Forestry Commission Scotland's Ae Line Trail at 7Stanes
Aims
Introduction
Membership and Policy
1 Membership
2 Representing IMBA UK
3 Training, Workshops and Meetings
4. Use of IMBA UK / IMBA logo & IMBA badged material
Trails - General
10. Access to the Countryside
11. Shared Use Trails
12. Single Use Trails
13. Environmental Considerations
14. Health and Wellbeing
15. Understanding the Needs of Landowners
Public Rights of Way, Towpaths and Unsurfaced Unclassified Roads
20. Maintenance by Highway Authorities
21. Map Modification Orders
22. Public Path Orders
23. Creation and Stopping Up Orders
24. Local Access Forums (LAF’s)
25. Rights of Way Improvement Plans
26. Liaison with other Interested Organisations
27. Mountain Bike Events
28. Footpaths
29. Bridleways
30. Restricted Byway
31. Cycle Tracks
32. Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs)
33. Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs) & Unsurfaced Unclassified Roads
34. Towpaths
Permissive and Purpose Built Trails
50 Trail Building, Design and Construction
51 Trail Funding
52 Facilities
53 Promotion
Organisations, Agencies, National & Local Government
Other Users
70. Horse Riders
71. Walkers
73. Users with Disabilities
Landowning Organisations
80. Forestry Commission
81. National Trust, Utility Companies, Private Forests & Private Estates
82. National Farmers Union and Country Landowner and Business Association.
National Government, Local Authorities and Government Agencies
90. National Government
91. Local Authorities
Aims.
Introduction
The sole remit for IMBA UK is to help mountainbikers to gain access to more trails, and to improve the variety and enjoyability of current trails. To be effective, however, IMBA members must be confident that their actions do not lead to any hidden negative consequences. Many of these policies will be readily acceptable to all mountain bikers, while others have resulted from debates which have led to an agreed IMBA view which we believe will, on balance, be to the benefit of the mountain bike community. IMBA UK will continue to review and refine these policies in the light of the practical experiences of members.
Membership and Policy
1 Membership
1.1 IMBA UK is open to all persons wishing to participate in or support the mission and objectives of IMBA UK, irrespective of political belief, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, age or colour.
1.2 IMBA UK welcomes clubs, shops and corporate organisations to become members.
2 Representing IMBA UK
3 Training, Workshops and Meetings
3.1 IMBA UK will provide training opportunities to assist members with access work and trail development.
4. Use of IMBA UK / IMBA logo & IMBA letterheading
4.1 IMBA UK and IMBA logos and letterheadings are for the use only of IMBA UK representatives.
4.2 Others may use this material following written authorisation by any full board member.
4.3 This material may only be used in projects, consultations, campaigns or other commuications which fall within the scope of the missions of IMBA UK and comply with IMBA UK policy.
Trails - General
10. Access to the Countryside
10.1 IMBA UK believes that access to the countryside by mountain bike provides enormous public benefit in terms of enjoyment, improved health and spiritual wellbeing.
10.2 IMBA UK encourages the development of trails suitable for all, irrespective of colour, creed or social standing.
11.Shared Use Trails
11.1 IMBA UK supports multiple use trails for most circumstances - sharing with walkers, equestrians, and, where appropriate, motorised users.
11.2 IMBA UK considers that cyclists using shared trails should ride in a fashion appropriate to the visibility and the frequency of encountering other users, and be prepared to give way to walkers and equestrians.
12. Single Use Trails
12.1 IMBA UK advocates that single user trails should be available to allow technical riding to take place in the absence of other users.
12.2. IMBA UK recognises that other users may gain access to Single Use mtb trails, and advises that riders should ride at all times in such a way to enable them to give way to any walkers or equestrians encountered.
13. Environmental Considerations
13.1 IMBA UK believes that mountain biking is an overwhelmingly environmentally benign activity. In particular IMBA UK welcomes peer reviewd scientific studies which indicate that mountain biking has a no greater effect on the environment than any other non motorised user. IMBA UK notes that a 1m wide trail travelling through 1 sq kilometre utilises only 0.01% (one thousandth) of the surface area.
13.2 IMBA UK urges all mountain bikers to respect the environment in which they ride by:
13.3 IMBA UK takes note of the precautionary principle. However, IMBA UK will strongly resist any call to oppose mountain biking for environmental reasons, unless such calls are substantiated by properly conducted environmental assessments.
13.4 IMBA UK supports measures to reduce pollution by minimising the use of the car, using public transport and using the bicycle for travel.
14. Health and Wellbeing
14.1 IMBA UK welcomes studies which demonstrate that mountain biking provides excellent exercise leading to reduced levels of body fat, improved muscle tone and reduced suceptibility to cancers and heart disease.
14.2 IMBA UK believes that mountain biking leads to improved feeling s of wellbeing, leading to greater enjoymnent of both leisure and work.
14.3 IMBA UK urges all mountain bikers to be competant in first aid skills, and to carry simple first aid kits.
14.4 IMBA UK encourages the use of cycle helmets when riding on non tarred surfaces. While IMBA UK recommends the use of helmets when riding on the road, it does not support legislation to enforce this.
14.5 IMBA UK will work with Health Authorities, health related agencies and charities to encourage and promote mountainbiking initiatives.
15. Understanding the Needs of Landowners
15.1 IMBA UK recognises that the countryside is the workplace of farmers, foresters and others.
15.2 IMBA UK urges mountain bikers to respect the needs of landowners by:
15.3 IMBA UK will support the lawful abatement of any obstruction on a right of way, including riding the line of a right of way over cropped fields, and any reasonable detour to avoid obsructed ways.
Public Rights of Way, Towpaths and Unsurfaced Unclassified Roads
20.Maintenance by Highway Authorities
Highway Authorities have a duty to “protect and assert” Public Rights of Way (PRoW) within their jurisdiction.
20.1 IMBA UK urges Highway Authorities to:
21.Map Modification Orders
Map Modification Orders can only be made following confirmed historical or user evidence.
21.1 IMBA UK will normally support Map Modification Orders supporting claims for higher status.
Conversely, IMBA UK will work with other user groups to oppose downgrades, where it is considered that evidence can be challenged.
22.Public Path Orders
Public Path Orders are formal requests by landowners for diversions made for their own convenience.
22.1 IMBA UK will not normally object to Public Path Orders for diversions around properties, farmyards or to field edges, providing the new route is not substantially less convenient to the cyclist.
23.Creation and Stopping Up Orders
23.1 IMBA UK will support Creation Orders for new bridleways or byways.
23.2 IMBA UK will normally object to Stopping Up Orders on current bridleways, byways and unsurfaced unclassified roads.
24.Local Access Forums (LAF’s)
24.1 IMBA UK will encourage mountainbikers to become members of Local Access Forums to represent the views of mountain bikers.
24.2 IMBA UK will liaise as appropriate with members of Local Access Forums to advise on the wishes of local mountain bikers.
24.3 IMBA UK will encourage members to attend LAF’s as members of the public, and to table written or oral questions on matters of interest to mountain bikers.
25.Rights of Way Improvement Plans
Rights of Way Improvement Plans were introduced as a requirement under the 2000 Countryside and Rights
of Way Act. All Highway Authorities must produce a plan, although there is no requirement to implement it.
25.1 IMBA UK encourages Highway Authorities to include the following features to improve access for
cyclists:
26.Liaison with other Interested Organisations
26.1 IMBA UK will work with other interest groups through Rights of Way Liaison Groups, and will advise Local Access Forums where appropriate, on items of interest to mountain bikers.
27. Mountain Bike Events
27.1 IMBA UK encourages the use of he Rights of Way network for events such as Trailquests, enduro’s and led rides.
27.2 IMBA UK strongly urges organisers avoid conflict with other users and landowners by following the recommendations and code provided in the booklet “Sporting and Challenge Events in the Countryside. Guidelines for Organisers”.
28.Footpaths
28.1 IMBA UK accepts that cycles should not be ridden on footpaths without the consent of the landowner.
28.2 IMBA UK considers that when pushing a cycle on a public footpath, the user is in law a pedestrian, and that therefore walking with the cycle is acceptable practice.
28.3 IMBA UK recommends that cyclists should nevertheless recognise the sensitivities of walkers and landowners, and use footpaths in groups of no more than three persons.
28.4 IMBA UK believes that footpaths should not be used as part of organised mtb events except by permission of the landowner.
29.Bridleways
29.1 IMBA UK accepts that cyclists must give way to walkers and equestrians.
29.2 IMBA UK encourages the diversion of cross field bridleways to field headlands providing the surface vegetation is managed to suppress vegetation which would otherwise impede cycling, or render it unpleasant.
29.3 IMBA UK will object to the removal of hedgerows or fencelines which would result in a 31.4 IMBA UK believes that bridleways should be given the same “no ploughing” status as 31.5 IMBA UK encourages equestrian to leave a ridable line over poorly drained areas where the surface is otherwise damaged by horse hooves.
30.Restricted Byways
30.1 IMBA UK believes that Restricted Byways should be protected from ploughing in the same way as byways.
30.2 IMBA UK encourages legislation to enable use of paths “as of right” to lead to the establishment of a restricted byway.
31.Cycle Tracks
31.1 IMBA UK encourages legislation to clarify and improve the Cycle Tracks Act.
In particular, IMBA UK considers that Cycle Tracks should be given definitive status.
32.Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs)
32.1 IMBA UK believes that BOAT status provides the best protection for cyclists, and will therefore support Map Modification Orders claiming BOAT status, and normally object to those seeking to downgrade them.
33. Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs) & Unsurfaced Unclassified Roads
33.1 IMBA UK believes that recreational motorised users should avoid damaging routes by causing severe ruts in poorly drained areas.
In particular, IMBA UK condemns the use of winches by vehicles on byways or unclassified roads.
33.2 IMBA UK believes that where a route is being damaged by motorised recreational users, then the problem should be managed in accordance with the recommendations in “Making Best of Byways”. In particular, a voluntary approach should be used initially, with Traffic Regulation Orders advocated as a last resort.
34. Towpaths
34.1 IMBA UK believes that all towpaths should be open and without charge for cyclists except where it is unsafe to do so.
34.2 IMBA UK will work with British Waterways to identity hazards, and offer appropriate solutions.
34.3 IMBA UK is happy to work with fishermen, boaters and walkers to minimise areas of potential conflict.
Permissive and Purpose Built Trails
50 Trail Building, Design and Construction
50.1 IMBA UK recognises the validity of building all types of mtb trails, including cross country, downhill, north shore and jumps.
50.2 IMBA UK will only support trail building initiatives, where they take place with the permission of the landowner. Where trails have been, or are being established without landownewr permission, then IMBA UK will work with the trailbuilders and landowners with the aim of legitimising these activities.
50.3 IMBA UK strongly urges all trailbuilders to affiliate to IMBA UK so as to be protected by third party liability insurance.
50.4 IMBA UK recommends that all newly built trails are built to be sustainable with low maintenance requirements as provided in the IMBA guidebook “Building Better Trails”.
51 Trail Funding
51.1 IMBA UK recommends that wherever possible, trails should be built and maintained through public finances.
51.2. IMBA UK believes that where ongoing funding is required, this should be found through car parking charges and through franchising / profits from cafe facilities.
51.3 IMBA UK will support appropriate bids for Lottery or other funding sources to facilitate the construction of new trails.
52 Facilities
52.1 IMBA UK recommends that wherever possible the following facilities should be available, or within easy cycling distance of promoted mtb sites:
53 Promotion
53.1 IMBA UK recommends that mtb facilities are promoted through the following means:
53.2 IMBA UK recommends that all promoted trails should be classified according to the IMBA UK Trail Classification system and that these gradings are used to inform cyclists of the riding skills required for the route.
Organisations, Agencies, National & Local Government
Other Users
70.Horse Riders
70.1 IMBA UK will work with equestrians and carriage drivers through organisations such as the British Horse Society, the Carriage Drivers and the National Federation of Bridleway Users to secure improvements to the byway and bridleway network.
71.Walkers
71.1 IMBA UK will work with walking organisations such as the Ramblers Association and the Open Spaces Society to secure improvements to Highway Authority performance on Public Rights of Way.
72.Motorised Users
72.1 IMBA UK will work with motorised users such as LARA and the Trail Riders Fellowship to assist applications for the addition of Byways Open to All Traffic to the definitive map.
73.Users with Disabilities
73.1 IMBA UK will work with groups representing users with disabilities to secure improvements to the Rights of Way network to the benefit of both user groups.
73.2 IMBA UK believes that “disability friendly” facilities can be of particular benefit to families and casual cyclists.
Landowning Organisations
80.Forestry Commission
80.1 IMBA UK will work closely with the Forestry Commission at national and local level to assist the Forestry Commission to deliver its recreational remit, and to help identify, develop and promote new trail opportunities.
81.1 IMBA UK recognises that opportunities exist for trailbuilding in land owned or managed by charitable or commercial landowners, and will endeavour to identify potential sites for new trails by liaising with these and similar organisations at national , regional or local level as appropriate.
82.National Farmers Union and Country Landowner & Business Association.
82.1 IMBA UK will liaise at national and regional level with farming organisations to identify trail building opportunities, and to address areas of conflict.
National Government, Local Authorities and Government Agencies
90.National Government
National Government is advised by a number of departments and agencies including DEFRA (Department for Environment food & Rural Affairs), DTR ( Department for Transport & the Regions), PI (Planning Inspectorate [for Public Enquiries]), CoAg (Countryside Agency), CCW (Countryside Council for Wales) and SNH (Scottish Natural Heritage).
90.1 IMBA UK will engage with National Government by:
91.Local Authorities
Local Authorities will operate through a number of departments, the most relevant of which are likely to be Rights of Way, Highways Authority and Countryside. However, Health and Education may also be useful in terms of project development.
Rights of Way Departments are significantly underfunded, often leading to considerable shortcomings in carrying out their statutory duties through no fault of the officers concerned.
91.1 IMBA UK will at all times liaise with Local Authorities in a courteous manner
91.2 IMBA UK will engage with Local Authorities by:
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