byways and bridle ways

on the plain we spent a couple of hours on the byways and following the routes on the o/s map

now in some byway places the byway merges into a bridle way and then splits to seperate byway and bridleway.
the byway for about 1 mile clearly hasnt been driven a great deal but the bridle way has had some serious traffic.

have been trying to get a definitive answer on tinternet as to whether the bridle ways are legal to drive.

some literature says you can with the landowners consent
some says it is an offence under the road traffic act section summit or other

does anyone know the correct reasons if you can/cant drive the bridle ways?

Bridleways should NOT be driven under ANY circumstances. Unless your a farmer and its your land and it's for access, or summat.

hammy2909 said:

Bridleways should NOT be driven under ANY circumstances. Unless your a farmer and its your land and it's for access, or summat.

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thanks for the input but can you tell me where you came up with that info?

thanks

Its a well known fact that you cannot (generally) take a vehicle down a bridleway. These are designed for cycle and horse use (footpath to). It seems people have got their byway and bridleways mixed up on the map and are going the wrong way likely following others tracks...

shame.

G

that seems to be be an explanation of why they have been used.

what im trying to find is written evidence of why/when they can/cant be used

i cant find anything so far.

1st search item:

New police powers under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 have led to what's thought to be the first road traffic prosecution for misusing a public bridleway. Darren Cook and Robert Laybram of Derby were each fined £100 plus £50 by Chesterfield Magistrates Court after being caught driving their 4x4s down a public bridleway, part of the Coffin Road near Ashover in Derbyshire.
It's been a road traffic offence to drive a motor vehicle along a footpath or bridleway since 1988, but the CRoW act amended the 1988 Road Traffic Act, shifting the burden of proof from prosecution to defence. Briefly, before CRoW was passed the prosecutor had to prove that motorists didn't have a right to use the track. But now it's down to the defendants to prove that they did.

2nd:

Public Rights of Way

Bridleways







You may ride or lead a horse, or ride a bicycle along a bridleway, you may also walk along a bridleway.
Cyclists must give way to pedestrians and riders.
Driving a vehicle along a bridleway is not permitted, even it if is horse-drawn.









Bridleways - Bath & North East Somerset Council

another:

Footpaths and Bridleways

There is no public right of way for any vehicles on a footpath or bridleway (except pedal cyclists, who may use a bridleway). Landowners and occupiers may have private rights for their vehicles, which run in conjunction with a footpath or bridleway.
Vehicles and rights of way

so basically thats 3 independant sources saying that vehicles can NOT use bridleways unless the landowners have private access rights for their vehicles arranged with the council. its also now down to us as drivers of motor vehicles to prove that we had the right to be on a bridleway, whereas it used to be the council who had to prove we were not allowed there.

Thats the first thing you learn before going out green laning. Never drive a Bridleway. Many of our local Byways were re classified to Bridleways as part of NERC and are now not a legal RoW for Motor Vehicles. Jai

I would have thought if the bridle ways were on private ground and the land owner say's you can drive them that would be ok.

Tight Fart said:

I would have thought if the bridle ways were on private ground and the land owner say's you can drive them that would be ok.

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The M5 runs over private ground anorl but you still have to obey the law. All Public rights of way have laws on who can or cannot use them. and it doesn't matter who owns the land that they cross over. Those laws take precedent over the wishes of the landowner.

Not quite, the M5 is actually owned by the Highways Agency (or perhaps Dept of Transport) whereas unsurfaced rights of way run over land owned by someone else.