BOATS - who controls them ?

[Von Short Hausen]

Went for a bimble today around north Kent. Managed to ride a section of the Pilgrims Way, but when I moved across to Stanstead (kent) the route marked on my map as a BOAT had a sign prohibiting Cars & Motorcycles.

So I wonder, who controls BOATS ? Is it the county council, and can they just withdraw access whenever they fancy ?

[anton88]

I had this too recently - was looking forward to going on a couple of BOATS marked on o/s map, but when I got there, same as you, no cars or bikes allowed (i didnt risk it and try anyway - went off somewhere else).

Think it is the council who have re-classified them and the maps are now incorrect / out of date?

I think Yen will probably have the answer to this ?

Ant.

[iswoolley]

As I understand it, due to the recent NERC bill there is no such thing as a BOAT now. All BOATs were reclassified as Byways, RUPPS were downgraded to bridleways, and bridleways and footpaths remained as they were.

Of course your map still shows BOATs, which should have vehicle rights of way. The usual way that a council (for it is they that have the control) can prohibit vehicular access is by imposing a TRO (Temporary Restriction Order). This should be clearly signed at both ends of the Byway/BOAT. No signs = no TRO.

The big issue that folk have had with the council is that TROs don't seem to need much justification, and usually aren't very temporary. They should be used to prohibit access while damage is repaired, or to give the lane a breather so that it can repair itself. But there's many Byways around the country with long standing TROs that just seem to be there to pacify the NIMBYs.

[YEN_POWELL]

They are still BOATS and will be marked on the os map even if the local highway authority has slapped a traffic order on them making use by bikes and cars illegal. Kent CC have a bad history of doing this. It's to stop motorcycles fly tipping (I kid you not) as they have a big problem with many tons of rubbish being deposited on the Pilgrims Way.

[DaveS]

There are loads of available BOATS on Salisbury Plain. I've not seen one yet that was no vehicular access.

[Northy]

As I understand it, due to the recent NERC bill there is no such thing as a BOAT now. All BOATs were reclassified as Byways, RUPPS were downgraded to bridleways, and bridleways and footpaths remained as they were.

Sorry Ian not 100 % correct
BOATS = Byways Open to All Traffic - no change in the law
RUPP = Restrictive byways (RB) - NERC'd ie no MPV
And you can't ride (legally) on footpaths or bridleways

As Yen says down in Kent there are lots of byways marked up a incorrectly. Down here RUPPS have yet to be marked up as RB

There a some warning signs that at first glance read as if your not allowed to ride the BOAT but in small print it says its illegal to ride with Insurance and the proper documents etc must be carried. However if you met a policeman halfway along one of these lane it would be a rare occurrence.

Normally TRO sign are a laminated A4 sheet posted at the end of the byway. The signs you talk about sound more permament and may have nothing to do the byway bit to stop MPV going of the byway into the woods or footpath that crosses the byway. There is one like this on the pilgrims way IIRC.

The pilgrim way can be a busy place to ride ie lots of walkers etc but very suitable for the @

Some the RUPPs we've lost (?) in Kent where techincal ie fun and not for the @ but there still enough to play with.

[Muckybill]

UCR`s can be used but you will have to check on the list of streets if they have vehicular rights as not all do. Some are marked on OS as ORPA (red dots) but don`t take it as read that they have vehicular rights .

Bill

[Von Short Hausen]

<snip>The local highway authority has slapped a traffic order on them making use by bikes and cars illegal. It's to stop motorcycles fly tipping

Just feccing typical of authorities nowadays....punish the 99.9% of law abiding tax payers by banning access, and leave the lowlifes free to move on somewhere else and continue with their crimes.

The Good guys will obey, the shysters will go on dumping....nothing is achieved by this.