E-bikes could be banned in New Forest?

[Norange]

No moaning here, unlike the verderers I actually like seeing people enjoying themselves in the countryside To be fair, the Purbecks get a bit of traffic, but the Chase is virtually deserted as nobody lives anywhere near it.

 

[Jackware]

I contacted British Cycling Org to see if they were aware of the issue and this is their response;

Yes, we are talking with Forestry England about it in partnership with Cycling UK. There is little chance of e-cycles being banned but it is symptomatic of a wider problem with attitudes to cycling across the New Forest.
The National Park officers are very good and very open minded but a vocal minority of residents and other users are belligerently opposed to people cycling for prejudicial reasons.
We will make every effort to develop more cycling routes in the forest and communicate to members when we need your support.

 

[EMTBNewbie]

Ive just recently got into emtb’s after many years of dirt bike/enduro riding and regular MTB. To say that the power of the little electric motor and the heavier weight of the bike wears down the trail more is laughable and shows the lack of ones ability to think objectively. Weight is the last thing that needs to be brought up as every person who rides differs in weight. It’s also like saying guys who carry a heavy water bottle and tool packs on their bikes wear trails down faster too. Or cross country bikers who pack all their supplies/tents/clothing etc cause more damage. A 20lb difference between Bikes means nothing, as riders may differ in weight in literally hundreds of pounds. For example, My wife on the small end of the spectrum is two hundred pounds lighter then others I know who ride regular analong mtb bikes, you think she does more wear on the trails then my heavy buddies on regular analog bikes? And can’t ever recall seeing ebike users spinning tires/making ruts. In the time I have spent trail rebuilding, maintaining and cleaning up my favorite areas, I could never ever tell the difference on trail wear for trails that did allow emtb’s compared to trails that did not allow emtb’s. I remember when I first got into enduro riding years ago, everyone I knew was on heavy pigs of motorcycles, I kid you not some weighing over 500lbs without the rider. Now you see some light weight motorcycles under 200lbs. And some modern enduro bikes are producing more horsepower then some 4door vehicles. Yet I’ve not seen a single difference in trail wear. At the end of a season, the trails gets the same attention as it did before. Ive seen trails experience more erosion, damage and wear in a single day of a winter storm then years of regular MTB/EMTB/motorcycle use, maybe we should ban nature too?
The truth of the matter is these small electric motors are great for helping people peddle uphill and to ride overall with less effort due to the assistance it provides. But even then the user has to do their part of being in the right gear and making their way up with whatever amount of effort thats needed. The biggest threat EMTB’s have is the vocal MTB user who feel they only are entitled to an area because they are in a physical state that still allows them to continue doing what they do. Unfortunately a lot of others around the world would love to be able ride a bicycle again but due to physical restraints, some which are of no fault of their own, can’t hop on a regular bike again, I don’t think they deserve to be treated differently. The wife and I love riding areas on our analong bikes still, but it saddens me to know those those who can’t physically ride a regular bike in those areas may never get the chance to.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect that. Just thought I’d would provide my opinion based on what I’ve personally seen. I love that we all have a common shared interest and wish everyone safe travels/riding.

 

[Straker]

The New Forest Verderers have been anti mountain bike from the earliest days of MTB in the UK this is just the latest manifestation of a bigoted mindset.

 

[Morton027]

I contacted British Cycling Org to see if they were aware of the issue and this is their response;

Yes, we are talking with Forestry England about it in partnership with Cycling UK. There is little chance of e-cycles being banned but it is symptomatic of a wider problem with attitudes to cycling across the New Forest.
The National Park officers are very good and very open minded but a vocal minority of residents and other users are belligerently opposed to people cycling for prejudicial reasons.
We will make every effort to develop more cycling routes in the forest and communicate to members when we need your support.

This is exactly my experience when I’ve been there. I go camping to Holland’s Wood there most years, always taken a bike.

Took a slight detour (didn’t realise) of maybe 100 yards between 2 bike trails (the New Forest ‘cycle trails’ are mostly forest roads anyway nothing exciting but a nice way to see the forest and wildlife). The only walker in that small section of path/forest road pulled us up to tell us we shouldn’t be cycling.

Part of the New Forest issue I imagine is that as I understand it owning a property in the forest makes you a ‘commoner’ therefore giving you a stake in ownership of the forest effectively? These people (well I’m sure it‘s a minority) then get big ideas and exercise their ’right’ to complain to the Verderers, who basically police the rights of the commoners to my understanding.

I’ve been on the cycle trails on my ebike when the verderers were out on their horses rounding up the ponies, not a comment from a single person, which (though mine is a small sample) seems it’s more about local nimby’s complaining than the people (verderers) who actually look after the forest.

I bet the same people don’t try to stop some of the cars I’ve seen speeding along the single track roads in the area that aren‘t even wide enough for a car to overtake a bike on and yet they try, and by the way they’re driving you’d guess they're locals who know the roads well, most people wouldn’t dare drive fast along those roads.

 

[EchoLima21]

I don't want to see ebikes banned from anywhere but I don't agree with this. They are heavier and cut into the ground more than a normal bike, they also spin up on muddy climbs causing ruts and you probably get more descending in than you would a normal bike.

I still ride through winter, the ebike makes the slop fun but I put alot of work in to maintain the trails I ride.

What about fat people? Or families? Or fit people who ride the trail twice? Or what about the Orbea Rise / SL bikes? Or locals who ride it most often?
Your argument is flawed as it makes so many assumptions with almost no basis in fact.
Sorry, but not sorry, chap.

 

[Binhill1]

Ive noticed in my area that there are a lot more people about due to stayathome holidays. Im a slow respectful rider when it comes to riding near people and will go off track to avoid people if possible. Definitely picking up more anticycling folk going about . Nobody looks behind nowadays plus spread out over the whole track and the glowers i get from some if i say exuse me . Be the same on a normal bike . So same everywhere nobody loves us anymore.

 

[Norange]

Ive noticed in my area that there are a lot more people about due to stayathome holidays. Im a slow respectful rider when it comes to riding near people and will go off track to avoid people if possible. Definitely picking up more anticycling folk going about . Nobody looks behind nowadays plus spread out over the whole track and the glowers i get from some if i say exuse me . Be the same on a normal bike . So same everywhere nobody loves us anymore.

Could also be a symptom of the last 2 years being a bucket of shite?

 

[Marcm]

Just made me remember Matchams down that way reading this....happy days...unfortunately all gone now I think..

 

[Binhill1]

Could also be a symptom of the last 2 years being a bucket of shite?

Long time since i heard that saying . Strangers in a strange place say no more pal.

 

[Tim gosnold]

I live in the new forest and when ever I Ride out I hardly have any problems. I mostly ride out with my daughter on a 16 hand Horse and we always have to be respectful of other people. The biggest problem is dodgy walkers who don’t know how to control their dogs around live stock. With everything that lives and moves across the forest you can’t say an ebike is harmful. These people have nothing better to do than moan. I live here, I have an ebike and a normal bike, I walk my dogs here and we ride our horse here. Just deal with it the forest is for everyone. Grow up and stop bitching

 

[Bearing Man]

I too live and ride in the New Forest. Like Tim, have never really had problems with anyone except "Ramblers". When they get together, these people really can be complete dicks! They will generally be in groups of 10 or more, taking up the entire width of a 3m wide track and no mater how much or politely you warn them of your approach, they are always obstructive and sometimes abusive!

As for wear on tracks... the 140 miles of cycle tracks are all gravel and flint (great stuff for bike tyres! ). These tracks don't even get worn out by logging trucks let alone an ebike! However, the soft muddy trails that the rambler's and horse riders use, do get badly damaged. In fact most of the damage you see on the mud tracks is done by the Verderers vehicles when they drive where ever they feel like.

The same happened to all the green lanes (By ways) around here. They used to be in good condition and relatively smooth. However, following a few complaints by walkers the council decided to turn most into restricted by ways (meaning no motorized vehicles). This forced everyone to use the few tracks that were left and these are now all but impassable and mostly destroyed!

Ban bikes from the forest and people will go elsewhere, doubling the amount of bikes in the next area and getting them banned from there too! Remember, there is almost nowhere left in the UK that you can ride a motorbike off road, the same will apply to ebikes if we don't fight this.