Washed away Yorkshire bridge replaced in time for Worlds, Cyclists Vs Walkers CUK calls for law change to reduce conflicts; Fiona Kolbinger still going strong; Genius cassette cleaning tip (maybe); Zwift cheating hack revealed +more in today's Live Blog

Quote:

"Harrogate Borough Council is urging business across the area to dress up for the UCI Road Cycling World Championships next month, with the town being the focal point of the event which runs from 22-29 July, hosting the finish of all the races."

I think that should read 22-29th September.

Fundamentally England & Wales should have the trespass and access laws thrown out and replaced with those in force in Scotland. 

I think the greater cause of conflict between cyclists and walkers on shared use paths is that of the pampered rats on extendo-wires. As a cyclist and owner of a real sized dog, I am aware of the need to, and how to, control my animal. Those bloody yippy flat-faced embodiments of vanity inbreeding are the greatest threat I've ever encountered on a trail whilst walking and cycling. Admittedly a generalisation skewed with confirmation bias, but the folk who seem to think I'm at fault for their pooch running under my wheels/ feet seem to be the kind of person who has an affinity for that particuar excuse of a dog. (Not to say all little dog owners are like this, but those who are rarely own anything larger than a collie)

I'd like to say I have the common decency to slow down when I'm approaching people on the bike, I smile and say hello and warn people if I'm coming up behind them, and 95% of the time I get an equally pleasant response. I've only once had someone tell me "You can't ride here" whilst on a bridleway and then I think he was mostly upset that I interrupted his fishing, as he had poles strewn across the towpath. I fear I may be disproportionately fortunate in this experience.

The only time I think there should be enforced segregation is at trail centres, where walkers find themselves wandering up a rather inconsistant rooty staircase, and someone at full tilt on an MTB appears, suddenly bearing down and looking for the softest bush to bail into.

In short, I commend Cycling UK for trying to make improvements, but I think there are bigger fish to fry.

[/rant]

rights of way need more protection. I’ve been told by an angry farmer that a bridleway is for ‘horses and feet’ and told be I’d be shot if he saw me cycling there again!

On another bridleway there are are signs that say private and dangerous dogs running loose.

A gate has been locked on another with barbed wire put across it, with the bridleway being ploughed up and crops planted over it.

A fairly important path between some houses and a local supermarket has been fenced off to enlarge the garden and driveway of a house.

I contacted the council, but they won’t do anything. It’s a joke.

I recently cycled The North Down's Way using Cycling UK's 'official' gps route. What was frustrating was having to move off a bridleway/byway/permissive route onto the bitumen when the trail became a footpath that was identical in width and surface to what I was currently riding on. A common sense approach to changing rights of way access is definitely needed. This would make the North Downs Way a lovely ride indeed. I understand that some sections aren't rideable too - genuine 'footpaths', and that's fine, a simple 'no cycling' sign with alternat signage is all that is needed.

Having said that, I frequently disobey the law and ride (consideratley) on footpaths to link up safe riding routes. I am rarely challenged as all the footpaths are more than wide enough for walker and cyclists to pass. When I am challenged I simply dismount and make my 'width' even greater by walking next to the bike - this makes the point to the challenger that there is more room for him/her if I am on the bike rather than off it.

"How do you tell the difference between a footpath and bridleway in England or Wales? Without a map or fingerpost actually telling you, it’s nigh on impossible."

- And in several cases I can think of the waymarker signs are incorrect, showing bridle paths as footpaths. It may be innocent mistake, but there have been  rumours of ramblers and land owners doing it intentionaly.

"There’s no real criteria for one or the other, and whether you can cycle or ride your horse on the trails criss-crossing the countryside of England and Wales is down to historic, rather than suitability of use.

"Add in county, parish, regional borders and your footpath can change to a bridleway and back, whilst the surface varies not at all."

- Unfortunatly true, but I hope that people who find these make appeals. There is not long left, but a path that changes from one to another at a parish boundry is a prime example of a miss catagorised route.

Personaly I think there does need to be a massive change to let mountain bikers use footpaths. I do think there should be some local exceptions for particularly busy paths, and even then possibly only for limited times. If Snowdon can accomodate cyclists and walkers then surely the vast majority of footpaths accross the UK could. I am sure the ramblers association will be up in arms about it, but I regularly cycle on my local bridle ways and trail run on our local footpaths, and it is rare that I see anyone else.

Fiona Kolbinger's probably going to cycle back home soon.