What is an obstruction?

Not all obstructions are obstructions in law. Legally, an obstruction is anything that “prevents the convenient use of the way by passengers”, and “substantially prevents the public from having free access over the whole of the highway which is not purely temporary in nature”.
An obstruction need not block the whole way, but just partially restrict access to it, e.g.

Forest access - updates on the Independent Panel on Forestry

By Cherry Allan on 30 December 2011

Woodland is an excellent setting for cycling, so CTC has welcomed some positive statements in an official progress report on the future of England's publicly owned forests.

Cyclists benefit from current access rights to Forestry Commission trails

The report from the Independent Panel on Forestry, set up by the Government after it abandoned plans to sell off much of England’s forests in 2011 (see 'campaign background' below), reflects the overwhelming support for continuing public ownership and backs up the importance of access for different users. It says: