British Cycling recently launched their “Open Up the Countryside to Cyclists” campaign calling for cyclists in England to be allowed to used all public rights of way, and not just bridleways and byways, which account for less than a third of all public rights of way. In Scotland, cyclists have been given unrestricted access for a number of years and their experience suggests that cyclists can share footpaths with pedestrians with few problems, suggesting that “responsible access by people on bikes is sustainable, manageable and highly beneficial to tourism, health and the economy”.
Although cyclists can use bridleways, restricted byways and byways open to all traffic, they do not currently have the legal right to use public footpaths in England, To do so would be an act of trespass against the landowner. The exception is where the landowner has given consent, but these permitted paths have no formal legal status and permission can be rescinded by the landowner. A good rule of thumb is to assume that you aren’t allowed to cycle on a public footpath unless there are signs telling you otherwise.
Often the distinction between the different categories of public rights of way is lost on the average person and it is no wonder that many people are confused about where the can and can’t legally ride their bikes. A recent poll carried out for British Cycling shows that the majority of the public are unaware that it is illegal for them to cycle on public footpaths in England and many support opening up the network to cyclists.
There are strong arguments for doing this. Research consistently shows that many people want to cycle more, but are put off from doing so by safety concerns associated with cycling on the road. Therefore, making more traffic-free paths available to cyclists has the potential to get many more people out on their bikes. This would have significant health benefits in terms of tackling obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Also, leisure cycling can be a stepping stone to utility cycling (using your bike for everyday journeys), which would help to tackle congestion and air quality issues in our towns and cities.
A recent consultation in Wales showed strong support for changes to public rights of way legislation to provide cyclists with greater access to the network. In fact, the consultation attracted more responses than just about any other survey they had commissioned. British Cycling has since written to the Secretary of State for the Environment asking for a similar review in England.
However, not everyone welcomes the idea. There are regular items in the local and national media highlighting the conflict that can take place between pedestrians and cyclists, particularly on busier paths. Walkers are often quoted as bemoaning the behaviour of irresponsible cyclists who expect them to jump out of the way, or approach from behind without ringing their bell to announce their presence.
The Kennet and Avon towpath is an interesting case in point. This is classified as a public footpath, but the Canal and River Trust permits “considerate cycling on their towpath”. However, friction between cyclists and other users is all too commonplace, particularly in and around urban areas where usage levels are highest. The Trust has tried to tackle the issue by publishing a towpath code which they have promoted via the “share the space, drop your pace” campaign. Also, signs have been erected along the towpath in Newbury encouraging cyclists to slow down and give way to pedestrians. This has been done in response to complaints from path users.
Much of the problem boils down to the width of the path. Many public footpaths have a designated width of 2m or less and may be bounded by fences on one or both sides. This means that users must pass slowly and carefully to avoid injury or accident, which isn’t a problem if you only have to do this occasionally. However, when you have to slow down every few metres then the usability of the path is inevitably compromised.
We would be interested to know what you think. Is shared use of public footpaths a good idea, or should the status quo be preserved? Are there particular routes where you think this could work and if so, should they be upgraded? Please feel free to contact us and let us know, or fill out our online poll below.
