Mountain Biking

Cherry Allan's picture

Bridleways, byways and cycle tracks (England & Wales)

By Cherry Allan on 25 January 2013
Closing the gaps for cycling in public rights of way and improving maintenance and signing, would encourage more people to cycle off-road...
Cyclist riding off-road
Headline Messages: 
  • Cycling is legal on 22% of the Rights of Way (RoW) network in England and Wales. However, whether it is legal to cycle on a path does not relate to its suitability. While cyclists have the right to cycle on bridleways and byways, many of them are unsuitable; on the other hand, cyclists are not allowed to ride along footpaths, many of which are perfectly fine for cycling.
  • The suppressed demand for good traffic-free cycling routes for both recreational and utility use is considerable, but much of the RoW network is best suited to mountain biking. More people could enjoy offroad cycling if the network were expanded, more coherent, and better maintained and signed. This needs concerted action from local and national government, plus reform to RoW law.
CTC View (formal statement of CTC's policy): 
  • Improvements and additions to the bridleways and byways network would enhance the opportunities for motor traffic-free cycling, particularly for families and casual cyclists.
  • National government should review RoW law to enhance cycling opportunities by, for example:
    • following the lead of Scotland’s Land Reform Act 2003, which gave cyclists lawful access to most countryside in Scotland;
    • simplifying the legal process for converting footpaths to cycle tracks.
  • Highway authorities should fulfil their duties under existing legislation to make sure that the potential of the RoW network is fully realised for both recreational and utility cyclists.
  • Cycle racing on bridleways should be permitted by law, subject to appropriate consultation and regulation.
  • While signing from roads onto the RoW network is now reasonably acceptable, waymarking of the network itself needs improving.
  • Highway authorities should not only fulfil their legal duties to maintain byways and bridleways,but should also carry out maintenance programmes to ensure that they are rideable.
Download full campaigns briefing: 
application/pdf iconBridleways, byways and cycle tracks
Publication Date: 
January 2013
Cherry Allan's picture

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

By Cherry Allan on 6 July 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!

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.

Olympic mountain bike races to be shown live in Swindon

Swindon Borough Council’s Leisure Services are organising FREE sports events at Wharf Green throughout the 16 days of the Olympics and CTC will be there to join in the fun.

The Live Site will be showing the games for all to see on a big screen and local clubs will be providing demos and information on the ground in front of it  to inspire residents to take up cycling themselves.

The Olympic women's cross country races will be shown from 12.30pm.

There will also be plenty of activities and information to let you know what there is for cyclists, both competitive and non-competitive, in Swindon, including:

  • A 100-seat tiered stand to watch the Olympic cross country mountain biking
  • Wii Fit virtual games and lounge area with a cycling theme
  • A Watt Bike demo/come and try for the public - static bikes that can be raced
  • A Watt Bike race - local teams compete in a league for free and for pride
  • A mountain bike arena for the public to try - portable obstacles and bikes to try out
  • A unicyclist demo and workshop - coaching and giving the obstacles a go)
  • Information stalls, video clips and info
  • A special appearance from Rough Riderz UK - an all ability mountain biking club demonstrating four-wheeled mountain bikes for disabled riders

So come along and get inspired. And cheer on British cyclists with other enthusiasts!

A complete timetable will be available soon, but if you have any queries, please contact: CTC Cycling Development Officer  Anna Cipullo 07717 696672

Booking Details
Advance Cost: 
£0.00
Standard Cost: 
£0.00

Olympics-inspired cycling events in Swindon

Swindon Borough Council’s leisure services department is organising Olympic-inspired sporting events throughout the 16 days of the Olympics at Wharf Green in Swindon’s town centre.

The Big Screen television will be showing the games throughout the event and local clubs will be providing demos and information to showcase what Swindon has to offer. CTC has been chosen to represent cycling.

So what’s on offer? On Saturday 11 August the Mountain Bike Olympics race will be shown. The best elite female mountain bikers in the world will be battling it out at Hadleigh Park in Essex to be crowned gold medallist 2012.

In Swindon,  there will be a 100-seat tiered stand to watch the spectacle with baited breath as the cyclists hurl themselves over rocks and round technical obstacles on bikes. Stalls will be set up by local cycling clubs, including mountain biking, road cycling and event cycle speedway, to talk to you about taking your enthusiasm for cycling to the next level. And if that’s not enough, we’ll also have the following activities for you to watch and engage in:

  • Wii Fit virtual games and lounge area with a cycling theme
  • A Watt Bike demo/come and tryout for the public - a static bikes challenge
  • A Watt Bike race - local teams compete in a league of fastest static pedallers
  • A mountain bike come and try for the public using portable obstacles and North Shore
  • A bunch of information stalls, video clips and info given out with the chance of the odd freebie here and there

The Olympic opening ceremony is on Friday 27 July and we will be at Wharf Green celebrating and watching the ceremony on the Big Screen.

It is open to everyone, so come along. We are also organising a mini-games tournament where we are inviting the people involved in each of these sporting days to come and have some competitive fun, so bring your best cheering voicebox and give them a shout. 

Beccy Marston's picture

4-wheel downhill off-roading

By Beccy Marston on 4 April 2012
Four wheeled downhill gravity biking is taking the UK by storm, and Bev Rimmer from the group Rough Riderz tells CTC all about this new hi-octane sport.
Dave Bower at Fort William

It's fast, it's furious and completely exhilarating. It's the adrenaline addict's perfect day out. Get strapped in and hold on tight as you hurtle round the corners and down the slopes of some of the UK's finest woodland trails.

Welcome to Rough Riderz, and the crazy world of four wheeled, downhill gravity bikes. These bikes have a custom-built frame, adjustable seat and footplate, off-road tyres, hydraulic brake system, and a safety harness system built into the seat and footplate.

Jon Attwood's picture

'Hit the Hills' - fully-catered weekends for mountain bikers

By Jon Attwood on 23 February 2012
Bored of staying in stale bunkhouses, run down hotels or chintzy B&Bs? Fed up of eating basic food made without any pride? Struggling to come up with new destinations to go riding? Want to have a great weekend and meet new people? Christian Newsome may have the solution.
Hit the Hills for a great mountain biking weekend

We talk to Christian Newsome, the founder of Hit the Hills.
 
What is Hit the Hills?
Hit the Hills offers catered weekends in the best mountain biking locations in the UK.
 
How do you do that?

MTB Bike Skills Training - Get MTB Bike Training from CTC Accredited Instructors

A group enjoying a MTB Bike skills course on Aston Hill
CTC's UK wide network of qualified and accredited MTB Bike Skills Instructors offers a fantastic range of MTB Bike skills courses. All of our instructors are committed to ensuring you get the highest quality training and instruction and the most from your MTB Bike skills course.

Coming on a course run by an accredited CTC MTB Bike skills instructor gives you the peace of mind that your instructor is qualified to the highest standards and has a wealth of knowledge to ensure you get the most from your course.

Article Tags

Share This Page

Syndicate content

Links

Archive

  • Patron: Her Majesty The Queen
  • President: Jon Snow
  • Chief Executive: Gordon Seabright
  • Cyclists' Touring Club (CTC): A company limited by guarantee, registered in England no.25185. Registered as a charity in England and Wales No 1147607 and in Scotland No SC042541
  • CTC Charitable Trust: A company limited by guarantee, registered in England no.5125969. Registered as a charity in England and Wales No 1104324 and Scotland No SC038626

 

Terms and Conditions