Our Greenlanes

[Pete H]

Up for Disscussion.

Ive been noticing for some time now that when we go greenlaning(not off roading),some of the lanes have been abused,ie,users seem to want to take a different route and make a jolly old mess of the surrounding countryside,this is maddness and dosent do our hobby any good.
For the life of me i carnt work out why users do this...

Anyone got any comments? :)

[jjsaul]

IMHO if you want to go and play in the mud, go to a pay and play site, thats what theyre there for.

By all means use green lanes, but use them responsibly and dont damage the surrounding areas through thoughtless actions!!!

[Rich_P]

Oh yeah, saw one not long ago, laning with some S2 Club members. People had been avoiding the step, and had driven around it onto the big grass verge and down the side, back onto the lane.

Luckily, it appeared to only be a recent thing, and not much damage had been done. But even so, it shows that people who arn't prepared to tackle simple things like steps, try to go laning where there are things like steps.

The saddest fact is how every wee little bit of damage, is more ammo for the RA to use against us too.

[Mike_Hammond]

Yep same old problem a few mindless pratts !

I've seen it on various threads on this and other forums where what starts off as a good old greenlaning trip turns into a winch test......you shouldn't need a winch for laning save it for your own private land and play days........MUPPETS !

If its too muddy to drive a standard truck down the lane is obviously too far gone and we shouldn't be there, PERIOD.

Yes there will be occasions people get caught out, but there shouldn't be pictures of trucks covered in mud with blokes posing as if they're proud of getting stuck and who've obviously got no idea how to recover their truck without causing damage.

If people don't learn we'll all lose out in the end not only will rights of way be extinguished but the Pay and Play sites will get more and more popular and hence more costly, simple rules of supply and demand.

So come on folks, laning is not about getting muddy and let's keep the pictures of stuck trucks confined to play sites :)

[Hoodoo]

Mike,
Fully agree with what you've said. Must admit, my motor is winch equipped (in fact I carry two) as well as loads of recovery gear, spares, tools, clothing, food etc. Basic reason is because I'm usually on my own, and I don't fancy getting into a situation from which I can't extricate myself. Having said that, I don't go looking for trouble, I do that on private land!
Regards,

[Mike_Hammond]

I don't go looking for trouble, I do that on private land!
Regards,


I'm all for playing in private ..........




Ooooh er missus :D :eek: :D

[Mogwyth]

Not being a greenlaner yet this does not surprise me, I do a fair bit of walking and same thing happens on footpaths, people walk round muddy spots, rough bits etc eroding the surrounding surfaces, net result footpaths get wider and wider, I have seen some 10-15 foot wide. I was born a towny and become a bumpkin and the problem I feel is that too many ocasional countryside users (townies) that use the country side as a playground, been there, done that, not coming back so I don't care and after all it's only grass and mud it'll soon grow back. What they don't appreciate is that others will follow in thier footsteps causing yet more damage and once an area is churned up without human intervention it may never recovery. Thank goodness this only applies to a minority.

[graham]

I agree with what's been said here if you want to get muddy go to a play site.

[Geobloke]

Here Here!


If your in it for the getting stuck and muddy then do it on your own land or pay for it on someone elses! Leave the greenlanes alone! They are a PRIVILLAGE that can be so quickly taken away from us ALL! It has happened before and it will happen again unless we ALL stick our sensible hats on and behave ourselves!

So come on ALL you peeps out there behave on the green lanes and offroad with respect for them, Mud-Plug in your own back yard!

[alankemp]

I went up Stanage yesterday and was appalled by the damage done at the side of the lane on the Hathersage side well before it gets tricky, why would anyone try to avoid a nothing rocky bit by driving on what was a couple of months ago a grassy bank but is now a quagmire. Two defenders went up before me and played on the "offroad sections" at the other end, hoards of walkers about to witness this well out of order display, why oh why do they do it. I was not close enough to catch them and have a word.

Who filled in the big hole at the top of the lane?, at least a couple of tons of hardcore in that.

[Rich_P]

Something that I realised when I went laning with some people I know, on Saturday, was to always carry a spade to make a decent job of repairing any damage that may of happend via accident. For instance, if you accidentaly take the wrong route up a step, you can make a bit of a mess on the material at the start of the step.
A spade could help put it back to how it was, and perhaps, cover up the mess if need be... of course, no one was carrying a spade in the group. Typical. :rolleyes:

I was surprised at how people go laning as well with totally unneccasary equipment. For instance, a pair of fully off-road competetion kitted out RRC and 110 V8 got stuck in a lane, because their massive tyres were digging into the sides of the banks. One of them then bent a steering rod, blocking the lane for a good 30 minutes while the rod was changed.
Why go laning in something equipped for something else? I know, if a Rambler sees a competition equipped off-roader on a greenlane, they would assume that it was tearing up the lanes by default.

There's no need to take a competition vehicles laning. If the greenlane is that bad, you just don't go!

Oh, also, I saw part of the Pennine Way on Saturday too... and bloody hell, the walking route was a complete mess. I really mean, it was a mess. Tracks everywhere, deep, muddy, boggy etc. Dreadful. I should of taken a picture with my camera, just to show how bad it was. The RA complain about us damaging the lanes, well, it was as bad as what they've shown on their site about "us damaging the lanes". Horrible. :(

[graham]

Anyone damaging lanes should be reported I get fed up with people paying lip service to the green lane code of conduct.
If the weather conditions could result in damage to a lane then don't drive it.

[timbott]

I was surprised at how people go laning as well with totally unneccasary equipment. For instance, a pair of fully off-road competetion kitted out RRC and 110 V8 got stuck in a lane, because their massive tyres were digging into the sides of the banks.


Good point:) I go lanin' in my very innocent looking '69 2a and I always smile and wave at walkers and usually get a similar response back, but if they are out for a walk and get confronted with a great big beast tooled up for totally unnecessary action I can understand them getting wound up. I'm a walker as well as a greenlaner and it bugs me:(


cheers, Tim

[Mike_Hammond]

I was surprised at how people go laning as well with totally unneccasary equipment. For instance, a pair of fully off-road competetion kitted out RRC and 110 V8 got stuck in a lane, because their massive tyres were digging into the sides of the banks. One of them then bent a steering rod, blocking the lane for a good 30 minutes while the rod was changed.
Why go laning in something equipped for something else? I know, if a Rambler sees a competition equipped off-roader on a greenlane, they would assume that it was tearing up the lanes by default.
There's no need to take a competition vehicles laning. If the greenlane is that bad, you just don't go!


hmm I think you are confusing the issue here slightly, we should be able to drive whatever we wish afterall it's a public road.

The point is if you have a mud plugging monster truck then drive it sensibly. I have aggresive tyres on my 90 but I don't tear up the verges it's just I can't afford different wheels or different vehicles, if your statement is to be used as reference, for different activities. I like to do the odd playday as well as laning but it doesn't make me a mindless yob.

Stick to the rules and I don't see that there should be a problem, although I agree that certain parties will always assume the worst when they see modded off roaders regardless of behaviour.

[timbott]

hmm I think you are confusing the issue here slightly, we should be able to drive whatever we wish afterall it's a public road.


We are able to drive any road legal vehicle on the public highway but why stir up the opposition with a tooled up vehicle that 'looks' like it is going to wreck the place when we simply don't need all the bolt on bits. I've been lanin' for over 20 years now and have never needed all the tackle that so many seem to think is essential nowadays.


cheers, Tim

[Mike_Hammond]

So are you saying that folk that do have tooled up motors they use for playdays and the like have no right to go laning ?

[timbott]

So are you saying that folk that do have tooled up motors they use for playdays and the like have no right to go laning ?
No I am not saying that at all. As far as the right to go lanin', anyone in a tooled up motor has a legal right to do it in a road legal vehicle, but, my arguement is that greenlaning is a sensitive enough case at the moment so what is the point in driving around in aggressive looking motors which will only aggravate the situation?

cheers, Tim

[Rich_P]

The point is if you have a mud plugging monster truck then drive it sensibly. I have aggresive tyres on my 90 but I don't tear up the verges it's just I can't afford different wheels or different vehicles
Sorry for not being clear on this Mike. These two vehicles I saw, had larger than average aggressive tyres. I'm talking about MASSIVE tyres.

More like the size that competition vehicles only use. Larger than what you have by far. The vehicles were sat up much higher than standard. For instance, the RRC's sill was on level with my waist. That kind of tyre size to raise the vehicle up that high, is totally unnecassary.

I don't dispute them using the greenlanes, but they chose to go to one which their vehicles were unstuitable for! It was barely the start of the lane when they bent a steering rod. Both sides of the lane had a narrow route, with high banks... and these two vehicles had very wide and tall tyres. The two just do not mix.

That is part of the problem when people go and take the wrong routes. There were plenty of other lanes in the area they could of taken (which I had been on just hours before) which they would of had not much of a problem with, with such massive tyres.

[Mike_Hammond]

Tim,

I sort of take your point but who defines how modified you car can or cannot be.

For example my 90 is pretty basic other than being Camel Colours and having some agressive tyres, now even like this it looks more in yer face than say an old series in Coniston green but does that mean I should give up my laning ?

What about foe example Pete H and Geo with their "pink" :D Landies kitted out with roof racks and tents are they too in your face for laning in.
'Tis a sad state of affairs and I don't think we should hide if we're not doing anything wrong else we are as good as admitting we are the problem.

We shouldn't discriminate on the grounds of what vehicle folk drive, we should just ensure that we are as careful as we can be and be as courteous as possible to all other user groups.
I often find a wave and hello stops 'em before they have chance to start and that the anti's are in reality only a few of many that enjoy the countryside as we do. The trouble is they have the time available to write long letters and campaign unlike the rest of us who have to hold down a 9 - 5 !

[timbott]

'Tis a sad state of affairs and I don't think we should hide if we're not doing anything wrong else we are as good as admitting we are the problem.

I agree entirely with that, about 18 months ago there was an idea around to password the (then) greenlane forum on here and I was very much opposed to it as it would have made us seem like some sort of illegal underhand bunch.

cheers, Tim

[Newsreader]

We shouldn't discriminate on the grounds of what vehicle folk drive, we should just ensure that we are as careful as we can be and be as courteous as possible to all other user groups.
I often find a wave and hello stops 'em before they have chance to start and that the anti's are in reality only a few of many that enjoy the countryside as we do.
That's a very good point, it doesn't matter what you are driving, it's how you're driving and the way you greet people that are more important. A smile and a wave can go a long way

[jjsaul]

i always make an effort to smile and wave....at least then even if you get a cold response, they cant go back and accuse you of being rude to them.

[Rich_P]

Not much of a discussion going on 'ere, is there?

[Newsreader]

Not much of a discussion going on 'ere, is there?
Huh? 23 posts so far, and quite a bit of discussion ... :rolleyes: what do you want people to say? :confused:

[Rich_P]

Huh? 23 posts so far, and quite a bit of discussion ... :rolleyes: what do you want people to say? :confused:
Well, I always thought that the greenlanes section was a bit more lively than this, and with it being a "hot" topic at the moment, with all the political debates/wars going on, I was kinda expecting more posts to be popping up.

[graham]

You will be thinking about this issue then DEFRA (http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/051012e.htm)
And the NERC bill (http://www.glass-uk.org/)

Links not working will try and find them again

[Newsreader]

Linnks should work now - too many htttttppppssss:::///// :D

[graham]

Thanks Bernie:) trying to juggle telephones emails and faxes here :rolleyes:

[Pete H]

You will be thinking about this issue then DEFRA (http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/051012e.htm)
And the NERC bill (http://www.glass-uk.org/)
Links not working will try and find them again

I think is a very dark time for the Hobby,the people against us far out weigh the the peeps for us...Did we ever think we where going to get things easy?
Its a shame that groups carnt get along with each other,and share the countryside,instead the heavy hand of the powers that be has crushed what little chance we have had of ever driving on an usurfaced road again.....

Greenlaning is just about to dissapear for........................ ever :(


Hows that Steel....?:rolleyes:

[Rich_P]

I think is a very dark time for the Hobby,the people against us far out weigh the the peeps for us...Did we ever think we where going to get things easy?
Its a shame that groups carnt get along with each other,and share the countryside,instead the heavy hand of the powers that be has crushed what little chance we have had of ever driving on an usurfaced road again.....
Greenlaning is just about to dissapear for........................ ever :(
Hows that Steel....?:rolleyes:
Very good description of the way things seem to be heading, if we don't somehow make a stand. :rolleyes:

[jjsaul]

then with ur spare time mate....write the f***ing letter!

i shall do so myself and will get dad to write one as well as soon as i have a bit of time.

[Mike_Hammond]

Why wait ? do it now instead of typing online...........I've just done mine took me 10 minutes, not much effort to have your say :p

[jjsaul]

Why wait ? do it now instead of typing online...........I've just done mine took me 10 minutes, not much effort to have your say :p
cos at the same time as typing on here im doing maths homework, having a phone conversation and sorting out some ebay items i sold.

dont you think thats enough at any one given time for a male to do :D

[Mike_Hammond]

cos at the same time as typing on here im doing maths homework, having a phone conversation and sorting out some ebay items i sold.

dont you think thats enough at any one given time for a male to do :D


Priorities my boy, homework can wait we've got lanes to protect ;)

[jjsaul]

Priorities my boy, homework can wait we've got lanes to protect ;)

Nah-ah....ive got A levels to do well in ....if they go tits up the LR goes....then lanes wont matter to me.... :rolleyes:

[bulkhead ali]

I travel as a passenger when the Derby lot and friends go laning, we generally meet in the same layby on the A6 and if more than three verchiles turn up we split into smaller groups,and leave at least a ten minute gap between them to try and avoid upsetting any walkers, riders we may meet, a smile ,wave and a hello usually eases any potential problems! :) :)
we only tend to use lanes that are tried and tested and keep an eye on the condition of the lane, lately we seem to be gaining interest from new members which adds to the enjoyment, but also the responsibility of the drivers which is no big issue, yes we have ropes etc for safety and a list of phone numbers for if we get lost, stuck or if a lane is blocked:( :( so we can inform people of changes!
Does this mean that Tim is getting old or just more concerned to keep our hobby and joy open for us to enjoy?
my mum has been out with us and enjoyed herself, considering she was in the IIa with no seatbelts in the back and was rocked about shows that once people have a go they want to do it again!

cheers, Ali;)

[graham]

In my letter to Jim Knight MP i pointed out that GLASS have a large following along with all the Land Rover, 4x4 clubs and internet forums (your voters) and he might want to take this into account before imposing this ban.
I have sent a copy of the Green Lane Code of Conduct and the LRUK forum address with an invitation to come and research our poit of veiw.
Was that a pig flying over :D

So please give him a welcome :)