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5 Nov 2011
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Here's more on legal motorcyclists and why the terms offroad bike/offroader are not appropriate. Also why every biker in the UK who leaves the tarmac on their dual sport bike should join the TRF.
The following is copied direct from ABR at TONIGHT BBC4 21:00HRS!! Banning Bikes from the National Park.
I hope their member "Gavinskii" doesn't mind me copying his post here. It will hopefully help to clarify one or two issues.
Quote
I was just catching up on some emails and have copied below a really good letter from the Devon TRF (IMHO probably the strongest TRF group in the Country)who are fighting a TRO on a local lane.
I hope that for those that are members they will get a flavour of why certain of us on ABR are so passionate about trying to do things the right way & how hopefully some of you new to trail riding can see the merits of joining ( I believe if you join now you can benefit from an extra couple of months free membership....?)
Dear Councillor ........
By now you will probably be aware of Bouchland Lane and have begun to wonder what on earth all the fuss is about. Why are these troublesome people filling our inboxes?
Well, here is an attempt to briefly address that question.
The Trail Riders Fellowship was created in the 1970's, when it became apparent that a lot of historic routes were simply disappearing and no one seemed to care or be prepared to do anything about it.
Some were lost to lack of use and some were deliberately erased by landowners, a process that continues to this day.
Since its beginnings, the TRF has grown into a national organisation, numbering several thousand members, with a National Executive of directors and considerable funds, including a fighting fund, used to challenge authorities when the rights of its members, and the wider public are removed illegally, or without due process.
TRF members ride to a strict code of conduct. Any motorcycle ridden on a road, be it metalled or unmetalled (unsurfaced) has to be taxed, insured, MOTd and the rider have the appropriate license. Frequently members will ride for 8 hours, covering distances of 80-100 miles. Clearly, it is not about speed.
Use of the term 'off road' is particularly misleading when referring to TRF members machines being used on unsurfaced roads. The TRF does not support or condone the use of 'off road' machines on public roads.
Trail riding is not a race, it is a way of exploring our countryside on a motorcycle. It is about map reading, using local services, petrol stations, hotels, bed and breakfast facilities, shops and above all planning our route so we can be sure that where we ride is legal.
Route planning can be very difficult, when no signs or misleading signs are placed at the start of unsurfaced roads by authorities and landowners, Ordnance Survey maps stop short of being definitive and access to the official List of Streets is restricted. The Devon TRF group have spent a lot of time and money establishing the extent of our legal network of unsurfaced roads and this information is available to all members.
The perception among many is that if a carriageway is unsurfaced, it is something other than a road. This is not the case.
Motorcyclists have the legal right to use only 2-3% of unsurfaced rights of way in this country. Compare this to 100% access for walkers and well over 50% for cyclists and equestrian users.
Due to the complex nature of highway law and the case law surrounding it, the TRF and some of its officers, have become extremely knowledgeable in relation to its members rights and highly proficient in holding authorities to account for unlawful actions in removing vehicular rights.
You may be surprised to find out the type of people who are attracted to the TRF.
They tend to be mature professional types, who are able to undertake research and build up an understanding of the arcane world of rights of way.
Amongst our Devon members, we have Doctors, Solicitors, Local Gov. Officers, Civil Servants, Policemen, Parish Councillors, Heli crew from the Air Ambulance and Business owners. Many retired or semi retired, with time on their hands.
Probably not your 'stereotype' dirty biker and generally very able and intelligent people, who simply love to be out on their bike exploring the nooks and crannies that our unsurfaced road network offers.
So what turned these level headed Professional types into snarling Rottweiler‟s? Simply 'the system' treating us as though we are a plague on society and for the resource we share with all other users, to be culled at every opportunity.
Incorrect signage creating the impression that we are on a footway or bridleway. Establishing vehicular rights of routes made progressively harder for us and easier for the authorities to deny. Frontages to unsurfaced unclassified county roads taking possession of the route and no one in authority prepared to do anything about it. And when all else fails, sneak in some legislation after breaking every promise made during 'consultation'
No serious group of net contributors to society should be treated like this.
Over time our concern turns to indignation, then outrage, with the possibility of radicalisation in the future. We are concerned that a lack of basic maintenance is used as a justification for a permanent closure. We are concerned that the impression is created that this is somehow good for the „local‟ people. We know from experience that it is not. We have often heard story‟s of a route being physically closed off but locals having permission to cross the land and eventually that permission removed by a change of ownership or a 'dog worrying incident ' justifying the final loss of permission.
Please do not forget that we, the 340 Devon TRF members, are locals too. We have several Members in North Devon and even some in the Parish of Burrington.
We are outraged that property owners, whose land fronts a public route, are led to believe that they can purchase a permanent closure order, effectively giving them a private drive, maintained at public expense, with no public right of way, for the bargain price of £800. We are outraged that deliberately blocking a public route is rewarded by even a discussion about permanent closure. And because the system has evolved to the point where there is now a presumption against trail riders at all levels, we have become most vociferous and active in opposing any and all attempts to close or restrict public routes.
Should you decide to make the order, you should know that the rationale for making it will be closely scrutinised. Our national legal advisers and Executive are fully informed of the current situation.
I would therefore urge you to consider your responsibilities carefully and the impact, in these fiscally challenging times, of the process of Judicial Review and the cost to any authority held to be acting outside of the law and failing in its legal duties.
Noel Squibb
Chairman.
Unquote
Last edited by chris; 5 Nov 2011 at 21:33.
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