Bike ban comes closer

Bikes are about to be banned from greenlanes – unsurfaced roads which comprise about 5% of the England and Wales’s road networks.

The Motor Cycle Industry Association – which represents the UK bike industry – says the Government has caved in to pressure from extremist ramblers – who already have exclusive use of 95% of unsurfaced rights of way. The threatened ban will hit off-road cars, too.

The Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Bill that received its third reading last week. It removes any existing public Right of Way (RoW) status from an unsurfaced road if that RoW is not already recorded on a county’s definitive map and statement as a ‘Byway Open to all Traffic’ (BOAT).

Now only the House of Lords can prevent the Bill becoming law.

If it does become law then the National Park Authorities will also get the power to impose Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) on byways in National Parks. In effect it’s a ban on trail bikes and other vehicles from the using the majority of unsurfaced roads within the UK.

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The MCIA said: “This legislation appears to have been fuelled by illegal and nuisance motorcycling on some rights of way and the growth in the illegal use of mini-bikes in public areas including parks and other open spaces.

“The proposed legislation, which will now be considered by the House of Lords will have a limited effect on the perceived problem as the people who are currently breaking the law, on rights of way where vehicles are not allowed, will continue to do so as levels of enforcement are unlikely to increase.”

The MCI’s Craig Carey-Clinch added: “Hysterical images painted by certain MPs about over-use of legal byways were fanned by ill-informed lobby groups, most notably the Ramblers Association. The new law demonstrates a lack of respect for the law-abiding motorcyclist and will mainly serve to penalise and criminalise many because of the inappropriate and irresponsible behaviour of a few.”

“No mistake should be made about this — illegal use will not be curtailed as resources for enforcement simply don’t exist.”

“The House of Lords have a chance to avoid this disaster and the industry urges Peers and Ministers in the Lords to take a more balanced approach by engaging properly with the motorcycle and motoring community and restoring common sense to the legislation.”