Guided rides around Epping Forest ( aka Follow the strange tall man into the woods )

Yeah. Will respond.

Developing a balanced and sustainable approach to cycling in the Forest
We need to develop a long-term plan to manage the impacts that cycling can have on the Forest. At the same time we want to support cycling as a fun, healthy and sustainable activity which is valued by many visitors.
Overview
Over 10% of visits to Epping Forest involve cycling, which comes in many varieties - from mountain biking to less strenuous individual, family and group cycling (including small scale cycling events). Some cyclists use the Forest's quieter roads and trails as a pleasant alternative to urban access routes for their travel needs. Most cyclists want to stick to well used, easily accessible trails, while the more adventurous want to get deep into the more remote parts of the Forest, which offer more challenge.
Cycling has significant health benefits, can be a great social activity, and is a good way to discover the Forest. However, cycling can also damage the landscape and, sometimes, can create tensions with other visitors. We are keen to review the impacts of cycling so that we can develop a balanced and sustainable approach to its future management.
Epping Forest is unusual in offering relatively unrestricted access for cyclists. Other open spaces, including Ashdown Forest, Malvern Hills and Wimbledon and Putney Commons, have restricted cycling to certain routes, as have other divisions within the City of London Open Spaces Department.
Major issues and challenges
Cyclists currently have free, year-round access to around 33km of surfaced and 64km of unsurfaced shared use trails across the Forest. Four of our waymarked trails (Holly, Hornbeam, Lime and Beech) are also suitable for cycling. Some areas of the Forest are out-of-bounds to cyclists for historic, ecological or scientific reasons, and cycling is not permitted in Wanstead Park (with the exception of a permissive cycle path). In line with the Country Code, cyclists must give way to walkers and horse riders in these areas, but some cyclists believe that they have right of way, which can result in user conflict.
In general, considerate cyclists who respect the fragility of some parts of the Forest, keep to designated trails, and minimise potential disruption to walkers, horses and wildlife, are viewed positively by other users of the Forest. Our visitor survey, coupled with the number of complaints we receive, highlight the fact that some cyclists (notably mountain bikers) can cause alarm or inconvenience by cycling recklessly. Forest byelaws[1] specifically prohibit cycling "to the danger, injury, annoyance or inconvenience of the public". Breaching these byelaws may incur prosecution and a fine of up to £200.
Though research has indicated that the pressure from mountain bikes is buffered by tyres, erosion of trails, and of parts of the Forest floor where cyclists go off the trails, has become significant in some areas as mountain biking has become more popular, with moss banks, stream banks and heather heathlands showing particular damage.
Although prohibited, some cyclists continue to construct ad hoc ramps or jumps, which can be dangerous and riding at speed can be a risk to cyclists themselves, as well as to walkers, horse riders, deer and other wildlife. Recently, aided by new LED technology, some mountain bikers have taken up riding in the dark, which poses more risk, especially since accident response is more complex at night, but also to other wildlife, including deer during the rutting season, when it can affect breeding patterns and cause disturbance, leading to an increase in Deer Vehicle Collisions. Parking within Forest car parks after dark is not permitted and comes with its own issues.
Finally, the Conservators[2] are under pressure from cycling campaign groups to dedicate some Forest land for safe, vehicle free routes for cycle journeys.
What are we doing to address these issues?
To encourage responsible cycling, and respond to pressures connected with intense or reckless cycling, we currently:
Organise safe, fun and inclusive cycling events and activities
Welcome well-organised and considerate cycling groups
Respond quickly and efficiently to concerns and complaints relating to cycling. Users can contact us by phone, even outside of office hours when our calls are monitored by an external contractor, by email, by letter or by visiting one of our Forest Centres during opening hours. We have an agreed response time of 24 hours for e-mails or 5 working days for letters.
Prosecute cyclists who breach Forest byelaws, imposing fines of up to £200.
Invest in trail surface design and management to improve trail width, surfaces and drainage, and organise volunteer workdays to fix trails which have been damaged by overuse from cyclists.
Actively promote the Mountain Bike Code of Conduct, first introduced by the Countryside Commission in 1987.

1. Regulation made by a local authority in consultation with central government. [back]
   
2. The Conservators are the Mayor, Aldermen and Members of the City of London Corporation assembled in Common Council. The Conservators are charged with the responsibility of safeguarding the Forest under the Epping Forest Act 1878. The City of London is the organisation that owns Epping Forest. The authority of the Conservators is vested in the City of London’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee. [back]