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Seen loads of that on social media, obv targetted by big social as I am defo at risk of riding offroad and having fun..
Think the UK is really on a knife-edge (Could argue it has been for 20 years) in regard to legal and acceptable places to play of road. The only one near me in Scotland (where there is effectively ZERO legal offroad locations for road registered bikes) is Drumclog, a big farm with many tracks, mostly for proper MX bikes, few little bits you can do on road orientated bikes, only £20 a day which is incredibly fair, but its rarely open now, mostly for special organised mud bogging type events.
Seen plenty of folk on youtube that I would normally respect, but in the last year during C19 have been off wrecking all the MTB and walkers trails in various forestry sites around, then dumb enough to post online.
Byeways in England are really under threat, the easily accessible ones for park + play types with proper MX bikes are massively over-used, and technically illegal as they aren't road registered, when police then get involved it brings negativity down on all users of BOATS/green lanes
In the USA + canada its quite common in some states to have giant pay + park + play type centres, private and some public (Arizona, Oregan and Utah) to keep the masses from the national parks I guess. In the UK hard to do as every bit of land belongs to someone. Family once nearly bought an old pub next to a disused quarry that during the purchase process was bought by a group to use for a pro MX course. Didn't buy it in the end, but was going to have a 'Sunday only' usage limit on it by council which I thought was fine, others hated anything that made any noise.
BrickMan-
Yes exactly. It’s a big reason for the going through the road-reg/road-legal farce with the trials bike.
In and around Swindon are absolutely loads of ideal spots, but practically none are viable.
The old dump 1.5 miles from home is now a ‘park’ with amazing little hills and trees growing. Entire areas are wooded inclines with lumps of concrete sticking out. When the weeds were kept back I had been using it for mtb. Lots of dog walkers mean even by mtb it can be claustrophobic. If the bike was electric, I might have risked there.
Less than a mile away is Lydiard Park, again, beautiful spots and away from the main walking track is an area people used to practice. Now, there are houses backed onto it meaning it’s asking for trouble.
It’s the same for almost every green space or plot of wasteland. Lots are locked up to stop travellers, others are overgrown.
I am in talks with my instructor to clean and tidy the verge between his training area and the road. It would be amazing, but with little or no run-up might be too technical for me to learn on. All the same, being right between a busy road and his motorcycle training area it is an ideal ‘secret’ location to try.
On some local byways, just as you say, there is a real concern. I’ve had National Trust Member types moan at me when going about my lawful business on the DR. Some lanes are getting TRO’d because of the 4x4 damage, but bikes are slapped with the same restrictions.
If I could drive, and had a van, the pay and play places are still a fair way away. Being open only one day per week doesn’t suit me either. I want to go do an hour or three of riding in between other responsibilities at home.
The mechanics said I should just use the skate park round the corner. To be honest the mess that the stoner kids leave there, I’d spend as long litter-picking and sweeping as I would riding.
pdlouche
When the club restarts, I believe it’s something like 6 miles away up and down hill. I’m not that keen on walking…
I’m concerned about using it on public land, and private land without permission, plus as soon as I touch a byway (where a lot of little climbs and interesting sections are) it needs to be taxed insured and MOT’d anyway.
Around here are a lot of pit bikes and enduros that are getting caught out as the police know where all the fun spots are. Instant confiscation, fine, points etc.
MSM got back to me and the storage I have is acceptable, so I’ll pay up later and I’m sorted.