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A warning to bike riders who may venture through Tilford, following an encounter on Sunday. As you head south from the village green towards Stockbridge, Hankley Common there is a short stretch of wide, sandy bridleway alongside the road - I've been riding this for 25+ years without any problems. A local has taken it upon himself to 'police' this path, despite the newly installed Surrey Cycle Trails signs. He attempted to block the path to our group of riders, which it's quite a feat on a 6ft-wide trail. I decided to call his bluff by riding past - he shouted "no you don't!" rushing across the path at me two-handed - as I was on my fatbike, I just rode up the bank to avoid him, he tripped and brushed my chest as he fell face-first into the soft sand and I just rode on by, somewhat bemused. His following actions which I won't reveal were a "cry-wolf" attempt to set-me-up and I expect he'll try it on again.
Clearly, there's some malicious intent in his actions in his attempts to "fit-up" cyclists, plus he's prepared to commit assault. I suggest anyone going that way is forewarned and suitably primed with cameras and evidence gathered to stop his mis-informed idiot.
Clearly, there’s some malicious intent in his actions in his attempts to “fit-up” cyclists
Ring 101 and report someone trying to assault cyclists on the path - then there's a record of his actions if he chooses to make a false allegation. At least you had plenty of witnesses around.
Sounds like mental health problems to me.
I've never had any problems around there (except in the Barley Mow under the previous landlord....!) and I don't think there are any houses along that stretch is there? Isn't the church and tennis court on the other side of the road?
His aggressive actions forced the others to turn-around - they didn't see the actual incident, but next time I'll make sure I have a camera running. There were no other witnesses to the actual incident, so expect he sulked-off after.
Shame you didn't have a go-pro handy, could've had your version of this.
Group ride in a couple of weeks?
Report it before you go back, if you head back with camera etc. then you are looking for the confrontation, give the cops a chance to have a word with him first.
Oh we defo need video of this. Your friends turned around!? a group of people vs 1 man and who were in the right, turned around? WHY???
The world is full of them.
Self appointed path monitor from my neck of the woods.
The section of path in question is a core path so cycling is permitted.
To be fair, he seems less of a cock and is actively trying to engage with the council about this and the signs appear to be used as a way of raising the profile of his complaint. Sticking my non-cycling hat on, if I lived there and spent my life constantly dodging students on bikes riding flat out past my front door, not giving a shit about anyone, I might be tempted to have a moan about it too.
(Not saying he's right or anything, but at least he's not assaulting anyone, or setting up trip wires or anything like that!)
Went through that way on Sunday though without incident.
Few weeks back though was somewhere I think Frensham towards Hankley along an animal track. This old guy turns to us and starts listing a number of things this track is not. Bridleway, byway, cycle path, road etc. Saying we're not allowed on it as a result.
Short reply with a smile... this isn't a footpath either. i.e. he has no right of way either.
Infuriated him and he shouted after us claiming he has it on his map etc.
I would have stopped and explained, but got better things to do. Doubled checked the map later and 100% was not a public right of way of any kind. Nearest to it was a bridleway anyway. Not that a RoW excludes a group of users anyway, it just forces the landowner to provide a legal RoW to one group. The rest of access is down to the landowner or bylaws.
"and therefore the Highway Code rule prohibiting cycling applied"
"as this was a public footpath, the equivalent of a pavement"
Even if it was England that would still be balls anyway as doesn't look like it's a footway next to a road, so Highway Code doesn't apply. A Public Footpath wouldn't be illegal, just not a RoW.
The problem I find so often is the word "footpath" makes so many people believe that it's their god given exclusive right because it indicates walking. Though they'll happily take their little kids on bikes along a public footpath or footway/pavement.
Came across this one recently. The no bikes rant being from someone other than the landowner I suspect (given the area, the famous stickman of North Downs perhaps?). Checking on maps I can't see it explicit as a Public Footpath RoW or any other RoW, just a marked path and is a walkers route (possibly Nat Trust related). Landowner(?) sign no horses, nothing official about bikes. Most the NT land around here have no problem with bikes on non RoW paths even when I've bumped into a ranger.
His aggressive actions forced the others to turn-around
Ha, just how soft are you southerners?
^ Odd to state no horses, when they have a latch to allow a rider to open it without dismounting. Sadly, a lot of angry people about and this current weather just seems to make them even angrier.
The others turned-around because they didn't want a confrontation / we're sure of the trail status / he was quite forceful in insisting bikes not permitted. Being local, I was more prepared to exert my rights - they've just put new Surrey Cycle Trails all around the area, including the posts either end of this section.
Ha, just how soft are you southerners?
Similar magnitude to the size of the chip on your shoulder? 🙂
To be fair, the mad guy needs confronting (or possible helping), or he will just keep doing it.
You need a camera - it sounds like the guy is trying to provoke an incident whereby he can throw himself to the ground Rivaldo-style and try to use that to get the path closed - or to get you to avoid it because you don't want the hassle.
There is a lot of it about at the moment.
What was his beef with cyclists? Did he give any reason beyond 'you're not allowed'?
I opened the post hoping to find the post a situations vacant one.
dovebiker, do you mean the path that runs behind the hedge along the side of the field? If so I was told that the landowner allowed it to be used as a safe path for horses as they were a horse owner themselves & therefore It's private. That's the reason it closes for a month every winter, to avoid any historic use claims. There's certainly no path marked on the map at that point.
Rather odd way of "closing" a path if so.
Might have been the same chap that challenged us a couple of years ago on Roy and Judy's foray, dovebiker? "who's in charge here?"
He was waiting for us at the end, said it was a permissive bridleway, and that they didn't encourage bike use due to the mess it made of the track. I said we'd "bear it in mind" then he got cross. I couldn't be arsed and rode off, but I would have liked to go back and look at the path with him. 40 odd fatbike tyres would probably left it better nick that it's ever been in!
If it was the same chap, he's got angrier in the last 18 months.
That gif of the road rager falling over, I used to live on that road!!
I used to live in Reading too. That clip makes me chuckle whenever I see it. Like Nureyev in his prime.
If his beef is whether its a private track, he's still not allowed to abuse people / attempt assault. The newly installed Surrey Cycle Trail signs at either end also don't show it's private - I've been riding that way for years and never had any problems. Judging by his general well-being, getting angry won't be good for his blood pressure either!
You'll have to use tricks from the gammon playbook.
Report it to the police as attempted sexual assault with a weapon. He chased you down the path trying to stick a finger in your bum!
Oh and all cyclists should be perfecting the accuracy and power of their knockout punch for when these arseholes get shirty and put their hands on you. Self defence of the swiftest and most purposeful kind!
Sadly, a lot of angry people about and this current weather just seems to make them even angrier.
You're not wrong! Look at this bit of full camo madness.
@deadkenny. Looks familiar…woodland west of polesden lacey house?
Yes, that's the place, or east of Polseden, up Connicut Lane. That path seems to be a permissive path but not a legal Public Right of Way, so whatever the use is just down to the land owner.
The newly installed Surrey Cycle Trail signs at either end also don’t show it’s private
Private land doesn't matter if it is actually a RoW, though maybe it isn't one and as said above it's a permissive path/bridleway without being an official RoW. Interesting the path that goes along the river I think is marked as a public footpath but nothing about no cycling until you get to the open bit with bench at the river and then a gate with "no cycling!". Which implies, despite the footpath status, cycling is tolerated along the rest of it. Is okay anyway as can hook up the hill to the left and nice bit through there.
Seeing the Cycle Surrey Hills signs about the other day I was wonder what the legit status is of some of the route beyond just slapping a sign up or a sticker on a post. @ninfan I believe can answer that?
😀 Boaters they even hate each other "plastic boat" people 😀 The working classes in Britain are a joke! So much petty hatred and infighting that posh politicians and monied tabloid papers easily take advantage of. Running rings round the simpletons, watching them tear the skin off each others backs!
Next time just ride right through him. "Right of way, you're in my way ".
Self appointed path monitor from my neck of the woods.
Monitor could find himself done for littering due to his unauthorised signs. £500 a go that normally is.
There's two nutters I know of in Tilford. The bloke who lives in the big house Tilford side of the bridge who runs out of his house and poke you with sticks if you ride the footpath between his house and the old plant nursery.
I don't worry about him, I know where he lives.
The other chap wears camo and has an SAS moustache and is proper mentally ill. Claims he's related to the Queen and has a knife collection. I'm fairly sure he's in an institution atm, but I'm sure he'll pop back up sometime...
I worry about him!
assuming this is between 16 and 44?
I recall the path in question had some ‘no bikes’ signs at one point but they had been removed by the PC some time ago.
My understanding was that it was a permissive path open for all to avoid the road, arranged via parish council to tie in with the shortage of car parking in the village. (One reason the AONB didn’t put a ‘gateway’ with the big oak slab starting routes there like with big pond, little pond and Thursley recreation ground). Not heard otherwise and AONB haven’t been approached by the parish council but if there is an issue we can easily realign the signs to ensure it indicates to use the road.
@Dovebiker, sorry I didn't mean to imply that because it wasn't a right of way that the guy was right in his actions, from what you describe he most certainly wasn't but unfortunately you get self righteous idiots everywhere. I was just commenting on the paths status as you called it a bridleway which implies, to me at least, a right of way.
@Ninfan, that makes sense & has expanded my knowledge of that particular path, thanks.
@ninfan - I think that's the bit @dovebiker is talking about. The bit I was mentioning is the usual route I go which is beside the river to the west, heading south. I'm usually heading to the bridleway/byway towards Little Pond.
Will remember to make a small detour onto that bit of track the next time I bring my bike into the office for a lunch time ride.