News: Welsh Government Seeks Views On MTB Access
The Welsh Government is seeking your views on how they can improve the public's opportunities to access the outdoors for recreation (which includes mountain biking). Their consultation is open until 02 October 2015, and you can submit your views via their website.
Their website states:
![https www.facebook.com TheHillAreAlive]()
The Trails for Wales campaign - set up in response to the consultation - is organised by CTC Cymru, Open MTB, Welsh Cycling and British Cycling, who recently applauded the Welsh Government’s proposal to adopt similar rules on access to the countryside as those enjoyed in Scotland. The Trail for Wales campaign is calling on all outdoor enthusiasts to support their campaign Trails for Wales, which they can do at www.ctc.org.uk/campaign/trails-wales
Currently in Wales, the Rights of Way system is based upon recorded historic use of routes instead of suitability. As a result, cyclists have rights to use just 21% of the network, with permission to ride along narrow rocky sheep tracks on steep ground but denied access to thousands of miles of public footpaths lying on metalled farm and forest roads.
In Scotland, following the Land Reform Act 2003, it is very different. Scotland enjoys ‘presumed access’. This means there is a presumption of “responsible access”, subject to exemptions laid out in the Outdoor Access Code (eg forestry operations). Consequently, Scottish off-road and leisure cycle tourism are booming and contribute between £236.2m and £358m per annum.
Recent research indicates that outdoor activity in Wales contributes to nearly 10% of the Welsh tourist economy. The Trails for Wales campaign argues that changes to countryside access within Wales could dramatically increase this figure, thereby offering more social, transport, recreational and health benefits for both residents and visitors to the country.
![https www.facebook.com TheHillAreAlive]()
The coalition of cycle groups are calling on everyone to write to the Welsh Government in support of their response, and can do so through CTC Cymru's online tool here.
Photo credit: The Hills Are Alive.
MENTIONS: @geebeebee / @TheHillsAreAlive
Their website states:
 | Everyone should have the chance to experience parks, woodlands, mountains and the coast through a range of activities. Outdoor recreation makes a valuable contribution to Wales and creates a number of health, environment, social and economic benefits. We are seeking views on: - ways to reduce the costs and burdens associated with administering public paths and wider access - how we could better meet current and future recreational needs - ways to tackle some of the practical difficulties of improving opportunities for all, not just for those who can afford to travel or those who are already enthusiasts about an activity. |
The Trails for Wales campaign - set up in response to the consultation - is organised by CTC Cymru, Open MTB, Welsh Cycling and British Cycling, who recently applauded the Welsh Government’s proposal to adopt similar rules on access to the countryside as those enjoyed in Scotland. The Trail for Wales campaign is calling on all outdoor enthusiasts to support their campaign Trails for Wales, which they can do at www.ctc.org.uk/campaign/trails-wales
Currently in Wales, the Rights of Way system is based upon recorded historic use of routes instead of suitability. As a result, cyclists have rights to use just 21% of the network, with permission to ride along narrow rocky sheep tracks on steep ground but denied access to thousands of miles of public footpaths lying on metalled farm and forest roads.
In Scotland, following the Land Reform Act 2003, it is very different. Scotland enjoys ‘presumed access’. This means there is a presumption of “responsible access”, subject to exemptions laid out in the Outdoor Access Code (eg forestry operations). Consequently, Scottish off-road and leisure cycle tourism are booming and contribute between £236.2m and £358m per annum.
Recent research indicates that outdoor activity in Wales contributes to nearly 10% of the Welsh tourist economy. The Trails for Wales campaign argues that changes to countryside access within Wales could dramatically increase this figure, thereby offering more social, transport, recreational and health benefits for both residents and visitors to the country.
| I don't think we can exaggerate what an amazing opportunity for mountain biking this is. A change in access laws in Wales could potentially open thousands of kilometres of currently out of bounds trails. It would put Wales back up there with Scotland as one of the best off road destinations in the world, and at the same time, would increase take up of the sport and local participation. It would also potentially pave the way for future changes in England. We urge all off road enthusiasts, in England as well as Wales, to add their voice to our joint Trail for Wales campaign. - Tom Hutton, Snowdonia-based mountain bike journalist and guide, speaking on behalf of Open MTB |
| Following on from the Active Travel Wales Act this green paper provides another opportunity to realise the ambition of the First Minister Carwyn Jones to make Wales a cycling nation. A refresh of our access laws could make Wales the cycling centre for the UK, and would provide a healthy boost to the economy. I recommend everyone with a passion for the outdoors to show their support for our joint campaign, Trails for Wales. - Gwenda Owen, CTC Cymru |
| Wales has been at the forefront of mountain bike trail centres for many years now. I've used them extensively over the last 20 years of my racing career, but there are so many more trails out there to offer cyclists than just these purpose built centres. By opening up rights of way for cyclists, Wales could be one of the best mountain biking destinations in the world. That's why I am supporting the CTC and Open MTB's Trails for Wales campaign to change the current out of date access rights and open up these rights of way for the enjoyment of all cyclists at all levels. The open access policy has worked so well in Scotland, making it a go to destination for mountain biking. Wales could shortly be enjoying the same benefits and then I hope we will see the same across England too. - Tracey Moseley, Trek Bikes |
The coalition of cycle groups are calling on everyone to write to the Welsh Government in support of their response, and can do so through CTC Cymru's online tool here.
Photo credit: The Hills Are Alive.
MENTIONS: @geebeebee / @TheHillsAreAlive
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The Welsh Government started this and has asked US to let them know how they can make things better for US!
Why is this being treated so negatively here?
As it happens, Chicksands had to remove all their north shore cos some bloke fell off, broke his arm and sue'd the park for "lost earnings". When I pointed out that perhaps he shouldn't have gone up there in the first place, the builders were actually on his side, saying "aww, but he's got kids to feed"
So I repeated my original point, maybe he shouldn't have gone up there in the first place...
In the case of Chicksands the north shore was presumably official, not rotten stuff installed by some local kids, which does make the duty of care different.
I think mountain biking is becoming more accepted as a mainstream sport / activity rather than a fringe extreme sport. Younger walkers are probably fine with bikes as such things should only get better.
Any support needed I believe we should all get behind any European funding available!!!!
Let's get Wales on the map and one of europes best place to ride!
Peace out !
As a walker and climber myself, I dont want to suddenly encounter some idiot on a bike because lets face it, for every 50 riders that pass through, at least a handfull will be inconsiderate. Thats just a fact. We like riding techy trails fast. Perception of that is that we are being idiots.
Comparing it to Scotland does not work. Wales is easy access for most of middle England so has a huge influx of outdoor tourists. Scotland is miles from anywhere and so the usage population is hugely lower reducing conflict.
And there is that word. Conflict. We as riders have a general dislike for horses and trail bikes as they destroy everything they touch. Ramblers and walkers dont have a great love of us. You cant open access to one (group of non-walkers) and not the others. The reality is that there are many many more walkers than cyclists in Wales.
Wales is on the map for its Trail centres and what sprang from that. They are heavily funded by EU money into the Welsh Governent. That funding might not be there soon anyway...
Whilst this all sounds exciting, do we want to use flat overgrown bridleways? I live in a rural area and walk the footpaths. They are nearly all too narrow and overgrown. Fine for a walker but not for a 780 handlebar.
Wales is massive. Id argue that if you think you need to use pokey footpaths, your spirit of adventure needs expanding.
Thats my two pence anyway
Scotland has 1.1 million people living in Edinburgh and Glasgow. That's more than Cardiff + Bristol. The country around Edinburgh/Glasgow is subject to open access just like the highlands, and I don't think any significant conflicts have been documented as a result.
Conflicts, yes. Let's take the two trail users who get on least well (bikes + horses imo) and put them on the same, limited set of trails. Widening access means each group gets to choose the more approriate trail for their own use which reduces conflict. Where there is an actual, proper conflict, this is better resolved by both parties having equal rights to the trail and reaching an agreement. Snowdon is the perfect example of this.
Footpaths. The plentiful ones I *cough* want to ride are neither flat nor overgrown
Spirit of adventure. Seriously mate, who are you to judge others intangible qualities from behind a keyboard?
I am a walker and climber as well, nobody wants to encounter an idiot, trouble is the idiots are already biking (and driving, walking, horse riding) everywhere they shouldn't be, and doing so idiotically. This is about legitimizing what us sensible lot do.
We heard that the Land Reform Act would be unworkable, and bring devastation to the countryside - in fact it ended up with half a dozen minor problems, all of which got sorted out.
At the moment, theres thousands of miles - literally thousands of miles - of footpaths that are anything from 3 metre wide tarmac paths (where bikes aren't allowed to ride) to rocky sheep paths that link two bridleways - at the same time, we see identical narrow rocky sheep paths that we are allowed to ride, theres just no sense to any of it. On top of this there are thousands more miles of tracks over access land, everything from tarmac roads to forest/moorland roads, that we remain banned from, but walkers are allowed to walk all over unrestricted
Its all bollocks!
the system either needs to be sensible, or scrapped.
What I did say was sort out what we already have avalible. They quote that we only have access to 21% of rights of way, what they don't say is how much of that 21% is actually rideable. sort that first before getting into a land access fight. Spend the money on that.
But it's not going to happen as spending money on something shiny and new brings more headlines than sorting out the old stuff.
And finally yes, I would like mountain biking to remain a bit more exclusive, if I wanted to join the herd I'd be a football fan.
The law says that the council doesn't HAVE to spend money making bridleways rideable for bikes, thats why it will never happen. Equally we have thousands of miles of footpaths that ARE rideable, but are not allowed to use.
Personally I think a day out at BPW with 10 DH runs is well worth the £30 I pay.
It sounds like you want mountainbiking to remain an exclusive sport - I don't. The more the merrier.
The idea put forward in the article shows that more people riding = better welsh economy. You can't have the money until you get people riding in Wales, so the increase in riders must happen first. That's what this is about, get people riding.
Also, I've no quarrels with having more trail centres. There will always be secret tracks.