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DANGER IN BIKE BAN
Apr 16 2006 - By Robert Weatherall, The Sunday Sun.
Bikers have warned that plans to ban them from remote beauty spots could backfire and make the affected areas dangerous for ramblers and hikers.
The recently passed Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act gives park authorities the power to close so-called green lanes to motorised vehicles.
Such lanes are legally part of the road network but, because of their remote location and low traffic, they have never been given permanent surfaces.
The lanes are favourites with owners of trail and endurance machines.
Bosses at the Lake District National Park say that from next month, 30 green lanes will be closed. Another 80 will remain open.
Bikers fear that authorities in the Yorkshire Dales will go further and impose a total ban.
A Yorkshire Dales National Park spokeswoman said: "We don't believe motorcycles are appropriate in a national park and will be making use of this legislation."
Leo Crone, of the Trail Riders Fellowship, says the new law could have safety implications.
He said: "The police have the power to seize bikes being used illegally. At the moment, all legitimate bikers have insurance, tax and MOTs and their machines are worth thousands of pounds.
"However, if a full ban on green-lane riding was to be brought in, there would be some riders who would buy cheap bikes for just a few hundred pounds.
"If they were then seized, it wouldn't be too much of a loss to them. The problem is, they wouldn't be insured and the bikes may not be safe. It could result in the countryside becoming a dangerous place."
Leo, of Darlington, County Durham, who said he would give up countryside riding if a total ban was brought in, said: "These are roads which have been in use for hundreds of years and, just because they don't have tarmac, street lighting or road signs, doesn't mean they are any less part of the road system."
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