 Yesterday, Oct 9, I descended from the Greenburn round into Little Langdale, and heard the sound of several motorbikes in the distance. They were on the bridleway from the Wrynose road to Slaters Bridge in Little Langdale. They were being ridden quickly. Unfortunately they were too far away to get any license numbers, or a photograph. These machines are gradually destroying the bridleways by creating ruts, and hence new water courses, therefore erosion starts etc. etc. There is also the noise polution and I can see a walker eventually being run over and seriously injured.
What is the answer? Report them to the Police, with license or photographic evidence? Will they be bothered?
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 Report it to the local paper. Bit of publicity gets the police moving. My local rag has been obssessed lately and it seems to have had the desired effect
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 I do have sympathy for the bikers though.organised moto x tracks can't afford insurance and people are trying to get them off green lanes.They still want to enjoy their hobby as do we all.So they're forced to take unlawful routes to continue their sport.As for noise pollution I dont mind it.It's usually not there for long.And as far as eroding paths goes.....we walkers are guilty.Just look at the state of the three peaks.Wooden slats up Ingleborough!looks like Blackpool pier!
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Scott
I agree with you totally, However go up to the Dales around Malham and gaze in amazement at the 4 foot deep ruts that in some places are 50 metres wide.
Walkers dont do that much destruction.
Maybe it would be a good idea if the MOD opened up its training areas to off roaders of all ilks given that they dont use the areas all the time.
Most areas dont have live firing taking place so dangers from unexploded munitions would not be an issue.
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 Excellant lateral thinking Wayne!!!!
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It would be OK in my view not to suspend live firing at the time though!!!!
;-))))
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I remember seeing about 4 bikers on the top of Buckden Pike in Wharfedale about 4 years ago having a competition to see how high they could make "rooster tails" by spinning their rear wheels in the peat.
Homing missiles comes to mind!
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As a former Royal Engineer i am well versed in the construction of IED's (improvised explosive devices). The words Booby and Trap spring to mind.
P.S. If any members of Her Majestys Constabulary are reading this I AM NOT conspiring to cause explosions!! ha ha
Incidentally theres a great training area used by tanks thats pretty rough.. Saltau Plain..Its in Germany.. Far enough away not to be able to hear the engines methinks.
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 I have too agree with Scott, every one has the right to enjoy their hobby. My hubby loves to ride green lanes but he and the crew that he rides with do have respect for the other people and animals out there. That, i think, is the big difference! He has commented on the bad attitude of some of the other riders he has come accross but those type of people will never have respect for anything so just what can you do to instill it in to them??
This IED sounds like a possible plan Wayne...........
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 The Lake District National Park would be interested in hearing about this incident. Although there is nothing they can do, they do like to keep tabs on what is happening.
The bikers have been causing quite a lot of problems in the northern Lake District. I've managed to record their number plates and pass this information onto to the LDNPA, who in turn inform the Police. It appears that it's mostly locals doing this and they know all too well that it is illegal for them to be on bridleways - still doesn't stop them though.
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Agree with Leni totally
Not all Green Laners, Members of the Trail Riders Assoc. etc are complete f**kwits.
Like wise not all MTBers or Ramblers fit thier stereotypes either.
There will always be some rotten apples in any barrel that spoil it for the rest of us, and get the decent people in thier sports/pastimes the same bad name.
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 I know there's some humour behind the suggestion that off-road bikers use military training areas but one of the arguments in favour of allowing the military to continue training is that that practice has actually helped preserve some of our wildlands. Aye, they reckon tanks, butterflies and wildflowers do go well together.
Whereas the bikes cause far more damage than walkers' boots - if you've hiked a trail on which bikes have been ridden at speed you'll be aware of how it's not just the trail surface that's damaged - eventually the trail's whole nature is turned from a smooth, level route into that of a dusty (or muddy) rollercoaster ride. And that's a pain in the futt to walk on.
I've seen trail bikes on a bridleway in the Yorkshire Dales and they were being driven very cautiously and with great consideration for other users, and amazingly were causing no damage. But I've also seen them in the South Pennines, on the Pennine Way and on the trackless watershed on Black Hameldon, tearing up the peat at speed and not giving a toss about hikers or the damage they're causing.
In the latter cases I'd just use my mobile to dial 999 and hope the police chopper can get overhead in time to catch the buggers.
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Leaving aside the fact that it's illegal for motorbikes to ride on bridleways, I go fell walking to get away from cars, bikes, buses, etc. So the last thing I want to hear when I'm enjoying the peace and quiet of the fells is the irritating noise that motorbikes make.
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I quite agree with Lorraine, peace and quiet is much sought after. Those who crave noise can go to Blackpool.
I reported my sightings to Cumbria police and they told me they would pass the word to the local police that bikers were using that area.
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 Aye I know motor bikes on bridleways is illegals. In my rangering days I'd hate to see them anywhere beyond a car park.
But I wonder, are there hikers out there who might tolerate such bikes being ridden responsibly, slowly and considerately, even in places where they're not supposed to be? If they were causing no damage whatso (or minimal damage - after all we erode too from time to time; anyone here NEVER accidentally displodged a peat hag?)?
I just have this guilty feeling when I feel narky towards motorcyclists - I've hiked in plenty of places I wasn't meant to, just because I enjoy doing that activity in that place.
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We have been down this route so many times on this forum. I will just reproduce a link to a page I put together over the damage done to my local mountain and I am sure those of you who have previously read my views on this could guess where my sympathies lie !!!! damage
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Aye fair dooes... I read that the pics are there just to illustrate, not to blast, but the folks who did that NEED blasting. They'd get the same kicks riding like that in a town centre, so perhaps that's where they shpould be encouraged to go. Different mentality.
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Bloody Hell Tony, they have hammered that area well. It looks like the Tank Tracks in the Elan Valley.
That is what some of the Dales Bridleways are beginning to look like.
The use of motorised transport on bridleways is illegal end of story, and more should be done to prevent acts of vandalism like that.
I appreciate that we all should be allowed to enjoy our chosen pastimes, but and lets be sensible about this there are certain areas of our country side that are too fragile to sustain trailriding etc. Also if you were caught riding your trailbike on the pavement in Leeds for instance it wouldnt matter how carefully you rode it you would still get nicked. Well you are going to meet pedestrians (walkers) on bridleways so the same rules should apply.
And lets not bring up mountain bikers that would open an even bigger can of worms.
But just to remind some of the more bloody minded ramblers (and yes that kind gentleman who stuck his walking stick through my front spokes on Foxup Moor in the Dales two years ago i do mean you)Mountain bikes dont have engines so they can use bridleways.
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