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..... Quote Me Happy
Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :
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Posted: 19:30 - 02 Jan 2009 Post subject: A Guide to Finding Legal 'Offroad' Routes |
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I saw a post on the Honda Trail Bike Forums by Mad Cow and thought it would be useful to be posted here, with Mad Cow's permission. I've added bits here and there from the TRF.
Finding Legal 'Greenlanes'
Although technically there is no legal definition of a greenlane it is generally accepted to be a road without a sealed surface. This can be anything from sand, mud, gravel, even underwater.
The term 'Offroad' is a bit misleading as greenlanes are subject to the same laws as all roads - the bike must be fully road-legal. Any trail rider must:
# have a valid motorcycle rider's licence;
# display a current road vehicle licence (tax disc);
# have a valid MoT certificate of road-worthiness;
# have valid standard road-use insurance for the motorcycle;
# wear a helmet.
The two basic ones you can legally ride are firstly:
Byways Open to All Traffic, also known as B.O.A.T.s or just "Byways"
Marked on OS Maps as alternating dashes and crosses
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
In red at 1:50,000 scale (Landranger Maps) or
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Green at 1:25,000 scale (Explorer Maps)
These are the only "Rights of Way" open to motor vehicles, the following are NO GO for any vehicle:
Footpaths ..........................
Bridleways-------------------
RUPPS (Now called Restricted Byways) _ __ _ __ _ __ _ __ _ __
OK now to the second "track" that's legal for motor vehicles:
You will know about A roads (RED), B Roads (Brown) but there are also C,D,E and F class roads shown in Yellow. Below these and usually unsurfaced (so of interest to us) are Unclassied Roads.
Usually called Unclassified County Roads, also known as "UCRs" or "White Roads". Shown on OS Maps as a road but in white (as opposed to Red, Brown or Yellow).
_________________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_________________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Solid lines means fences/walls/hedges, dotted lines if its open country.
Now marked on OS Maps as "ORPA" (Other Route With Public Access) by a series of larger round dots printed over the road (red or green as above).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(OK I know they're square dots but you get the idea) if there is no road marked, only dots be prepared for a vague route across open countryside.
Check out the TRAILWISE website for specific information. Use Search/View to find lanes, the "Find Tracks Near a Place" function is very useful. This can bring up Google Maps of a specified area, the brown and red tracks are the ones you want.
In addition to the Map info if you arrive at a lane that seems to be legal on the map but shows this sign
https://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/MadCowPhotos/miscellaneous%20stuff/Copyofa024.jpg
It has a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) on it and you can't ride it.
If it is the version of the sign with just the car (no bike) you can still ride it.
If you arrive at a Unclassified Country Road (White Road / ORPA / UCR) and find this sign:
https://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/MadCowPhotos/miscellaneous%20stuff/P4061340.jpg
Don't worry, it means that it IS a legal road, just not recommended for ROAD cars or bikes.
In an increasingly overcrowded and environment conscious world the trail rider's back is to the wall. We must all do our bit for public relations -- no-one else will do that job. The easy solution to the problem of inconsiderate behaviour, in the eyes of the public, is a complete ban on all recreational vehicles on Greenlanes. Make sure you help reverse this prejudiced view, and do nothing to reinforce it.
Hope that all makes sense |
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Zedxfarin |
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Zedxfarin Nova Slayer
Joined: 17 Mar 2009 Karma :
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Posted: 22:56 - 18 Mar 2009 Post subject: |
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I shure your right. Taking the risk of riding flat out in a no ride zone is half the fun. fook the police thay cant catch you unless they have a chopper right?
You can get away with it up in the highlands like, I took a TY8O from Daviot to Inverness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzzMecbhVeE ____________________ Montesa Cota 350cc, Yamaha DTr 125cc, Yamaha Timberwolf 250cc, Yamaha YZ 250cc, Kawaski kmx 125cc, Kawaski kmx 200cc, Yamaha TY80cc, 175cc Chinese Dirt Bike, Chinese Wanyge 125cc, Mini & Midi Moto 50cc - What i have owned. |
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G The Voice of Reason
Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :
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Posted: 23:02 - 18 Mar 2009 Post subject: |
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MarJay |
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MarJay But it's British!
Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :
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Posted: 23:06 - 18 Mar 2009 Post subject: |
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https://images.starcraftmazter.net/4chan/for_forums/obvious_troll.jpg ____________________ British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another. |
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carvell |
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carvell Scuttler
Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Karma :
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Posted: 23:10 - 18 Mar 2009 Post subject: |
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And if you want to have a look at an OS map for where you are planning to go:
https://maps.the-hug.net/
Vast majority of maps on there are 1:50,000 (landranger). Areas of interest, such as the lake district, are 1:25,000.
You can also use that site to create a GPX route which you can then export to your GPS or load into Google Earth. ____________________ Yamaha TDM 850 |
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Charlie |
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Charlie World Chat Champion
Joined: 27 May 2007 Karma :
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benlooker |
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benlooker Two Stroke Sniffer
Joined: 03 May 2009 Karma :
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..... Quote Me Happy
Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :
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Posted: 11:18 - 18 Sep 2009 Post subject: |
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S |
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S Nitrous Nuisance
Joined: 08 Oct 2009 Karma :
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Posted: 14:03 - 09 Oct 2009 Post subject: |
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Wait wait wait
I'm almost giddy.
Quote: |
Usually called Unclassified County Roads, also known as "UCRs" or "White Roads". Shown on OS Maps as a road but in white (as opposed to Red, Brown or Yellow).
_________________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_________________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Solid lines means fences/walls/hedges, dotted lines if its open country.
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You absolutely sure we can legally use these? I googled loads of stuff last week and found nothing.
Edit: Ok back to google:
Quote from https://www.muddypluggers.co.uk/green.html
Quote: | White roads - there are many minor roads shown on OS map in white. (i.e. not coloured.) They may have continuous, single or double-dotted defining lines (indicating the presence or absence of walls or fences) but these do not all necessarily have public vehicular rights. You cannot tell the true status of 'white roads' just by looking at them! Many UCRs are shown as 'white roads' but not all 'white roads' are UCRs. |
Quote from https://www.imba.org.uk/PRoW/PRoW_FAQs.html#question5
Quote: | "White roads" are the tracks and lanes coloured white rather than yellow on Ordnance Survey maps.
They are also called green lanes because they often have grass, and you may also hear them mentioned as UUCR's - Unsurfaced Unclassified Roads.
Some of these routes are private tracks, and we have no right to use them. Others are roads which can be found on the highways maps at your local Highway Authority.
However, although all Highway Authorities agree that we can cycle on "yellow" roads, some will not confirm that their "white roads" are legal for cyclists.
Fortunately, many of these roads are now shown by Ordnance Survey as "Other routes with public access" which at least means they are publicly owned. IMBA's view is that you can cycle on these unless the Highway Authority provides evidence that only walkers can use them.
There is one other confusing factor. Some of these roads are "dual purpose" - they can be roads AND footpaths at the same time, and may be shown as footpaths only. Again you have to check your Highway Authority map to identify any such "footpaths" which may legally be cycled. |
Quote from https://www.ramblers.org.uk/rights_of_way/knowledge_portal/advice_notes/byways_restricted_byways_and_tracks.htm
this is on a rambler website!
Quote: |
Ordnance Survey (OS) map will show lots of uncoloured tracks, commonly referred to as "white roads". Because the OS map does not provide conclusive evidence about the existence of public rights (only the definitive map does this), it is not always possible to tell whether white roads carry public rights.
7. Some white roads will be public and some will be private. Those of them which are public (i.e. they have been 'adopted' by the relevant highway authority - the county council or unitary authority for the area) are commonly depicted on OS maps as white roads with green or red dots, and referred to in the key as ORPAs (other routes with public access). You can't tell what public rights subsist over an ORPA (i.e. whether there's a right of way on foot only, or whether 'higher' rights - such as a right of way on horseback, or in a vehicle - subsist), only that there must at least be a public right of way on foot.
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This Welsh goverment website (.gov.uk) sheds the following on the white roads:
Quote: |
Most roads on OS 1:50000 maps are coloured according to their category, as identified in the key/legend. However, some minor ways may be left uncoloured. These are known informally as “White Roads.” The OS has consistently felt unable to identify the status of these minor ways which are described as “other road, drive or track.”
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I think basically the answer is "maybe". But it could fall on private land.
Depends how brave you are. If the map marks it as a white road, and there's no signage saying otherwise help yourself unless told otherwise?
If they wanted to keep you out there would be a gate/sign.
Thoughts?
Anyone else shed any light? Please someone tell me I can legally drive on every single one...I'm close to doing a sex wee. But I don't think it's true
Os map says "other road, drive, or track"
https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/products/50kraster/pdf/50K_English_Legend_March08.pdf |
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Pussy Magnet |
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Pussy Magnet Scooby Slapper
Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Karma :
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Posted: 07:41 - 25 Oct 2009 Post subject: |
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Thanks joe found this very helpful to find a byway to ride my crunch down thanks a lot |
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S |
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S Nitrous Nuisance
Joined: 08 Oct 2009 Karma :
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Posted: 20:02 - 15 Jun 2010 Post subject: |
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(Probably) 90% of white roads aren't ridable.
FYI
Other than that this information is pretty solid
my byway database might help, aptly addressed www.bywaydatabase.com ____________________ See my motorcycle youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/svengalie |
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G The Voice of Reason
Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :
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Posted: 13:08 - 17 Jul 2010 Post subject: |
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Note that bing maps now offer the option to display OS maps: https://www.bing.com/maps/ (zoom in a bit click 'Road' then select 'Ordnance Survey Map' - if it's greyed out, you need to zoom in more/less.) |
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Wafer_Thin_Ham |
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Wafer_Thin_Ham Super Spammer
Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :
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Posted: 12:41 - 13 Aug 2010 Post subject: |
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S wrote: | (Probably) 90% of white roads aren't ridable.
FYI
Other than that this information is pretty solid
my byway database might help, aptly addressed www.bywaydatabase.com |
How do you know it's about 90%, or is that just stuff you've investigated in your area?? ____________________ My Flickr |
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Fizzer Thou |
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Fizzer Thou World Chat Champion
Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :
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BigGun1 |
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BigGun1 Derestricted Danger
Joined: 14 Oct 2011 Karma :
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Posted: 21:49 - 14 Oct 2011 Post subject: |
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S wrote: | (Probably) 90% of white roads aren't ridable.
FYI
Other than that this information is pretty solid
my byway database might help, aptly addressed www.bywaydatabase.com |
If we ask nicely would you do Cornwall too??
Please |
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peter.rounce |
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peter.rounce L Plate Warrior
Joined: 19 Mar 2012 Karma :
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Posted: 22:40 - 19 Mar 2012 Post subject: |
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..and check out my byway map..
Byway Map
https://bywaymap.com
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pete63 |
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pete63 Derestricted Danger
Joined: 07 Apr 2012 Karma :
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Posted: 18:58 - 14 Apr 2012 Post subject: |
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Interesting map. What are the colour codes? I assume red is no longer available. The 2 in NW Maidenhead are now restricted byways. ____________________ XT550
DT125R |
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peter.rounce |
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peter.rounce L Plate Warrior
Joined: 19 Mar 2012 Karma :
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F2racerlady |
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F2racerlady L Plate Warrior
Joined: 30 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 12:24 - 30 Dec 2013 Post subject: |
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White roads shown on OS maps are sometimes private roads - the OS map doesn't make a distinction. I am in Mid Wales, and the OS maps are fairly accurate with ORPAs being UCRs which are legal to ride.
Joining the Trail Riders Fellowship www.trf.org.uk might be a good idea. Local groups usually organise rideouts, and many allow a non-member to join a ride before coughing up his money!
Information about riding legally is hard to find on t'internet because the situation is always changing and is compllicated by laws going back to 1949. So meeting local riders who already have the knowledge is very useful.
Also the TRF have good info on your rights - e.g. did you know that only a policeman in uniform has the right to stop you? I am courteous in that I do stop if I meet another user who wants me to, but if they will not listen to me, then I have no hesitation in riding off.
Most police are ignorant of the law, and the threat of confiscation of your vehicle is often used inappropriately. Police often ignore the fact that they can only threaten you with confiscation (S.59), if you were riding on "land not forming part of a road" or a "footpath, bridleway or restricted byway" AND "causing distress" to other persons in the vicinity.
We are lucky that Mid Wales is good for riding!
Marianne ____________________ www.ride-adventure.co.uk
www.trailrides-wales.com |
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shane rutherford |
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shane rutherford L Plate Warrior
Joined: 02 Aug 2015 Karma :
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Posted: 09:30 - 02 Aug 2015 Post subject: new to it |
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haven't been green lane riding before did a lot of mx wen younger and rode bike on rd ever since live in telford looking to go for a ride out welshpool way how do i plan my route ____________________ just starting out did a lot of motorcross wen young even won a few am now 48 and in need of a hobby whutch don't include the wife or kids luv em but u know lol |
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singletonamos... |
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singletonamos... L Plate Warrior
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salimD |
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salimD L Plate Warrior
Joined: 27 Dec 2020 Karma :
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Posted: 10:41 - 27 Dec 2020 Post subject: |
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You cannot tell the true status of 'white roads' just by looking at them! ____________________ SalimD from ONIX
Yours gratefully. |
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salimD |
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salimD L Plate Warrior
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