Mountain Biking - riding forbidden trails

There are so many "walking" trails around where I live. Most are lightly maintained by the City. All BAN BICYCLES. You know the one - a bicycle in a circle with a line drawn across it. I have taken to ignoring this because I believe its unfair to keep MTBers out of public property in this fashion. The only "bike paths" in the city are for site-seers, not for Roadies nor for MTBers.

I've noticed many many riders whilst on the trails. But I've also met several fellow citizens who have objected to my being there.

What's your take on the above? Do you have this type of trail in your area? Do you ride on "forbidden trails" ? Do you think it is fair to pick trails and make the exclusive to pedestrian traffic? :rolleyes:

Next time vote in the city official that can hopefully change the law in your favor.

But I also ride in trails behind my property which are forbidden. Dogs must be on leashes also. The majority of dog owners I encounter on these trails do not have them on leashes. When told by one of these dog walkers that bicycles are not allowed, I simply reply that "I've been walking my dog on these trails without a leash for a dozen years and have never been cited.....therefore, I don't foresee any problem with bikes either".... That usually shuts them up.

I don't ride on forbidden trails. Thats an easy way to get bikes banned anywhere. Makes riders look like knobs and makes the locals feel the need to take action (sometimes)

As a member of ROMP and the Trails Conservancy my party line is in direct conflict with my personal views. Which would you like?


Where the two views coincide is this.
When you meet walkers or horses on the trail (single track) you will stop, dismount and put yourself between your bike and the other trail users, with your bike clearly off the trail.

Trails through city parks are always flat smooth and groomed …. I have no interest in this type of trail, But I do ride forbidden trails in places like The Headlands and Big Basin. I have twice attempted descents down Bright angle but have as yet no joy.

I should state, I likely have it easier than most. I have a few hundred trails within 30 min road ride of my place. All mtbikers only. In a different situation I might have a different point of View.

I should state, I likely have it easier than most. I have a few hundred trails within 30 min road ride of my place. All mtbikers only. In a different situation I might have a different point of View.

Yes, you most definately would. It is hard to have the only legal trails about a 1-5 hour drive, minimum. Kinda makes one feel unwanted.

There aren't even any walking trails here. Well, very few...

I guarentee riding illegally will not put those who can change the legality on your side.if you want it changed volunteer to help with maintenence,and build a report with whomever and show them you are not the inconsiderate, evil, law suit seeking, dog and pedestrian hater that some may see bikers as due to ignorance.dont prove them right by breaking the rules. here in central Va. the MORE bike group has opened many doors and trails by this approach. we've even gotten in good with a National park as of late

Ya i agree with "iamthetas". But if all of that fails and everyone feels the have to keep mtbers of the trails at all costs, than you have to do it anyway or else you will never get to ride.

The local trails in my town only explicity forbid motorized vehicles and unless you consider my two cylinder machine motorized then techincally there is no rule against myself being there.

That said, every so often some old man/woman with their unleashed dogs will stop me as i politely step off my bicycle and walk around them and scold me how "You aren't supposed to be using those in here." This gets me pretty miffed, especially as i try to reason with them how i have spoken to the trailmaster who said he could care less and of course EVERYONE has a connection with such and such boardmember of something or another that says this and that. Basically, old people w/ their unleashed dogs who use the park once a year intrinsically assume that i am some sort of xtreme sport punk because i am using a bike on a trail.

Honestly people.

Basically, old people w/ their unleashed dogs who use the park once a year intrinsically assume that i am some sort of xtreme sport punk because i am using a bike on a trail.


I'll ride in no trespassing areas (except during hunting season). But I usually don't ride on trails that say no bikes. If I didn't have an option, though, I would ride on whatever trails were available. What's the worst that could happen? They can't ban you from the trails. They've already done that. Maybe fine you.

I don't know what is morally correct. Riding on banned trails could make walkers hate bikers. Or it could make walkers demand trails specifically for bikers. I can't tell from my position. This is a bike friendly town. Either way, when deciding keep in mind that those "old people" that complain have much more political clout than you, whether it is right or wrong. I suppose I agree, you should work with the powerful when it is possible.

Is that ambiguous enough?

Near where I live, there is a place called Belair, we ride there heaps because it has a train that you catch to the top and then there are about 10 DH trails down. All of them are illegal, but the council doesn't really care, 95% of the locals don't care too much, but there are a couple of dicks who really take it to heart. Since the council don't really care these dicks put nails on the track and fishing lines. Some of them are even there all day, so if you take down something, 30mins later on the next run it's back. So now the council are seeing things from OUR point of view and are making a couplke of legal tracks and even got train carriages designed to take up to 20 bikes.

The funny thing is that almost every Australian bike web site is on are side and help us out. They like our fight and are trying to get us to suceed to help out other people trail related problems in Aus. They even found a by law in the council laws for us that showed we could tell them that we are alowed there and couldn't be fined. Also since I'm not over 16 I can't be fined.

one of my favourite activities is once i have spotted the 'ramblers association' is get in as high a gear as possible thus increasing speed then when about 10ft behind them sharply apply my rear brake ONLY and watch their look of shock and fear of being of turned into a handle bar mascot as u gracefully skid right past them. i aint got a number plate on my mountain bike so by the time the oap's have gathered themselves together ure a faintly blurred shape in the distance ha ha.

duh...thats going to help.

Well 'waiting' for off road trails to become availilbe can just be a waste of time. You can get permission from National Parks to hold events ect., but just day to day trail riding there is very few around surburban area. Infact around where i live there are many parks ect, that would offer great trail riding, but no one is going to make those open for it. But luckly a found a 330m trail about 5 min away. It is a walking track but no one walks on it. I rode it once or twice and was caught by a council person. Luckly he said its ok to ride on the section i was riding on, but he told me to tell my other 'bike friends' to not ride on another section of land he pointed out. No one walks on this track, and it is perfect off road, i'll try and get some pictures of it in the futur, and its ok with the council so its good i know that i am not 'breaking the law' ect.

Just keep in mind that those hikers are there expecting nothing but the beautiful nature. And keep in mind that if someone does not respond to your "On your left!" warning, there might be a reason.. don't just assume they heard you and fly past.

Accident waiting to happen...

They might be deaf, like I am.. :)

Scares the *&^%$#@!!!! outta me when bikers just pop outta nowhere on trails they're not supposed to be on, inches away (if I am lucky!) from crashing from me.... Nearly every time they look back at me like I'm the rudest person on earth.

Duh.

It's easier to say "sorry" then get permission.

The amazing thing is that this affects so many bikers. Thank you for your comments. They offer a wonderful multi-faceted view from all of you.

I smile, because like some of you, at times I am guilty of riding (too) fast and whizzing around unsuspecting folk and being a blur before they even thought, "was that a bird? a bee ? it must have been......" he,he..... I too share the sentiment about senior citizens and their political clout. I've never even walked into cityhall and this guy I met might have been the bloody mayor, by his demeanor !!.... they aren't going to listen to me. The house owners that have backyards extending to the riverside and the forest pay far too much in property taxes... I also think that I must conduct myself in a manner that won't be detrimental to bikers. That's why I was polite to the old fossil and apologized for nearly causing him a cardiac arrest.... on the other hand, most people I've met have been nice, offering encouragement as I struggle up a hill etc.... I always stop/slow for pedestrians on narrow trails.... lots of "thankyou/please" etc,.... It's just sad that we (bikers) dont' have a group here in London, Ontario. Maybe I should post a poster on a tree, asking riders to contact me or even join this forum if they want to make a change.... hmmmm. That's an idea... yes, yes.

maybe I'll be lazy and just continue to say "sorry" .... ??...<grin>

Where trails forbid bicycles, there may be a good reason. In Los Angeles County in Southern California we have many nature parks. The plan is that each of the parks has rules that favor a different outdoor activity that could not be safely participated in otherwise. For example some parks that permit horses on the trails do not permit bicycles on the trails because bicycles scare horses and endanger the rider. Whether you as a bicyclist agree that you should be refused entry on a trail, there are good reasons for such a ban. Lets extend a courtesy to those people who utilize the trails for other purposes.

I would suggest contacting these people OntarioCycling (http://www.ontariocycling.org/). Should be a good place to start.

:beer:

I would suggest contacting these people OntarioCycling (http://www.ontariocycling.org/). Should be a good place to start.

:beer:

Good link. Have noted some phone numbers to call. Thank you.

What's the worst that could happen? They can't ban you from the trails. They've already done that. Maybe fine you.?


We have trails here specifically closed to Mtn Bikers. Hiking and 4 Wheelers (Hunters) allowed. TWRA is a gov't body that enforces this. If they catch you there you get a warning. The second time they fine you $169. The Third Time they confiscate your bike and you get 7 days in the local prison. Just to answer what is the worst that could happen.

I never ride forbidden trails but only partly out of a sense of obligation. ANd also somewhat out of fear of the consequensces. Always be aware getting the trails open for others by respecting the restrictions and working the system is always more appropriate and that there may be someone that is working on that for you that you are hurting their cause with your reckless abandon.

Just thoughts. Ride on!

We have trails here specifically closed to Mtn Bikers. Hiking and 4 Wheelers (Hunters) allowed. TWRA is a gov't body that enforces this. If they catch you there you get a warning. The second time they fine you $169. The Third Time they confiscate your bike and you get 7 days in the local prison. Just to answer what is the worst that could happen.


There you go. It goes to show that you should know the law if you plan on breaking it.

[Edit] And I think I disagree with my post above. I wouldn't ride forbidden trails, if that is all I had. But I would not berate someone that does. Just be prepared for the consequences which probably in many cases may not involve much other than others bikers hating you but in others could be jail time.

I find it amazing when ATVs are allowed and MTB's are not. Doesn't make sense. MTB's definately leave less stress on the trail. Oh well..

One time, I was poaching a trail that was close to my house, and almost got slammed by a friggin a**hole on a John Deere Gator who worked for the park. After blowing by me at mach-one, throwing up two rooster-tails of "fragile" trail material, he slams on his brakes, skidding to a stop to tell me that the trail is closed to bikes because of the damage that we do. Hows THAT for fairness?

I am guilty of riding in areas where there are signs that say that there are no bikes allowed. Nobody takes these signs seriously here though and our LBS even has groub rides there, so I don't think that we are going to get into trouble. The only time that I have heard of problems arising about mtbers is when people with the maturity of 10 yr old kids go speeding by skidding and messing up the trails. The group that I ride with always makes sure that when there is a hiker or a jogger we get on the farthest side of the trail from them and we slow down and make sure that they know that we are coming (politely) and then don't speed up until everyone has passed them. We haven't had any problems with people as long as we do these things. Generally if you show respect to them and the trails then they will do the same. As for putting nails or fishing line across a trail Hopper, that is just wrong and I'd imagine that you could get them in loads of trouble for doing something like that.

very sensible advise above, given the nature of the problem. In fact, that's what I've planned to do. It's gonna be hard to slow down, tho', specially on my new Arrowhead !!

http://www.devinci.com/image/gabarit/Arrowhead-photo-A.jpg

whats an ATV?
in England when i am riding on footpaths, everyone i pass smiles and i say thank you and nobody gets stressed. sometimes they offer me encouragment, once i was riding a path and there was a muddy, sticky hill. I had no hope of riding it and i got off and started pushing up. Then this guy who was walking came up next to me and pushed the bike up for me! And i wasn't supposed to be there. So, just in case, i thanked him profusely at the top and he complimented my bike and stuff and i rode away! But then after that i went into a wood that had a huge sign saying NO BIKES but i rode in anyway and the park ranger saw me and shouted so i sprinted out before he could catch me. Problem was, he had a quadbike and i only just lost him because i rode off track through the trees and he nearly crashed into them. I havent been back since!

whats an ATV?

All Terrain Vehicle, probably the quadbike that you were talking about.

oh okay cheers.

Im in college Va. Tech btw, and we have an INFINITE amount of trails that are readily accesable, but sometimes i just want to do some urban assault with the rest of the freeride club, so for the urban scene we ride at night from 9 to whenever. Almost no one is out, and if people are we just wait for the to pass, I think if you show respect you get respect.

[QUOTE=Billy Brown]I'll ride in no trespassing areas (except during hunting season). But I usually don't ride on trails that say no bikes. If I didn't have an option, though, I would ride on whatever trails were available. What's the worst that could happen? They can't ban you from the trails. They've already done that. Maybe fine you.

around herethey fine you, take you to lail, AND TAKE YOUR FRIGGIN BIKE AND DONT GIVE IT BACK. thats fine if its a $50 pos but the people I ride with and many people here paid a bit more than that and dont want to take the chance. besides there are always alternatives to cheating

Some times trails get reclassified, letters of authorization get sent and new signage gets implemented. I seems to happen right after an administration change. But I swear I don’t know who might be clever enough to do that.

Banning bikes is a way for municipal councils etc to cover their asses in the event of an accident.

I think the more people that use public space the better, especially when there are less people about, ie late afternoon night early morning etc. Discourages `baddies`