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Consultation on Use of Mechanically Propelled Vehicles on Rights of Way
Foreword
If you think the issue doesn't affect you as a "road rider" you could be wrong.
In February 2002 comments made by
Environment Minister Michael Meacher in a letter to the Association of Chief Police Officers which was leaked to the motorcycle press suggested banning motorcyclists from using roads in National Parks or
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A statement later denied by the department.
Today it is trail riding tomorrow it will be YOU
Overview
MAG is supporting the views
of the Trail Riders Fellowship (TRL) and the Land Access and Recreation Association (LARA) reaction to the Consultation document on the use of mechanically propelled vehicles on Rights of Way issued by
DEFRA (the Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael who launched his proposals in December to curtail the inappropriate use of
mechanicallypropelled vehicles on countryside rights of way are outlined in a public consultation available at www.defra.gov.uk
At face value
curtailing the inappropriate use of mechanically propelled vehicles as outlined by Mr Michael is very laudable but alarm bells ring when one looks at the proposals, some of which do not seem to address
the target problem and will, in all probability, cause a great deal difficulty when implemented by the highway authorities.
TRF says: The TRF have long sought better enforcement against those who
illegally use motor vehicles on rights of way and recognise that Illegal riding is a very real problem in places - but in seeking to combat it effectively, the countryside minister Alun Michael appears
to be proposing changes which will hit law-abiding riders, while probably doing little to deter illegal riders.
LARA says: On behalf of responsible drivers, LARA say it is grossly unfair to
propose an ill-thought change in legislation that damages our centuries-old highway law, places a massive work burden on a relatively few ordinary individuals, takes away the rights of ordinary people
enjoying an arcane, but historic, pastime, does little to tackle the root causes of the problems: cowboy drivers and inefficient local councils, and gives yet more exclusive territory to ramblers, who
already enjoy more access than they can ever
possibly want.
MAG View
MAG wholly supports the use of RUPP's (Road Used as a Public Path) by law abiding users -who adhere
to such trail riding etiquette as laid down by the Trail Riders Fellowship.
MAG does not support illegal bikes/quads using Footpaths and Bridleways.
Action Pack (Available at www.mag-uk.org)
The "Action Pack" contains all the guidance you require to:
1 Lobby your Member of Parliament
2 Letter to the Rural Affairs Minister
3 Response to the consultation document
Action Pack
Word Doc / PDF
You can also lobby your MP direct using the Political Wizard Campaigns Section on the MAG UK website.
Response required by 19th March 2004
*Please let us know if your MP or the Minister responds.
General Information
The full consultation document can be found at www.defra.gov.uk
MAG would like to thank:
Richard Stiling TRF MAG Liaison Officer contact mag@trf.org.uk
Dave Tilbury TRF Rights of Way Coordinator.
TRF and LARA can be contacted respectively at www.trf.org.uk and www.laragb.org
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