NERC Bill - the case for banning motors
An examination for 'evidence based Government'
Ramblers Association 'At Risk Register'
The Ramblers Association are one of the main groups seeking to restrict access to the countryside. They have a specific no-motors policy (although grass roots members aren't always supportive of HQ).
For three years, they have been collecting a register of ways seen to be at risk from motoring. This covers legitimate Byways, illegally used routes, and off-route use. The issues include damage and other abuse, as well as status changes. RA have sought contributions from both their 143,000 members and from the general public. Given the amount of resource involved to add data, this register should be the very best information available!
 The register is available to download from the RA website (or in case of difficulty  Also available here (247.67 KB) )
This major collection of evidence against motorists has around 130 entries. A few entries do cover more than one route, well under 200 routes reported in total. To put this in context, there are 225,000km of public rights of way (Countryside Agency data) within the register's remit. It seems there are relatively few problems then, less than 1 issue per 1,000km of all RoW. Compare with Countryside Agency data on "ease of path use" (taking into account all problems - condition, broken stiles, wrong signs etc.) shows that walkers could expect to encounter a serious problem every 2 km, or 499 non-motor related problems per 1,000km.
Many of the reports relate to Byways in particular. It's generally accepted that Byways comprise less than 5% of the total RoW network. Even assuming that every report was byway related, there works out to be 1 issue per 56km of byway. 1 in 28 of walkers problems relating to motors, at the very worst, if they only walked on Byways.
That there are some genuine motor-related problems is undeniable, and we should look at the information in detail.
14 of the entries don't describe any particular problem.
13 of the entries only report a Reclassification, or potential Reclassification. These don't describe any actual problem.
Most of the entries relate to England - there are apparently only 9 issues in Wales altogether, and one in Scotland.
At the heart of the register are the reports describing damage.
10 entries describe problems with motorists off-route in some way, such as deliberate driving/riding in woods or open moor. This is always a difficult problem to manage effectively; restriction of legitimate routes isn't going to have any impact on these law breaking people. (We usually call them hooligans!) This illegal activity is often associated with groups of vehicles, rather than solo cars/bikes. The most effective way to deal with this, seems to be police-led 'sting operations' to target these groups - generally they are breaking the law in more ways than just off-roading (insurance, licence, vehicle issues etc.). Officials such as Countryside / National Park rangers and legitimate groups (GLASS,TRF) get involved in these stings too, with knowledge of when and where to get results.
Leaving 93 entries describing damage to rights of way. Levels of damage ranging from muddy to impassable. Some entries identify recreational use as the cause, some agricultural. Whilst a very small percentage of RoW are affected, clearly action needs to be taken.
A clue comes from some of the entries themselves; more than one describes some past damage problem, and goes on to describe subsequent repairs and, where necessary, ongoing use managed by means like seasonal Traffic Orders or other restrictions.
GLASS thinks the outcome here is pretty clear
- there ARE problems
- but there isn't a widespread, general problem
- there are effective, flexible means to deal with the problems
Legislation isn't needed and won't be effective - local solutions for local problems.
by
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, GLASS RoW officer
updated 21/11/2005
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