GREAT EXPECTATIONS ON RIGHTS OF WAY
18 January 2005 - BMF

As the general election campaign gets underway, the British Motorcyclists Federation, the UK’s largest riders rights organisation, sees the imminent publication of DEFRA’s response to the consultation on the ''Use of Mechanically Propelled Vehicles on Rights of Way'' (MPVRoW), as a focal point for those involved in countryside issues.

The consultation closed for public input on the 19th March 2004, but thanks to pressure from the BMF and its affiliated trail riding groups, Alun Michael, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Minister, set up and sponsored the Time Limited Rights of Way Motorised Interest Group (TLRoWMIG). The BMF has now taken the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to proposals put forward by the group for regulating the recreational motorised use of byways.

Formed from members of the Land Access and Recreation Association (LARA), the BMF assisted the TLRoWMIG in the formation of the response to the proposals contained within the DEFRA consultation and say that the current system by which the use of minor highways by vehicles is researched, recorded and managed, needs updating to match the 21st century environment in which we operate.

The group identified three principal areas to deliver fair and effective management of byways and therefore satisfy the needs of all users of the countryside, namely:

Sustainability: This would cover ground impact and sufficient commensurate maintenance, plus volunteer involvement on conservation issues. ‘Byway rules’ should be set up with flexible Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) taking into account seasonal / weather conditions and vehicle type and weight.

‘Discovering Lost Ways’: Where true status of the ‘right of way’ is the objective, with consequent motor vehicular use attenuated by the new management proposals.

Activity Regulation and Management: User group size, the frequency of visits to areas, appearance and behaviour, are all-important factors. There must be enforcement against, and engagement with, illegal users. User education should be provided, emphasising the need for speed constraints, the choice of tyres, interface with other users and the recognition of joint use of routes.

BMF Spokesman Richard Olliffe said: “The BMF was in the vanguard of groups within the motorcycling community who raised awareness of the MPVRoW issue which resulted in an unprecedented response to the consultation. The TLRoWMIG recommendations have already been submitted to the Parliamentary Rights of Way Review Committee and we now eagerly await the formal DEFRA response.”

The Time Limited Rights of Way Motorised Interest Group proposals, ‘Regulating Recreational Motorised Use of Byways’ can be found in full at:

http://www.bmf.co.uk/briefing/index1.html

www.bmf.co.uk

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