Devon TRF Group Forum

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Devon TRF Group Open Forum -> General Discussion Board -> Proposed restrictions to trail riding in Spain
Post Info TOPIC: Proposed restrictions to trail riding in Spain
chriscole


Clubman A

Status: Offline
Posts: 797
Date:
Proposed restrictions to trail riding in Spain
Permalink  

There's a proposed restriction/regulation on off-roading in Spain. Whilst maybe not directly relevant to us here in the UK, there's a few of us who like to ride in the Pyrenees etc plus of course the risk of 'contagion' to neighbouring countries if it's allowed to go ahead.

It's the usual story, environmental groups applying pressure and heaping in legal 'greenlaning' type of off roading with cases of unlicensed motocrossers and the like.

Interestingly there's been a study by the university of Barcelona which concluded that off-roading caused no more environmental damage than other forms of activity on these legal routes. Also that there were benefits in traffic passing along firebreaks to help keep vegetation down.

There's a very long-winded statement here ( in Spanish ) 
https://www.change.org/p/regulaci%C3%B3 ... responsive 

It makes lots of points, benefits to tourism etc. and also clarifies to those who don't already know that these route are simply old rights of way that happen to be unsurfaced and that using them responsibly means having a road -legal ( ish ! ), licensed and insured vehicle.

It's rather ironic that a country like Spain with a rich history of trials and enduro and that consistently produces world class riders would want to restrict access to their considerable off-road spaces but then again nothing that politicians and their civil servant minions should surprises us any more !



__________________
Pete


Expert

Status: Offline
Posts: 1048
Date:
Permalink  

Sounds to me like the proliferation of off road trail riding companies that has sprung up in Iberia has killed the goose that lays the golden eggs. The law has always been loosely interpreted as 'stay on the tracks'. Local problems usually get dealt with locally but a large influx of foreign riders out for a one off jolly may have created a feeling that 'something must be done' in terms of new legislation.

The spiel makes every good point one may expect and would sound very familiar to every TRF member.

I wonder if a Spanish TRF will come out of it?

More likely the trail riding companies will move to Portugal or Romania and eventually spread the anti 'off road' (bet you didn't know that was the Spanish for off road) sentiment there too.

Long gone are the days when trail riders rode quiet and slow trail bikes. The latest enduro machines proliferate and this is the result.



__________________
Johnnyboxer


Clubman B

Status: Offline
Posts: 194
Date:
Permalink  

Pete wrote:

Sounds to me like the proliferation of off road trail riding companies that has sprung up in Iberia has killed the goose that lays the golden eggs. The law has always been loosely interpreted as 'stay on the tracks'. Local problems usually get dealt with locally but a large influx of foreign riders out for a one off jolly may have created a feeling that 'something must be done' in terms of new legislation.

The spiel makes every good point one may expect and would sound very familiar to every TRF member.

I wonder if a Spanish TRF will come out of it?

More likely the trail riding companies will move to Portugal or Romania and eventually spread the anti 'off road' (bet you didn't know that was the Spanish for off road) sentiment there too.

Long gone are the days when trail riders rode quiet and slow trail bikes. The latest enduro machines proliferate and this is the result.

 Well said, seen it in the Picos and now it's spread

not surprised



__________________

So many roads........................So little time

A Devonian, exiled in Yorkshire

2004 Honda XR400R

2011 KTM 530 EXC-R

Montesa 4RT Trials
Kleenex


Clubman B

Status: Offline
Posts: 442
Date:
Permalink  

Pete, with all due respect, Bollocks,
What has the bike got to do with it, latest oldest whats the difference? speed against oil burning non efficient engines, I cant understand why some appear to want to punish newer bike riders, if we didn't encourage new riders where would the trf be? why cant we embrace ALL bike riders, on road, off road, custom, sports, 2 stroke 4 stroke old and new.
A beta x trainer is quieter than most, as for the speed only the uninitiated would assume all new bikes have to be ridden fast and old bikes can only go slowly, I follow older guys who can ride at a fair lick without revving the nuts off a bike.

__________________
There were no goats hurt in this accident
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Devon TRF Group Open Forum -> General Discussion Board -> Proposed restrictions to trail riding in Spain


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard