Do YOU ride on Footpaths and How do you plan rides? [video]

[BOTG]

 

[Landy Andy]

Interesting point.

My planning is done using Ordinance Survey maps. I use an app called Memory-Map. That shows the OS maps electronically, classification of what routes are, and allows me to plot routes.

I run the app on my iPad (so bigger screen), and also my iPhone so I can use it with phone mount.

Also just to clarify we are allowed to use roads, bridleways, and also byways.

 

[The Hodge]

In congested areas I wouldn't ride on footpaths ..however living in a very rural, remote area with paths that have had no pedestrian travel in weeks then yeah as far as I'm concerned they are fair game and I do ride them .
I,ve found that walkers attitudes in the main have changed for the better over the years and rarely do I get the animosity I once experienced with the wooly hat / red sock brigade ..even in hot spot areas ..
I do however hold out hope that we will one day get the same open rights as enjoyed in Scotland .
Planning routes : I love a map and can spend hours planning where to go ..there is a great App called Geograph which tries to detail images ( Pics) from every O.S.square in the land ..sometimes handy when there is no other info to hand ( videos ) to gauge the type of terrain you are wanting to ride ..An O.S grid ref is all you need to use it ....
Havent watched the video yet ..but will later

 

[Gary]

Yes. I ride on every type of path. But I live rurally in a country with less stupid access laws and law enforcement officers with common sense. .
I don't pre-plan local rides or use mapping at all though as I already know pretty much every inch of trail or road within a 5mile radius and the vast majority of them within a 30mile radius.

Surely one of the biggest advantages of an EMTB is the ease of just checking out trails for yourself when you come across them rather than pouring over maps or stalking other riders and following exact planned out routes?

 

[The Hodge]

Agreed Gary if you are talking about local routes ..but I like to travel in to new areas ( sometimes quite far away ) where a bit of pre -planning comes in quite handy ?

 

[The Hodge]

Boots ..the only way to accurately check the status of a trail is to use an O.S.map ..forget Google maps etc...get an App with O.S. mapping like the official one Landy described or Viewranger ..

 

[yorkshire89]

Yes I ride on footpaths, if I come across people I just slow down and make them aware I'm approaching if they can't see me.
If they moan and say I shouldn't be there (rare but it has happened) I'll just say something like 'I know, it's a rediculous rule isn't it?' in a friendly way and off I go...

Bing maps has an OSmap option to see where the official bridleways are if you want to avoid footpaths though.

 

[andyb2]

on an OS Explorer Map, what's the difference (with regards to where you can ride) between a small dotted green line Footpath and a black small dotted Path?

e.g. the paths leading upto the trigpoint:

 

[Stihldog]

You can’t wear sandals here.
Footpaths are everywhere around here and it’s the time to slow down a bit. They’re made for hikers and bikers, and used by families and pets. Exploring these areas can be fun when we’re on the hard tails and adding up 60-70km is fairly easy.
There are a number of maps that can be used but sometimes they’re not uptodate. That’s half the fun though. I’ve met the couple who surveys the trails for the official government map but they can’t know every trail. There’s so many. Trail Forks, Strava, Avenza, Komoot, MapMyRide, Overdue and the sun is what I use.
I don’t usually plan a ride.

 

[Landy Andy]

 

[EebStrider]

I’m a middle aged bloke that rides an ebike. I’ll ride wherever the hell I want to. ?

 

[Hobo Mikey]

There are so many footpaths that have not been used for years just crying out to be ridden here in North wales. ?

 

[andyb2]

right, so a Path is the same as a Footpath, only without the explicit right of way (for walkers)

In that case no, I'd never ride on one of those

 

[Gary]

Agreed Gary if you are talking about local routes

Yeah. I was.

I like to travel in to new areas ( sometimes quite far away ) where a bit of pre -planning comes in quite handy ?

I do too normally. but I rarely ever ride a new area without at least one fellow rider who knows the area well. (meaning mapping is fairly pointless then too).
Due to Covid I haven't ridden in a new area for about a year.
Ironically I'm a qualified trail leader and have led many group rides professionally. That's pretty much the only time I ever do pre-plan routes and even then I rarely ever actually use mapping while on a ride. but have it incase something goes wrong so it's more to cover my own back than anything else.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Ironically I'm a qualified trail leader and have led many group rides professionally

He's been known to do the same on bikes too .........

 

[Winger]

I’d say 80% of the foot paths both my wife and I ride on are both pedestrian and bikes combined with a sign to say so, as to where we go currently depends on where the coffee outlet is.

 

[KennyB]

right, so a Path is the same as a Footpath, only without the explicit right of way (for walkers)

In that case no, I'd never ride on one of those
View attachment 52784

Bit more complex in the Quantocks, which is the area on the map you showed earlier, as is Beacon Hill above. As it is a Public Access area walkers can pretty much go anywhere, bikes not so clear. Having said that I have cycled on the footpath to this trig point and met a Quantocks Rangers who didn't seem at all bothered by my arrival. Over on Will's Neck there are signs saying no bikes, I take the view that once one sign is put up everything else is fair game.

 

[Jackware]

on an OS Explorer Map, what's the difference (with regards to where you can ride) between a small dotted green line Footpath and a black small dotted Path?

e.g. the paths leading upto the trigpoint: View attachment 52769

From the OS Blog; Your right to roam with public rights of way - Ordnance Survey Blog

Black dashed lines indicate a footpath (a physical feature on the ground). There may be permission granted by the land owner for members of the public to use this footpath, but there isn’t a public right of way present

 

[The EMF]

I plan all my rides using the OS Explorer maps, then take pics of the route on my phone. I enjoy looking at maps.......plus I’ll ride a route the lazy way and ride with the Hodge who’s knowledge of out of the way rides is impressive

 

[The EMF]

There are so many footpaths that have not been used for years just crying out to be ridden here in North wales. ?

Good point.....it’s the same in Northumberland

 

[andyb2]

Bit more complex in the Quantocks, which is the area on the map you showed earlier, as is Beacon Hill above. As it is a Public Access area walkers can pretty much go anywhere, bikes not so clear. Having said that I have cycled on the footpath to this trig point and met a Quantocks Rangers who didn't seem at all bothered by my arrival. Over on Will's Neck there are signs saying no bikes, I take the view that once one sign is put up everything else is fair game.

yep, the quantocks are around half a mile from my front door, and will's neck is the only sign I've seen, although there's the (usually) locked gates above crowcombe (halsway?)

for the most part I try to avoid other people if I see them. Being a fat old born again MTBer I'm slow enough to be able to stop in the distance I can see, and always give a friendly hello to any walkers I pass (even if not returned)

When I get brave/fit enough I might try the triscombe downhills, which are mostly free of walkers

 

[Jay355]

on an OS Explorer Map, what's the difference (with regards to where you can ride) between a small dotted green line Footpath and a black small dotted Path?

e.g. the paths leading upto the trigpoint: View attachment 52769

Foot paths are graded for severity, is called the The SAC Hiking Scale, Developed by the Swiss Alpine Club, it takes surface, gradients, exposure, experience and gear required, and safety precautions into account.

And yes I ride footpaths too, much to the annoyance of the long sock brigade.

 

[Jackware]

I plan all my rides using the OS Explorer maps, then take pics of the route on my phone. I enjoy looking at maps.......plus I’ll ride a route the lazy way and ride with the Hodge who’s knowledge of out of the way rides is impressive

Why not sign up to OS maps, you can plot a route on the website and save it so you can download and follow it using their mobile app?

 

[Waynemarlow]

I've been grumbled at more times this last year for riding on footpaths, than for the previous 29. Is it that we have a lot more people on the paths who are new to rambling and have read up on the rules, is it we simply just have a lot more people on the footpaths or is it everybody is generally pissed off with the lockdowns and generally more grumpy ?

Whatever I have learnt a new retort, "tort", got to remember that one

 

[The Hodge]

Why not sign up to OS maps, you can plot a route on the website and save it so you can download and follow it using their mobile app?

I think ( know) that he means he takes pics as he is riding around of the scenery ..not that he takes pics of the map to use as a guide ..also he has the Viewranger App..??
With reference.to Waynemarlow's post ..Ive not really encountered too much in the way of grumpiness while out ..but definitely an increase in local folks taking exercise ..who probably havent bothered too much in the past ..

 

[Crazee horse]

Boots-loving the videos bro ?

 

[Shinn]

We have miles and miles and miles of paved bike trails in the upper mid-west, they get packed on the weekends with both bikes and walkers. I rarely ride on them but do use them to access parts of local rivers for fishing.

Between Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin they've done a good job of connecting many of these to the point I see a lot of roadies on group rides. Since the motorists are ass bags around here and the roads are not really suitable for sharing the road anyway the trail systems have done a lot for the area. They are groomed for skiing and snowmobiling. Not sure how safe that is for the skiers though.

I am lucky to have 22miles of very hilly and steep at times single track.

I'm a trail forks user and also find many trails on youtube.

 

[The EMF]

Why not sign up to OS maps, you can plot a route on the website and save it so you can download and follow it using their mobile app?

I’m not good at plotting downloading and mobile apping. Don’t know how to do it ?

 

[Ken]

Be prepared for some heavy lifting. Footpaths are populated with stiles and kissing gates which are a real deterrent for an older chap with lower back problems.

 

[Tribey]

Planning routes : I love a map and can spend hours planning where to go ..there is a great App called Geograph which tries to detail images ( Pics) from every O.S.square in the land ..sometimes handy when there is no other info to hand ( videos )

I'd like to take a look at this, but can't seem to find it on Google Play.