Regulations on Bridleways....

[Grouchfungus]

Anyone know the law re. Bridleways... are you allowed to use em' legally to bike on?

No Cycling signs seem to be appearing recently. So would this likely be over zealous landowners or local council?

 

[llanberispass]

Yes you are!

 

[Old Walrus]

No argument, yes! Worth a check on your local Ordnance Survey map to confirm and with the council, you might catch them out :-)

 

[marinyork]

There's no question you are. They are very variable in nature from being as good as country road quality down to horse mushed mudbaths or even subfootpath quality and very narrow.

Some landowners don't like bikes using them and will do things like padlock gates and put up signs that have no legal status.

 

[thomas]

No Cycling signs seem to be appearing recently. So would this likely be over zealous landowners or local council?

If they're official no cycling signs then you can't cycle on those ones I would imagine.

 

[andy_wrx]

By 'official' you mean metal, put-up-by-the-council signs ?

Maybe, but it would require a local byelaw for it to be a legal restriction.

A hand-painted or even printed sign put up by a landowner isn't legal.

You should report it to your local council as they are blocking a public right of way.

Cycling is permitted on bridleways and restricted byeways, so if your OS map shows one of these (or BOAT or RUPP, on an older OS map), you can ride it there

 

[Cubist]

Unless the bridleway has been redesignated as a footpath, then the signs are optimistic at best, or at worst unlawful. Check ordnance survey maps, and make sure you have the most up to date version, but if the bridleway is a bridleway, then ignore them.

 

[thomas]

By 'official' you mean metal, put-up-by-the-council signs ?

Yes...though I would of thought it then wouldn't be a bridleway?

 

[Grouchfungus]

Thanks for the replies.

The signs look official.

Square metal prohibition type firmly screwed on.

So I'll be phoning the council tomorrow.

 

[Bromptonaut]

Cycling is permitted on bridleways unless there is a traffic regulation order prohibiting the activity. The official cycling prohibited sign is circular with red edging (like a speed limit sign). Square signs souns a bit odd - any chance of a digital image?

 

[thomas]

Thanks for the replies.

The signs look official.

Square metal prohibition type firmly screwed on.

So I'll be phoning the council tomorrow.

Is it blue? Is it square with a red box around it - those are both advisory things I think.

 

[very-near]

Cycling is permitted on bridleways unless there is a traffic regulation order prohibiting the activity. The official cycling prohibited sign is circular with red edging (like a speed limit sign). Square signs souns a bit odd - any chance of a digital image?

One other point of note is that it is conditional that the cyclist always MUST gives way to both pedestrians and Horseriders on a bridleway

 

[very-near]

http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4678

No racing on them either. No wonder Bonj was so upset

 

[02GF74]

No racing on them either. No wonder Bonj was so upset

depends on definition of race. would you an a couple of mates hareing along constitute a race?

 

[very-near]

depends on definition of race. would you an a couple of mates hareing along constitute a race?

If you set a defined start and finish point (and have timing equipment set up), then yes it is. If not then that could be regarded with the old chestnut 'Furious cycling' under the 1872 licencing act.

The reality is that it will only become a problem if you get caught.