Which Tracks and Trails in The Pyrenees?

[Magwych]

Can anyone say what the law is regarding using a motorcycle on the many tracks and trails in the Pyrenees?

For example, there is trail marked GR10 that seems to run from Gourette in France, joining the D934 near Gabras. Is it closed to off-road motor vehicles?
Onmy Michelin map there appears to be a track passing trhough the Port Du Marcadau, from Pont D'Espagne in France to Panticosa in Spain... Any know about this route; is it do-able on a GS ?

I recall from previous trips, passing throgh by car, that there a a myriad of trails throught the range, on both French and Spanish sides. Are these open to public use unless otherwise marked; or, are they closed unless otherwise marked ?

Any answers appreciated.

 

[barneydinosaur]

Good question.

A good starting point could be

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/vibraction/cadre-accueil.htm which is in French, unfortunately.

There are a load of links on the page which may be worth following up but my Spanish is pretty limited.

A quick and dirty computer translation of the French is:

In front of the many questions which you could put as to the authorization to circulate on the Spanish tracks, we considered it useful to bring some precise details.

We summarize the terms of the chapters of the regulation in force by a free translation.

For the Spanish-speaking ones and more precision... to see below

? The traffic must respect the natural environment as well as the goods and the rights of the owners of grounds, the rights of the pedestrians and users not motorized, and must cause neither danger, neither damage, nor useless troubles with the people and the natural ecosystem.

In agreement with the general legislation on circulation, the vehicles and the trailers must be registered in a perfectly identifiable and lawful way.

? Prohibition to circulate through fields and out of the tracks and ways (specificity of Catalonia: the authorized tracks must be empierrées or of width equal or higher than 4 meters). It is interdict to borrow the tracks firebreak, the forest ways of extraction of wood, and all the kinds of brooks and same rivers drained.

Indication: The communes and proper authorities must clearly make known decided prohibitions of circulation. The ways and the tracks being the subject of limitations or prohibitions to circulate owe beings suitably announced to the beginning, the end, and if necessary for the intermediate accesses.

Maximum speed: The maximum speed of circulation on the tracks and the ways is thirty kilometers per hour.

Particular standards for the "circulation motorized in group"

Definitions:

1. One understands by "circulation motorized in group", the circulation of several vehicles which, of a mutual agreement and without competitive purpose, follow the same route.

( ? Circulation is prohibited groups of them in protected spaces if there is more than seven motor bikes or more than four vehicles in Catalonia, three vehicles in Andorra, five vehicles in Aragon and two vehicles in Bardenas. Does each vehicle have to be spaced of 150 meters? When the group a little more in "is not organized", it is possible to dissociate and space the thirty minutes departures (to be wary of the regroupings at the time of the picnics)

? For the organized groups, it is necessary to ask for an authorization of circulate with each crossed province (to envisage one month a minimum time to obtain the answer).

? This request is done by mail and must stipulate:

O Dates and duration of the stay.

O Name of the participants and registration of the vehicles.

O Details of the route envisaged.

? Each vehicle taking part in the excursion must be provides with a specimen (photocopy) of the authorization delivered by the Spanish authorities.


Limitations of the schedules of circulation.

It is interdict to circulate in groups organized for the night ones. That is intended to lay down sun up to one hour after the rising of the sun. Except the access roads to rural localities or dwellings.

The wild camp-site is interdict in general.

Fire is very strictly interdict apart from the zones equipped for this purpose.


The infringements with the present law are classified as being light, serious and very low registers.

Light infringements:

To exceed the speed limit.

To circulate of night if that is prohibited.

To create regroupings of vehicles higher than the authorized number.

Grave offences:

To deteriorate or withdraw the road signal devices.

To circulate without justification on ways prohibited with motorized circulation.

To make out-track.

To cause damage with the goods, the installations and farm equipments, forest or of breeding.

To take part in an activity motorized with an organization, without having all the authorizations necessary.

The abandonment or the loss of refuse and waste, can be described as "light, serious or very serious" infringement, according to the nature and the volume of the objects.

 

[revin]

I agree with Barneydinosaur. You've to be carefully in catalonia, most of off-road tracks are closed to trafic.

There is a forum in spanish where I'm sure that somebody could tell you where you can ride. You can visit at http://www.bmwmotos.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?board=OFFROAD