MTBs on Bridleways

[simongt]

Walking part of the Pennine Way last week, noticed one section that had been traversed by MTBs.
Brought to mind the row that broke out some years back about which was more detrimental to the bridleway surface; walker's boots or knobbly MTB tyres.
As this is something that would be very difficult to quantify with any sort of meaningful testing, wondered if anyone had any thoughts on the matter - ?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

All depends on numbers. Generally walkers are causing more erosion.

 

[simongt]

All depends on numbers. Generally walkers are causing more erosion.

True. Walkers in their clumpy boots far outnumber MTB riders in my experience.

 

[Drago]

And it's inappropriate use by all parties that does the worst damage. If its been raining for 9 weeks solid you're going to damage the surface no matter how careful you are.

Walkers do the incremental damage in the good weather, horses churn it up and make it unusable for everyone else in the bad weather, and us cyclists are stuck in the middle generally doing the least damage but suffering the most from the effects of the other user groups, and getting blamed by them into the bargain.

 

[EltonFrog]

I don’t have an opinion either way, but I’m going to waste the internet telling you all anyway.

 

[I like Skol]

Was it bridleway or footpath? I thought the Pennine way was mostly footpath so bicycle use would be prohibited? In which case the MTBs shouldn't be there, full stop.

 

[ColinJ]

Was it bridleway or footpath? I thought the Pennine way was mostly footpath so bicycle use would be prohibited? In which case the MTBs shouldn't be there, full stop.

That's what I was going to point out! There is a Pennine Bridleway, but that isn't the same thing. They run close to each other round here but I'm not sure if many sections of them coincide?

I have seen MTBs on the Pennine Way lots of times though, for example at Stoodley Pike. The Pennine Bridleway is further down the steep hillside from there, parallel to the PW.

 

[figbat]

Was it bridleway or footpath? I thought the Pennine way was mostly footpath so bicycle use would be prohibited? In which case the MTBs shouldn't be there, full stop.

Whilst I observe footpaths generally, there is little to deter cyclist from footpaths since it is only a civil offence of trespass, so any offender would have to be identified and sued for damages.

There is a footpath near me that I will use - it is effectively a common law bridlepath since it is used as such as it avoids the use of a dangerous road and I’ve never had any issue with other users along it.

 

[geocycle]

I use a ratio of 1:10:100 for impact of peoplemotor vehicles. This is an estimate from a student dissertation and is probably about right although there are lots of variables.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Dobbins do.

 

[T4tomo]

The worst damage is caused by off road motor bikes and "green-laners" aka self-gratification artists in landrovers / 4x4's

 

[figbat]

The worst damage is caused by off road motor bikes and "green-laners" aka self-gratification artists in landrovers / 4x4's

Well they definitely should not be on footpaths or bridleways (or restricted byways) - that is an offence under the Road Traffic Act I believe.

 

[simongt]

But also, bear in mind that when part of a footpath / bridleway gets muddy, folk tend to walk round the muddy bit so they don't get their pretty designer footwear dirty, thus incrementally and unnecessarily widening and thus damaging the area around the actual path.
On a footpath near Bakewell, the area around the stile had become very muddy, so folk took to clambering over the dry stone wall thus collapsing it. so others have subsequently followed.

 

[T4tomo]

But also, bear in mind that when part of a footpath / bridleway gets muddy, folk tend to walk round the muddy bit so they don't get their pretty designer footwear dirty, thus incrementally and unnecessarily widening and thus damaging the area around the actual path.
On a footpath near Bakewell, the area around the stile had become very muddy, so folk took to clambering over the dry stone wall thus collapsing it. so others have subsequently followed.

indeed and thus why duck boards etc are used on popular paths to prevent such erosion, but take a lot of time to initially install.

 

[albion]

Sustrans 1 in County Durham south from Wingate is currently being gravelled/repaired.
Horses are leaving massive clumps in their wake which does not bode fantastically well long term