Bridleways help

[Gadget]

So who/what defines what a mobility scooter is?

Could someone on a trials bike claim it's a mobility scooter as he has a bad leg?

And as not all "mobility scooters" are legal on public highway, does this not rule them out anyway?

A very good observation and not one that I had thought about

 

[True North]

I doubt it is actually a bridalway even though it is listed as a bridalway. With it being cobbled in the past it is more likely to be a historic B.O.A.T probably as part of an enclosure act or turnpike road. Farmers round here have got around the problem by just installing gates with locks on whilst putting no entry signs at both ends. All totally illegal but council has taken no enforcement action for the last 20 years.

What are you basing that assumption on? A lot of the tracks, roads/lanes and ginnels round here were cobbled out of necessity for horses etc, as I am sure Lancs is in parts.

I wouldn't get away with the no entry sign and no entry as they'd be straight out, it's like a bloody highway with people saying hello to you every 3.42 minutes.

 

[Al R]

I aren't going to name them on here I don't know that they had permission for the bench, they might have, they might not. It's rotting away now and been damaged by youths, who are littering and setting fires. I don't really want to get into them thinking I am asking for permission to do things on our own land though, so I might ask for forgiveness rather than permission.

Yeah we've looked at those, we might go for the horse ones that open yet, dunno.

I’ve got 5-6 horse ones at 1 block here where it’s a 12’ gate made up of 2x 6’ gates that swing, horrendous contraptions that never shut and their so heavy the hanging posts don’t last. If your putting in a horse gate make a new entrance with a normal 4-5’ gate with a lever mounted above that springs back shut after, a friend can get 3 horses through by herself when she goes through there and my quads get through with mm spare but won’t be good if you have bike problems, I can get you photos of the ones here if you want.

 

[True North]

I’ve got 5-6 horse ones at 1 block here where it’s a 12’ gate made up of 2x 6’ gates that swing, horrendous contraptions that never shut and their so heavy the hanging posts don’t last. If your putting in a horse gate make a new entrance with a normal 4-5’ gate with a lever mounted above that springs back shut after, a friend can get 3 horses through by herself when she goes through there and my quads get through with mm spare but won’t be good if you have bike problems, I can get you photos of the ones here if you want.

We have bike problems too, they treat it like a track and the bridleway goes through our farm effectively, stood looking at the stables and he tinged his bell for me to move and then nearly knocked me over. Didn't slow down or even care he is effectively coming through a residence/farm yard.

 

[True North]

I’ve got 5-6 horse ones at 1 block here where it’s a 12’ gate made up of 2x 6’ gates that swing, horrendous contraptions that never shut and their so heavy the hanging posts don’t last. If your putting in a horse gate make a new entrance with a normal 4-5’ gate with a lever mounted above that springs back shut after, a friend can get 3 horses through by herself when she goes through there and my quads get through with mm spare but won’t be good if you have bike problems, I can get you photos of the ones here if you want.

Yes please. We have some wide spaces that would be great for the horses, but a narrower space that we are looking at gating just to kind of mark and sign the land a bit more so it doesn't feel as public and more private.

 

[Al R]

Would you know most of the horse riders? Could you give them a combination padlock at the start of the bridleway? Nuisance but it could be a compromise as surely they understand it too if their at risk with bikes on it?

 

[steveR]

Would you know most of the horse riders? Could you give them a combination padlock at the start of the bridleway? Nuisance but it could be a compromise as surely they understand it too if their at risk with bikes on it?

Illegal to lock a Bridleway!!

 

[Al R]

Illegal to lock a Bridleway!!

I suspected as much, only 3 use the one with me and if I have sheep in those fields I have the gates closed and if no sheep in them I leave the gates open, more to do with how bad the 12’ centre swinging gates are as they have to dismount to open them and their harder work than a standard field gate but they qualify as bridleway gates

 

[steveR]

I suspected as much, only 3 use the one with me and if I have sheep in those fields I have the gates closed and if no sheep in them I leave the gates open, more to do with how bad the 12’ centre swinging gates are as they have to dismount to open them and their harder work than a standard field gate but they qualify as bridleway gates

Best is a separate 3ft gate hanging off the field gate hinge on the other side. Seen these before as a means of stopping 4wd activities...

 

[Al R]

Best is a separate 3ft gate hanging off the field gate hinge on the other side. Seen these before as a means of stopping 4wd activities...

Won’t stop trail bikes though, obviously their narrower than a horse so that’s a lose-lose situation

 

[steveR]

Won’t stop trail bikes though, obviously their narrower than a horse so that’s a lose-lose situation

True. Taller bike barriers can work, say a foot or more?

 

[Al R]

True. Taller bike barriers can work, say a foot or more?

Everyone I know with a trail bike will jump onto an IBC without too much effort

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Interesting about the code. We had that on a contested pathway that the council ROW team started trying to make a public ROW in the 1970s, paused then restarted this recently. We were in an awkward position as most of the local farmers/tenant witnesses who could refute the claims are no longer alive! They wanted electric buggy access even though it's a heavily rutted farm track that would tip a mobility vehicle over. The kind of gate that allows such a vehicle will also allow a motorbike, horse & bicycle through too.

Has the legislation changed to allow mobility scooter access?

could you get statutory declarations (completed in front of a commissionaire for oaths) from the remaining witnesses done and put on file with the deeds? Quite expensive, but worth it I think.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Hi

We have a few footpaths kicking around on our farm, but we also have a bridleway within our farm.

We've recently had a local neighborhood party complain about offroad bikes/quads being on the bridleways illegally.
We haven't seen them, but obviously the implication is that they may injure someone or tear up the lane so that it's unwalkable or unrideable for riders.

I've a few questions really. I think the local group has fitted a bench seat on the path, i'm not sure if they are allowed to do this, the land is definitely on our deeds and would not have been agreed to previously. It is now attractinga lot of litter and now sadly fires. We want rid, presumably we can do this, our land, bridleway etc? No detriment to the path or land?

Secondly, how much notice and engagement do we have to give to these self appointed local planning/bridleway officers? We are taking the approach of live and let live privately, but we aren't sure what our position is really. We've been polite and listened but not engaged with them. They liase with the local council but aren't able to enforce anything. I am not sure on what they think we can do - gates?

Is it illegal for quads?

If someone put a bench up on my land, I would be straight up there and remove it, probably drop it back at the road side or on the drive of the person who put it there. I may even email the council and inform them there has been flytipping of a bench.

 

[farmerm]

So who/what defines what a mobility scooter is?

Could someone on a trials bike claim it's a mobility scooter as he has a bad leg?

And as not all "mobility scooters" are legal on public highway, does this not rule them out anyway?

Are the class 3, road legal scooters not classed as motor vehicle and thus would be illegal to drive on pavements and by extension footpaths? Surely only class 2 scooters that are not road legal would be legal to use on pavements, footpaths and bridleways? Note that none road legal scooters can be used on road where there is no pedestrian path in order to access a pedestrian path. I have every sympathy for those that require these aids, indeed I am in the search of one for my mother this week... I am all for facilitating access where practical but I think the expectation of being able to go anywhere and everywhere on them is equivalent to me expecting a smooth and maintained tarmacked footpath to the top of Everest.

 

[Johnnyboxer]

I doubt it is actually a bridalway even though it is listed as a bridalway. With it being cobbled in the past it is more likely to be a historic B.O.A.T probably as part of an enclosure act or turnpike road. Farmers round here have got around the problem by just installing gates with locks on whilst putting no entry signs at both ends. All totally illegal but council has taken no enforcement action for the last 20 years.

Good point

Have you got a map reference or can you screen shot a pic of a map

 

[Johnnyboxer]

True. Taller bike barriers can work, say a foot or more?

You could get over one, I bet [emoji6][emoji41]

 

[steveR]

You could get over one, I bet [emoji6][emoji41]

Only if you lay down in front as a ramp....

Everyone I know with a trail bike will jump onto an IBC without too much effort

TRIALS bike and riders are a different breed altogether....

 

[steveR]

Are the class 3, road legal scooters not classed as motor vehicle and thus would be illegal to drive on pavements and by extension footpaths? Surely only class 2 scooters that are not road legal would be legal to use on pavements, footpaths and bridleways? Note that none road legal scooters can be used on road where there is no pedestrian path in order to access a pedestrian path. I have every sympathy for those that require these aids, indeed I am in the search of one for my mother this week...

I am all for facilitating access where practical but I think the expectation of being able to go anywhere and everywhere on them is equivalent to me expecting a smooth and maintained tarmacked footpath to the top of Everest.

Based on some the RoW users that I suspect we have all experienced, you are probably not far from the truth there...

I have related before, the story of two couples come down our farm lane, the ladies in high heels, who kicked off that the FP across the field was not paved!

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

If someone put a bench up on my land, I would be straight up there and remove it, probably drop it back at the road side or on the drive of the person who put it there. I may even email the council and inform them there has been flytipping of a bench.

Straight on ebay with it