Devon TRF Group Forum

plugspanner · Novice

just watched the countryfile item on trail ring in the peaks, but covered trail riding in general, it was not too bad, but showed what an uphill struggle we have to convince the general public why we should be where we ride.
the tales of almost running over kids and scaring horses will stay in the anti's minds a lot longer than the trf guys very good responces to the critisism.
i did think the showing of a legal 4x4 pay and play site was very misleading and will not have done our cause any real good, as that is a totaly separate issue.
we must remember to follow the trf code, but sadly the enduro practice racers out there will have put even more nails in our coffin if they continue to use these lanes legal or not for practicing thier race techniques.
i think in the end these forest trail days will be our only chance to ride in the mud unless you do actual competitions, with all that entails, we all need to be vigilant and try to stop those who will spoil it for us all.

PeterBc · Clubman B

Countryfile TV programme Sunday 12th

L'orange · Devon's Best

Well spotted, Jack Knight is the new PR & comms director, he's a good bloke and yes he came accross very well.

TTR · Powermonger!!

These items wind me up too much to watch them properly but Mrs TTR tells me she thought it fair to both sides.

Great to see so much of the Exe Estuary and nearby Darts Farm included in the show. It reminded us that we have never actually used the Topsham ferry - something that needs to be remedied wink

jt · Powermonger!!

PeterBc wrote:

In my view, it seemed to be agin motor propelled vehicles using lanes generally they interviewed some young 4x4 drivers who were enthusiastic but none too articulate.

Yep didn't pick the best chaps/site to represent 'our interests' they wern't 'green laning' even they were on private land, en mass, dilebratley getting stuck/recovering each other.....

Then some walking / horsey chap claimed 50% (8 of 20 - so he's clearly not a science scholar) of trail bikes inspected in Derbyshire were illegal (tax/ insurance or condition) ....

And if you stopped 20 vechicles on Exeter Rd in Honiton tonight what percentage of them would be 'illegal' in the same context?

J ack was good though smile came over very 'professional'

Cubber · Expert

I don't think they allow TTRs on the ferry, Brian. biggrin

I've taken Mrs Cubber to the other side and walked to the Turf. Very interesting and rewarding t'were.
Martyn

TTR · Powermonger!!

Cubber wrote:

I don't think they allow TTRs on the ferry, Brian.
I've taken Mrs Cubber to the other side and walked to the Turf. Very interesting and rewarding t'were.
Martyn

But they used to ferry over horse and carts apparently Martyn wink

Makes me wonder where the old carriageway ran on the west side - "once a road always a road" and all that jazz biggrin

waterboyrob · Novice

its so important to hold access to these lanes where i live currently in Bucks we have one very short green with restricted access throughout the year, and riding a muddy looking bike can often be very poorly frowned upon when in petrol stations and the like, a very judgemental world we live in.

L'orange · Devon's Best

I guess we need to remember that the best we can get from any media is to be represented and seen as a equal user group.

No program is going to to a special on Trail bike riding, so all in all i think we should consider this as good publicity.

I did catch Counrty file a few weeks ago and there was some mention of all countryside users being able to register themselves on the countryfile web site, i had a look but couldn't see the weay to do it.

PeterBc · Clubman B

Do you know L'orange I really think we should hope for a little more.

There are many TRf members who devote time, money and sweaty effort to clearing lanes (let alone establishing their true provenance). These lanes then become a resource for a wider community of people.

It's almost a year since I joined the TRF and I have only good things to say about the TRF folk and their interactions with other lane users and all the other lane users I have come across be it on foot, with friends and dog, horse or on one occasion odd fancy dress ashamed

Great work all you TRF people and the officers especially so. Thanks

-- Edited by PeterBc on Sunday 12th of December 2010 09:06:01 PM

-- Edited by PeterBc on Monday 13th of December 2010 09:49:56 AM

TTR · Powermonger!!

http://www.bbccountryfilemagazine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=555&sid=fa99a780ac49b820068f4ec58ec966bd

devondan · Champion

My good lady saw the prog and thought the TRF came across very reasonably and that the bloke who wanted everything banned came across as being less reasonable and having a knee jerk reaction.

As for me - I missed it!

Dan

Steve H · Devon's Best

TTR wrote:

http://www.bbccountryfilemagazine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=555&sid=fa99a780ac49b820068f4ec58ec966bd

Some excellent comments that express mostly how I felt watching this. My dad phoned to let me know it was on, I had to phone him back afterwards to assure him that I, and the people I ride with aren't at all how the BBC tried to make us appear. I told him of some of the excellent work we do in clearing lanes for ALL to use, how every horse rider i've met on lanes in the 4 years i've been riding has been absolutley fine with our group, often stopping for a chat. I reassured him that I (we) ride machines as legal as most found in any city centre car park and that the people who ride where they shouldn't, with no regard whatsoever to people, livestock etc or the problems they cause won't stop being prats if the legal lanes are finally closed to all of us. They will always carry on as before whilst those of us who choose to ride responsibly and legally will pay the price.

The last part of the above is something I feel needs to be said more, I wish Jack had pressed that point though it would have probably ended up on the cutting room floor.

doug9270 · Powermonger!!

Mr TRF came over very calm and explained as we all do that we are a caring, responsible and knowledgeable motorcycle riders enjoying our pastime legally.

The 4 X 4 off road section of the slot was irrevelent !

The 4 X 4 illegal off road report from a helicopter was relevant.

The lady who thought she saw 60+ riders in one day go down a footpath unlikely and why did she not write down a licence plate number and report it to the police.

Illegal off road driving ,riding has nothing to do with green laning so why was it even mentioned ?

The horsey chap who wants to ban all motorised vehicles on green lanes, he obviously does not realise the amount of hard work we do to keep the lanes open and clear of vegitation for all to use, i think we should invite him down for a visit to change his biased views.

I watch country file most sundays and was not impressed with this poorly prepared feature, the rest of the program featuring the Exe estuary was good though.

-- Edited by doug9270 on Monday 13th of December 2010 12:15:19 PM

RichT4 · Champion

If anybody missed it you can watch it on-line here .

There's a also a good bit towards the end on the Scottish wild cats

Clayton · Clubman A

but sadly the enduro practice racers out there will have put even more nails in our coffin if they continue to use these lanes legal or not for practicing thier race techniques.

FBF · Clubman A

I felt that the 4x4 "event" was very misleading. Seemed very random and disorganised and showed 4x4 users in a very poor light.

I thought the motorcycling part was reasonable considering the overall content and our trf guy did a great job.

The woman sighting children and horses being scared/injured however did a great deal of damage I felt. It was not made very clear the circumstances or indeed proved. I got the impression it was a bridleway and the bikers were therefore illegal so more clarity should have been had.
Children walking on bridleways should be closely supervised imho anyhow, a startled horse can be very dangerous, however you shouldn't expect a vehicle there.

Maybe it should have been followed by the horror stories of legal routes being barricaded and booby trapped with concrete blocks and boulders and of course the deadly rope/string or wire across a lane which can kill or injure horse riders and motorcyclist alike.

Shaggy · Clubman B

FBF wrote:

Maybe it should have been followed by the horror stories of legal routes being barricaded and booby trapped with concrete blocks and boulders and of course the deadly rope/string or wire across a lane which can kill or injure horse riders and motorcyclist alike.

I totally agree, IT should've been....
However, its countryfile, I cant imagine it even entered their minds! It appears, thats all they care about. Heaven forbid a motor propelled vehicle namely motorbikes being perfectly & lawfully allowed to use it.