I got this email from the Ramblers Association today:
Hello Ben,
There’s a path in the Peaks that I love. It’s called Chapelgate. It runs along Rushup Edge from Edale to Chapel-En-Le-Frith. When I stand on it and look across at Mam Tor and Kinder Scout, my heart soars.
But last time I did this, a motorbike whizzed past ruining my peace and nearly knocked me over. I clambered up the path a bit further and I couldn’t, the path had been completely destroyed by 4x4s.
This needs to stop
The Peak District National Park want to preserve this path by banning 4x4s and other off-road vehicles from using it. I think that’s a great idea. Can you help me, by showing your support for a ban?
Please email the Peak District National Park supporting a ban on off-road vehicles using Chapelgate.
Thanks,
Anastasia French,
Campaigns Officer
I usually ignore these things for the most part, but I was a bit unsure about exactly what the campaign meant, and it annoyed me a little - what does off road vehicles mean?
So I sent a reply:
Hi,
Just want something clarifying with this - when you say 'off road vehicles', do you actually mean motorised vehicles?
Should people be allowed to drive their Mondeo down it (Sat Nav error?!).
And more to the point, should mountain bikes be allowed?
As it stands I certainly won't be signing it!
Thanks,
Ben.
I got this reply back:
Ben,
The consultation is about all motorvehicles (except emergency services and water companies).
Mountain bikes are not exempt from the proposals.
More information can be found http://consult.peakdistrict.gov.uk/file ... tement.pdf
Thanks,
Anastasia
The consultation is about all motorvehicles, but mountain bikes are not exempt from the proposals? What does that mean? Possibly she just mistyped this. The linked document does state 'mechanically propelled vehicles' which seems to be used a lot round here, and while also rather ambiguous (confused me the first time I saw it), apparently does just mean motorvehicles (why don't they just say that?!). Anyway, I certainly think the campaign should be redone, before someone does get the wrong idea...
To be honest, I'm a bit tentative about anything like this anyway. While I certainly like the idea of banning motorvehicles from places (certainly on all the roads, where they cause a lot more problem in my view ) I prefer to be more open-minded and less selfish. After all, even if this doesn't include mountain bikes at the moment, next it could do. And then maybe walkers could be further along the line...
Just curious as to what anyone else's views are here.