Various musings on green laning/public hatred.

[shokenore]

On my slightly diverted route back from "effin landan" back to the lush green and rolling countryside of Wiltshire I was dismayed by the amount of byways/ green lanes that have now been closed to motor vehicles and not just the October/April lane closures.
I am assuming that farm vehicles can still use these lanes?
So with the recent mountain climber still in the press when did 4x4 use become so anti-social?

And can any of you offer suggestions as to why when and how it has got to this stage?

[Apache]

I think the 'green' movement and the Ramblers Association have had a big hand in it to be honest, and once or twice in my experience I've seen evidence of laners not exactly showing themselves in good light.

To summarise / generalise :-

1) 4x4s are seen as unnecessary by some. Frequently those who dont actually need their own car, or only need a city car.

2) 4x4s generally use more fuel than other cars. I say generally. Not many seem to rally against big BMWs, Mercs, Audis etc, though they frequently use as much fuel as a 4x4

3) 4x4s generally have a bigger footprint - though again, my point about executive cars stands again.

4) 95% of laners are conscientious sorts, who understand the need to keep green lanes in good condition. However, there is a small and publicised few who are guilty of causing damage to the lanes, be that through ignorance or by sheer couldn't care less. Witness the deep impassable furrows you see sometimes? If I was on the side of the Ramblers, I'd be ###### furious - thankfully I've seen both sides.

How to put this right?

Difficult in this climate of rising fuel costs and environmental awareness, particularly whilst there's utter dickheads like the Snowdon Fronty driver. I fear the sport will decline due to economic reasons, legislation and lane closures.

[BioHazard]

If you looked on the doorstep there is lots going on ........

http://www.treadlightly-uk.org/index...id=64&Itemid=2

And there is lots going on in the area if you know who is organising it

[shokenore]

I think the 'green' movement and the Ramblers Association have had a big hand in it to be honest, and once or twice in my experience I've seen evidence of laners not exactly showing themselves in good light.

To summarise / generalise :-

1) 4x4s are seen as unnecessary by some. Frequently those who dont actually need their own car, or only need a city car.

2) 4x4s generally use more fuel than other cars. I say generally. Not many seem to rally against big BMWs, Mercs, Audis etc, though they frequently use as much fuel as a 4x4

3) 4x4s generally have a bigger footprint - though again, my point about executive cars stands again.

4) 95% of laners are conscientious sorts, who understand the need to keep green lanes in good condition. However, there is a small and publicised few who are guilty of causing damage to the lanes, be that through ignorance or by sheer couldn't care less. Witness the deep impassable furrows you see sometimes? If I was on the side of the Ramblers, I'd be ###### furious - thankfully I've seen both sides.

How to put this right?

Difficult in this climate of rising fuel costs and environmental awareness, particularly whilst there's utter dickheads like the Snowdon Fronty driver. I fear the sport will decline due to economic reasons, legislation and lane closures.

With regards to deep furrows surely they would be impossible to create anything much deeper than 12" before diffs etc started ploughing whereas tractors would be at least double this depth?

Obviously 4x4 users do not have the same political clout the RA has?
Or is it something deeper,some hidden hatred of someone having more fun than you?,and 4x4's are an easy target.

Having done more "off roading " on a dirt bike than in my surf I now want to start using the surf more , and yes when on the bike when you come across other users I would always throttle off/stop to let them pass usually with a nod of the head but the look of disgust I was shown when in the surf and in a similar situation really made me think.

I don't really want to confine my 4x4 use to pay and play sites,not because they are boring but for me it is the feeling of achievement that I have driven to "there" for the views ,the remoteness , and while the snowdon chap has been strung out to dry I envy him for the fact that he actually drove up a mountain.

It feels that the more and more of our activities are being sanitised organised and legalised and controlled.

[Apache]

With regards to deep furrows surely they would be impossible to create anything much deeper than 12" before diffs etc started ploughing whereas tractors would be at least double this depth?

So 12" ruts in ancient rights of way are OK then? Just playing devils advocate here. I still maintain that if the lane is cutting up that badly, you shouldn't be on it. Wait til it's dry.

Or is it something deeper,some hidden hatred of someone having more fun than you?,and 4x4's are an easy target.

Like the anti-hunt folk? Could be argued they have a hatred of people having fun.

Having done more "off roading " on a dirt bike than in my surf I now want to start using the surf more , and yes when on the bike when you come across other users I would always throttle off/stop to let them pass usually with a nod of the head but the look of disgust I was shown when in the surf and in a similar situation really made me think.

In all my years laning, I never had any trouble with other people on the lanes apart from one crazy old dear who started taking photos and waving her walking stick. We were on a legal lane in dry, hard packed conditions travelling very slowly so I have no idea what her problem was. A lot of the time we'd stop and have a friendly chat to walkers, cyclists, trail bikers etc

I don't really want to confine my 4x4 use to pay and play sites,not because they are boring but for me it is the feeling of achievement that I have driven to "there" for the views ,the remoteness ,

Yep, I hear you. That was why I enjoyed it.

and while the snowdon chap has been strung out to dry I envy him for the fact that he actually drove up a mountain.

He's probably damaged the laning cause more than any incident I can think of. IMO it's right that he's been hung out to dry.

It feels that the more and more of our activities are being sanitised organised and legalised and controlled.

Yeah maaaan - lay off the weed...

.

[shokenore]

Sensible answers , it is nice to have those points of view,they help to keep things in perspective.
It just f£$%s me off to see all these lanes closed to everyone because of a inconsiderate few.
I will just have to realise times have changed,and more research will be required before I go laning again.

The nearest (to me) is The Ridgeway this route is shut from october/april ,some sections are "all weather" but some on the other hand come winter are just going to be one long and I mean long quagmire,and the only way ramblers are going to be able to clear these sections will be by hanging onto the fencing so yes I agree the damage here is totally unacceptable, now although I am sure it has been caused by farm vehicles we (4x4ers) are going to take the blame.

I guess that I am going to have to travel further south and out on to Salisbury Plain.

[BioHazard]

The nearest (to me) is The Ridgeway this route is shut from october/april ,some sections are "all weather" but some on the other hand come winter are just going to be one long and I mean long quagmire,and the only way ramblers are going to be able to clear these sections will be by hanging onto the fencing so yes I agree the damage here is totally unacceptable, now although I am sure it has been caused by farm vehicles we (4x4ers) are going to take the blame.

I guess that I am going to have to travel further south and out on to Salisbury Plain.

There is a lot near you ..... Total off road did a road book that ran from Castle Combe, Doing the Fosse way, Wysis way and ended up near Cirencester.

There is a large byway network on the Marlborough downs.

At Broad Hinton the is a byway network that runs to the west of Avebury and then southward to Devizes.

Blackberry lane is north of Brinkworth.

Then if you venture further south the Plain and then at Salisbury there is compton down and the Ox drove.

[BioHazard]

Byway map Wiltshire

http://daemon4x4.org/board/topic.php?pid=38088#p38088

[shokenore]

http://daemon4x4.org/board/topic.php?pid=38088#p38088

That is exactly what I have been looking for Thank You.

Any of those routes you could recommend to a complete newb?

Done some of the routes can especially remember the route past Malmesbury lucky I was on my Kmx as the muddy sections were thick and deep enough to have the bike stand up on its own!!(but with an "interesting" river crossing to wash all the crap away)

Once again many thanks.

[BioHazard]

That is exactly what I have been looking for Thank You.

Any of those routes you could recommend to a complete newb?

Done some of the routes can especially remember the route past Malmesbury lucky I was on my Kmx as the muddy sections were thick and deep enough to have the bike stand up on its own!!(but with an "interesting" river crossing to wash all the crap away)

That's in the TOR road book

Once again many thanks.

I hope you have people to go with cos there are some real tricky ones. We did one near Avebury that 4 out of the 6 of us needed recovery(not me i might add ).

If you want to come for a run about keep a eye on Daemon4x4 as that's where i plan them .

[shokenore]

I hope you have people to go with cos there are some real tricky ones. We did one near Avebury that 4 out of the 6 of us needed recovery(not me i might add ).

If you want to come for a run about keep a eye on Daemon4x4 as that's where i plan them .

Thanks for the invite I would be more than happy to tag along I hope you have plenty of patience/tow ropes stock truck no lift no sas
Was just looking at your wilts laning picks the bits with the caravans was up on A4 Near Avebury? that was when I was thinking I have made a BIG mistake coming out here on my own!!!
Dont know if I'm ready for "the other site" just yet,but if it gets me out there then I'm willing to give it a try

[BioHazard]

This caravan??




That's the byway at the back of stonehenge


look at some of the xmas runs , most trucks are standard , ask Maverick.

[shokenore]

No I didn't get that far down I must have seen a different bunch of soap dodgers tbh after I had finished the stretch I had been on my heart was pumping so hard I don't think I was seeing straight.I know I was thinking "thank f6ck I got through I am NEVER gonna do that again.........."

[red barron]

Fosse way

Sadly this route has now been closed between the Foxley road and the B4040
Malmesbury road. I have used this sensibly over the last 30 years. Last month we went to drive that section only to find the parish council had gates erected and locked to all but walkers!! When we were kids we used to ride our bikes along there all the way to the old airfield at Long Newton.
Pete.

[shokenore]

Sadly this route has now been closed between the Foxley road and the B4040
Malmesbury road. I have used this sensibly over the last 30 years. Last month we went to drive that section only to find the parish council had gates erected and locked to all but walkers!! When we were kids we used to ride our bikes along there all the way to the old airfield at Long Newton.
Pete.

Is this route now a seasonal route or just shut?



At least I now know we had rode the correct route all of a sudden ending at a chain link fence