BMF TO MEET MINISTER ON GREEN LANE ISSUE
23 March 2004 - BMF

Following the success of one of the BMF''s biggest campaign efforts in recent years, Alun Michael, Minster of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), has agreed to meet BMF representatives to discuss the effects of proposed green lane closures.

The proposals, that could well spell the end to legitimate trail riding by thousands of law-abiding motorcyclists, were contained in the government''s consultation document; ''The Use Of Mechanically Propelled Vehicles On Rights Of Way'', the consultation period of which ended on 19th March.

Faced with calls for an outright ban on vehicular access by a vocal and influential minority, the BMF, Britain''s largest motorcycle riders'' rights organisation, sent a comprehensive briefing pack to all 640 MPs and every member of the House of Lords, putting the case for the continued legitimate recreational use of these ancient rights of way.

Through a carefully organised letter writing and email campaign, run in conjunction with those of the Trail Riders Fellowship and the Land Access and Recreation Association, LARA, plus the wholehearted support via petition packs of all 34 branches of Hein Gericke motorcycle accessories stores, over 30 letters a day were at one time reaching the offices of DEFRA, so much so that extra staff had to be taken on to deal with them!

Speaking of the campaign''s success in raising legitimate concerns, the BMF''s campaign coordinator, Richard Olliffe said: ''This has been a fantastic response and reflects the fact that trail riding is a popular and legitimate past time. We hope that the Minister can now see this and apply the test of reasonableness. With England and Wales having around 120,000 miles of footpaths and bridleways exclusively open to walkers, and just 5,000 miles of minor trails open to vehicles, it doesn''t seem much to ask!''

Note: These proposals are part of the fallout from the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 - the Act that introduced the ''right to roam'' for hikers across thousands of square miles of private land. The consultation period ended on the 19th of March 2004.

www.betterbiking.co.uk

More News
  For March 2004
  From BMF
  For Associations
  Biker247.com Home Page