Dartmoor National Park is celebrating its 70th birthday this weekend, and with it comes the closure of its consultation on amendments to its byelaws. You should probably take the chance now to respond and help add your voice to calls for better access of bikes.
If you’re partial to a spot of wild camping, you should also take note – the proposed changes prevent all hammocks, or anything that attaches to a tree, and also provides for the restriction ‘Camping is only permitted in single person bivouacs or in tents that sleep no more than 3 people and can be carried in a backpack and in groups of no more than 6 people’. Can your tent that you carry in your bike packing set up fit in a back pack?
Probably of wider general interest is the restriction proposed on access for bikes. How many turned up for your last group ride? Probably not more than 30, but on a nice day it’s not inconceivable. Best get your paperwork in order: ‘No person shall on the Access Land participate or engage in any activity which comprises over 50 people on foot, or 30 horses or cyclists, unless he is authorised to do so in
pursuance of an agreement with the owner of the land and the Authority.’
The Dartmoor access restrictions group bikes in with motor bikes and cars, rather than with horses and walkers (although race horses are treated to their own restrictions!). This seems to be down to historical concerns voiced by ‘the commoners’, which Cycling UK thinks is unsupported by any evidence. They’ve published an in depth analysis of why they think the byelaw is flawed, and you should read it in full, here. In case you can’t be bothered to click, here are a few fun excerpts:
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The key issue here is one of proportionality. If the byelaws were targeted at those cycling in really sensitive areas, or punished reckless or intimidating behaviour, then we would say they were balanced and reasonable – but it doesn’t. It criminalises cycling even if riders are on well-surfaced Land Rover tracks used by National Park Rangers. That’s not proportionate, it’s absurd.
Cycling UK
We’ve seen no evidence of any such conflict, either historical or recent – and that is why Cycling UK feels that the continuation of the existing byelaw is unjustified and must be looked at again
Keiran Foster, Cycling UK off-road adviser
Cycling UK believes that the byelaw as currently proposed flies in the face of the Glover review recommendations, and directly contradicts the National Park’s legal duty to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the National Park by the public.
Cycling UK
You’ve got until 1st November to get your comments in!
