Devon TRF Group Forum

JC · Clubman B

Public perceptions of (dirt) bikers

wackyracer · Powermonger!!

You/We/I wont win

There is just too much to do to try and win over the public and how they preceive us wink

I for one try on every occasion i can smile

Always wave regardless, always say thankyou if the public stop and wait for me, try and chat even if it is to say morning to the peole i meet while i'm stopped for a short break i try and chat to them smile

Always engine off while i stop for a horse and rider

Try my hardest for the dog walking brigade (i have to admit they are the hardest group to please)

I wonder how many trail riders have been on the other side of the fence and face an on comming bike/s in a lane whilst out lane clearing on foot wink

different ball game i can tell ya biggrin

Open face helmets with safety glasses on is a step in the right direction but....

many opinions on a variety of topics to do with Trail riders and how we are seen to the public plus how to improve this ....

gaschef · Devon's Best

Gruff and I had a great dog walker yesterday opened and shut a gate for us

doh ! · Clubman A

Im afraid to say it doesnt matter how polite and respectful we are when we pass the public either walking or on horseback . we are in the majority of their eyes unruly bikers tearing up the countryside . I dont see how we are going to ever change their minds no matter how hard we try . It comes to something when a guy i know goes out in a 4x4 in the lanes around Totnes regulary and he moans about the amount of bikes using the lanes .... work that one out then

wackyracer · Powermonger!!

gaschef wrote:
Gruff and I had a great dog walker yesterday opened and shut a gate for us

Nice one G.C.

I also had a pleasant experience at the view point last sunday wink biggrin biggrin

Before you get carried away it was chatting with walkers on their way past us whilst we were admiring the view, four lots went past while we were hanging out and only one lot had a Face on the others were great and chatted for a while, some even commented on 'that looks fun biggrin '

Great to be out and chatting to other users of the road smile

Laterz wacky smile

wackyracer · Powermonger!!

doh ! wrote:
Im afraid to say it doesnt matter how polite and respectful we are when we pass the public either walking or on horseback . we are in the majority of their eyes unruly bikers tearing up the countryside . I dont see how we are going to ever change their minds no matter how hard we try . It comes to something when a guy i know goes out in a 4x4 in the lanes around Totnes regulary and he moans about the amount of bikes using the lanes .... work that one out then

Easy you keep on trying like the rest of us good ole folk smile

As for the 4x4 its a "dog eat dog" same as on any other road

The walkers get annoyed with the cyclist

The cyclist get annoyed with dog walkers and cars

Cars get annoyed with cyclist, bus drivers, vans/lorries

Vans/lorries get annoyed with cyclist, cars,

Oh yeah trail riders are in there somewhere biggrin

"ITS A DOD EAT DOG" Great tune

Dog eat dog wink biggrin biggrin

Phaedrus · Sportsman

gaschef wrote:
Gruff and I had a great dog walker yesterday.... for us

Any cooking tips?

gaschef · Devon's Best

Phaedrus wrote:
gaschef wrote:

Gruff and I had a great dog walker yesterday.... for us

Any cooking tips?

Anyway is good provided you use plenty of garlic and onions

jt · Powermonger!!

wackyracer wrote:

The walkers get annoyed with the cyclist
The cyclist get annoyed with dog walkers and cars
Cars get annoyed with cyclist, bus drivers, vans/lorries
Vans/lorries get annoyed with cyclist, cars,

I'm PC and show no discrimination at all - I am annoyed with everyone and everything all of the time biggrin

Phaedrus · Sportsman

That must be acceptance. Thank you. I can't back it up I just do train spotting and hope to one day ride a motorcycle.

L'orange · Devon's Best

we are not alone in our plight NIMBY'ism is rife all over the land.

There was an article on 5 live last week about a local village, (in suffolk i think) who had been forced to turn off the village church clock chimes because some incomers werent happy with their new found piece and quite being shattered.

But, all you can do is to carry on, there are 300 hundred of us here in devon and 3000 nationally, (this might not sound like a lot, in the grand sum of things, but if they all came round for tea the kitchen would get a bit crowded). smile

We have a good RoW network working away in the back ground along with 30 odd years of carefully documented data and information. so just keep doing what your doing guys and dont let the Bast***s grind you down.

PS, JC can we have a bit more information on what you know please, it might be usefull to the right person???

-- Edited by L'orange on Sunday 29th of April 2012 07:53:09 AM

kevdoyle · Clubman B

well theres , ramblers, horse riders, dog walkers who are freindly and then theres the right miserable sods, i for one will do as wacky does with the thankyous, nods & waves as manners cost nothing, but im sure within these 3 groups good and bad if they had a choice they would rather not have us, but hey, we got to put up with them : )

FBF · Clubman A

wackyracer wrote:

Try my hardest for the dog walking brigade (i have to admit they are the hardest group to please)
I wonder how many trail riders have been on the other side of the fence and face an on comming bike/s in a lane whilst out lane clearing on foot
different ball game i can tell ya

All too often most people are unaware of a routes status.

It would better if all tracks vehicular, bridlepaths, footpaths are clearly marked but so many are not.

A simple graphic sign dsiplaying the acceptable means of transport ie, foot, cycle, horse, motorcycle, car should be on all without exception.

Expensive maybe and I am sure many would get vandalised or removed but thats how it should be.

That way, you know what to expect on the route and how to behave, ie dogs on lead because its classified as a road.

grouty · Expert

Paul has hit the nail on the head there

I was talking to Snaf and Liz last night. They have just returned from France. It seems their routes are marked along their length with small coloured patches/signs. These indicate the status of the route. Expensive to do here, but I am sure a forward thinking council will help/sponsor a scheme to do something similar. The only trouble is finding a forward thinking council ! If it is only done on routes with a clarified status including footpaths, bridleways and other roads etc then all users would know.
It will never happen, but it would make life so much easier on all users.

Simmo · Expert

Other users reflect society - some are friendly some are not.

Big problem is incomers or Grockles to be more formal. If you don't like church bells don't buy a bloody house next to a church! Or a garden which borders a vehicular right of way.

If in doubt stay where you are and leave us alone. Devon has quite enough very well matured senior citizens as it is thank you!

Steve H · Devon's Best

Simmo wrote:
Other users reflect society - some are friendly some are not.
Big problem is incomers or Grockles to be more formal. If you don't like church bells don't buy a bloody house next to a church! Or a garden which borders a vehicular right of way.
If in doubt stay where you are and leave us alone. Devon has quite enough very well matured senior citizens as it is thank you!

Well said Simmo

But I quite like some of said senior citizens

jt · Powermonger!!

So do I - I'd be riding alone most weekends if it wasn't for them..... biggrin wink biggrin

Simmo · Expert

I hoped "very well matured" would not imply any current TRFers. How about incontinent? Oh, that doesn't work either....non Jag drivers....nope.....old gits who drive Rovers or Honda Accords and have no idea what a motorcycle is and always leave two feet clearance on their nearside when driving down country lanes and assume you will dive in the hedge first so that they don't get sap marks on their wing mirror or have to reverse more than 6 inches.

Phaedrus · Sportsman

I'm a fat maturing fart born in Totnes - can herbal life offer me a commercial opportunity to slim down and be accepted?

grouty · Expert

Science hasn't advanced that far yet Pete.

Phaedrus · Sportsman

It's a gastric mousse for me then, thankfully that's not as extreme as some southern African countries approach to dealing with dodgy interlopers.

Simmo · Expert

Phaedrus wrote:
I'm a fat maturing fart born in Totnes - can herbal life offer me a commercial opportunity to slim down and be accepted?

http://businessopportunity.herbalife.co.uk/build-your-own-business

JC · Clubman B

PS, JC can we have a bit more information on what you know please, it might be usefull to the right person???

-- Edited by L'orange on Sunday 29th of April 2012 07:53:09 AM

My cousin's a civil engineer specialising in the way drivers and pedestrians interact with their environment. She was part of the team addressing the public consultation in Totnes, where there was a big map upon which people could mark their concerns (about everything from crossing the road, one way streets, to parking etc) - and several people said "walking/cycling/horsing on quiet lanes was scary because of dirt bikers". That's about as much information I have, I don't think it was addressed at a particular lane, just a generalisation I thought I'd pass on.

I concur with the replies to this thread, passing slowly and a cheery hello to the grumpiest of walkers etc shows we're not a bunch of hooligans but just out to legally enjoy the countryside as much as everyone else...... smile

FBF · Clubman A

Maybe you can pass on the suggestion that the legal routes are clearly marked then?

While they are about it a sign saying dogs on leads as well biggrin

Road traffic act 1988

It is an offence to have a dog on a designated road without it being held on a lead.

Pete · Devon's Best

Ironically the lanes in the Totnes area are very well signed compared to elsewhere in the county.

Hoops · Elite

grouty wrote:

I was talking to Snaf and Liz last night.

How are they? Haven't seen neither in a long time!

jt · Powermonger!!

FBF wrote:
Maybe you can pass on the suggestion that the legal routes are clearly marked then?
While they are about it a sign saying dogs on leads as well
Road traffic act 1988
It is an offence to have a dog on a designated road without it being held on a lead.

Now thats useful info for the next time some snotty furry turd machine owner starts on me biggrin

Horses smile no issues always frendly and will have a chat

Walkers smile no issues...

Dog owners cry what is it with dog walkers

L'orange · Devon's Best

JC wrote:

PS, JC can we have a bit more information on what you know please, it might be usefull to the right person???

-- Edited by L'orange on Sunday 29th of April 2012 07:53:09 AM
My cousin's a civil engineer specialising in the way drivers and pedestrians interact with their environment. She was part of the team addressing the public consultation in Totnes, where there was a big map upon which people could mark their concerns (about everything from crossing the road, one way streets, to parking etc) - and several people said "walking/cycling/horsing on quiet lanes was scary because of dirt bikers". That's about as much information I have, I don't think it was addressed at a particular lane, just a generalisation I thought I'd pass on.
I concur with the replies to this thread, passing slowly and a cheery hello to the grumpiest of walkers etc shows we're not a bunch of hooligans but just out to legally enjoy the countryside as much as everyone else......

Cheers Julian

PM me if you get anything interesting.

Phaedrus · Sportsman

Hoops wrote:
grouty wrote:

I was talking to Snaf and Liz last night.
How are they? Haven't seen neither in a long time!

Maybe it was they that opened a gate for me so i whipped my lane clearing implements out, chopped em up and I cooked em up with garlic and onions. Very tasty.