Hill Damage by Bikes and What to Do About It - Ena Rafferty (Wayfarers Association)

[Daithi]

FYI.

There is a need for designated areas where owners of scramblers and quads can go to use their vehicles. There is a need for more than one, which I believe will be developed in the Dublin Mountains over the next year. Wicklow County Council introduced bye-laws in 2007 to protect Ballyremon Commons in the north east of Wicklow from the unauthorised use of motorised vehicles, so it can be done.

http://walkersassociation.ie/node/253

I would encourage people to write to the Department of the Environment and John Gormley. I feel if He gets enough letters he just might do something before it is to late. Please do not sit on the fence - write, it could make all the difference. Also take photos especially with digital cameras, as they can be emailed to the Minister, and used as evidence.

Ena Rafferty (Chairwoman, Wayfarers Association, July 2008

 

[davidgibson999]

You got to admit that the "damage to the side of Lugnaquillia" doesn't look good in the photo BUT I'm a hiker too and all over the Mournes and Donegal are paths which are similar to the ones in these photos but these are all caused by walkers and sheep so I don't think they've much of a leg to stand on (no pun intended)

 

[Daithi]

Not all hill walkers are beneath contempt.

That's exactly what I was thinking David, there seems to be specific routes taken by hill walkers which create pathways, but so what ? If the side of a mountain has a track used by the general public then it should be open to all the general public. I just seems that trail riding is being lumped in with quads etc. by people who want a huge resource all to themselves and these people are very well organized.

I can't really blame them though, because if I had my way they'd be banned from all my mountains.

Daithi,
People's Republic of Cork.

 

[bb1]

You got to admit that the "damage to the side of Lugnaquillia" doesn't look good in the photo BUT I'm a hiker too and all over the Mournes and Donegal are paths which are similar to the ones in these photos but these are all caused by walkers and sheep so I don't think they've much of a leg to stand on (no pun intended)

Walkers can cause as much damage if not more. The amount of sleeper walk ways that had to installed in Wicklow to prevent further damage is testament to that.

I've no problem with baning bikes and quads in area of Special Conservation, but the ban should be on walkers, mountain bikes, horses, sheep etc. If it's worth protecting well then it should be done right. I suspect however special interest groups use the Special Conservation argument to keep others off what they perceive as theirs.

 

[AndyT]

Can you please snd Ena Raffery over here as she sounds so much more in tune with access for everyone in certain areas than the Ramblers here England and Wales and there is a total ban everywhere in Scotland for motor vehichles, I would settle for just 2% of the land in Scotland

AndyT