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Do you know the code of conduct for cycling on shared paths?

 Guidelines for protecting and sharing the trails.

A huge part of mountain biking’s attraction is the freedom and safety that comes without having to share trails with drivers. However, with great fun and freedom comes great responsibility. Given the increased number of hikers, dog walkers, horse riders and cyclists using shared paths and trails, it’s important to know that the rural environment has its own traffic regulations. We’ve listed some simple but important recommendations for when you hit the trails, to ensure that everyone can benefit from shared paths.

Respect the track

If the trail is shut, it’s shut for a reason. Be it to protect the environment or for your own safety, we can guarantee that it’s not a personal attack by the trail conservators to ruin your fun day out. Venturing out even when the trails are shut isn’t just illegal, it gives us cyclists a bad rep!

As a rule of thumb, practice the “Leave No Trace” principle and you should be grand. This includes taking all your rubbish home with you, such as punctured inner tubes, water bottles and yep, even banana skins!

It’s a big no-no to open new paths or modify existing ones, building unauthorised singletrack or adding trail features are detrimental to everybody’s access and to the environment. Poorly built features could also seriously injure other trail users.

To do your bit, you could even help your local club or trail care alliance maintain and build new trails. Find out more information here.

Mind the animals

When it comes to wildlife, take precautions and respect the environment you are in. Animals can be startled by an unannounced approach, a sudden movement, or a loud noise. This can upset dogs, startle horses, scatter cattle, sheep and disturb wildlife. Be aware of your potential impact on animals and take care to avoid disturbing them; it’s their home after all.

Be sure to close any gates behind you, escaped cows won’t make you too popular with the local farmers, and not to mention, it is very dangerous.

 

Be courteous!

If you want to pass a slower rider, use your bell to alert them (or call out) and be aware that they may not be able to pull over to the side right away. Pass slow and wide, and remember to give your thanks. And vice versa, if you’re trundling along and there’s someone faster coming up behind you, move over to let them pass when it’s safe to do so.

For any reason, you may want to stop and have chat with your mates or should you get the inevitable puncture, don’t block the trail! Riders coming behind you or flying around a corner may not have time to react and avoid you.

On multi-use trails, mountain bikers give way to horses and foot traffic. There are some regional and local differences on single-use trails to make sure you check trail signage.

Ride with control 

Shared paths are for sharing, not speeding. Ride with control and at a speed you can safely stop.  Going too fast, inattentiveness and rudeness are the primary sources of trail conflict among user groups. Be extra aware when riding trails with poor sight lines and blind corners, and make sure you can hear what’s going on around you.

Other tips for better rides

  • Be prepared. A well-prepared trip to the trail will help you and your riding buds from running into problems. Carry what you need for your ride and know how to fix a flat or make minor repairs. Download a GPS app before riding, so even if you do find yourself in the middle of nowhere on your lonesome, you’ll still be able to find your way.
  • A friend in need is a friend indeed. Stop to lend a hand if you see a fellow cyclist in a spot of bother, you never know, one day you might be the person who forgot their puncture kit in the car park 15 miles away.

In a nutshell, all you need to do is be respectful of everyone (and everything) you encounter on your ride, and be aware that trails don’t just build and maintain themselves. By adopting these guidelines, you can rest assured that you’re doing your part to respect the environment and other trail users. Go you!

Written By:

Emily Pheysey

Litigation Executive

Emily has over 7 years of experience in the legal sector, handling road traffic accident claims to recover compensation and support her clients. Her focus is to ensure all clients feel comfortable and at ease with the claims process so that they can focus on their recovery.

Emily considers rapport to be an essential part of the role and strives to always provide excellent client care.

Away from work, Emily enjoys spending time with her family and friends and travelling as much possible.

Diane Holderness

Litigation Executive

Diane is a Ministry of Justice (TOJ) Team Leader within our Cycle Department. She has 11 years’ experience managing road traffic accident claims, and 6 years’ experience managing MOJ claims.

Diane enjoys a challenge and always strives for the very best results for her customers; something that is clear in the way her team continually adapts its strategies in order to secure the most desired outcome. Diane has worked her way through the legal ranks here, and is proud to now have a strong, specialist team that is committed to customer satisfaction.

Diane believes that happy clients make a happy working environment, and it is this that ensures a productive and efficient workforce.

Nina Haddock

Chartered Legal Executive

Nina has over 30 years’ experience in the legal sector. She specialises in recovering compensation for injury claimants as a result of road traffic accidents. Her focus for each and every claim is to help her clients secure the funding that they need to pay for ongoing treatment and support.

Nina became a CILEX Fellow in 2006 and now helps her clients and their families at a time when they have been through a traumatic experience, and everything they hold dear to them appears to be changing.

One case Nina is particularly proud of is supporting a client who had successfully sought asylum in the UK, following a road traffic accident. The claim was successfully pursued through the MIB and the client was left with significant injuries. Her client was able to use the compensation to aid family members with their applications to seek asylum in the UK.

Julian Fox

Cycling Accident Solicitor

Julian qualified as a Solicitor in 2005 and has worked in all areas of personal injury since 2000. Julian has a well-rounded understanding of personal injury law, having represented both claimants and defendants.

Julian always aims for maximum damages to meet his clients’ needs for injury and rehabilitation expenses, and can often secure interim payments to help meet clients’ financial needs. Julian is highly proactive in ensuring cases are progressed, ensuring a timely conclusion.

When not at the office, Julian is a keen cyclist, both on roads and virtually -he will often do an hour of ‘Zwifting’ in the mornings before starting work.

Richard Atherton

Cycling Accident Solicitor

Richard has 12 years of legal experience and qualified as a Solicitor in February 2014. He has been a Team Manager with us since 2019. Throughout his career, Richard has specialised in personal injury, handling an array of Road Traffic Accident cases, in addition to employer and public liability.

Richard prides himself on his very strong strategic and planning skills, which come into their own in complex injury cases where more technical arguments are involved. On every case, he is committed to ensuring that his clients receive full compensation for their injuries.

Away from work, Richard enjoys sport; he is a season ticket holder at St Helens Rugby Club and a Liverpool FC fan. Not only a spectator, Richard also likes going to play golf as often as he can.

Dave Gardner

Litigation Executive

Dave has over 20 years of experience in the legal sector. His specialism is personal injury and he has dealt with hundreds of cycling injury claims during his career. Excellent client care and communication is paramount to Dave. He prides himself on being accessible and available, attending court hearings where damages are in dispute to ensure the best outcome for his clients. One case Dave is particularly proud of is when he supported an elderly client who suffered serious injuries following a road traffic incident. The police had not taken any action against the defendant, so Dave had to be proactive and act within a 24-hour window. The case proceeded and the client was in receipt of £30,000 in damages, which he would not have been entitled to had the client not approached Dave. He is also an avid supporter of Glasgow Rangers and travelled abroad on many occasions to see them play in European competitions.

Gerard Horton

Partner

Gerard is a Senior Solicitor at Cycle SOS. In his 13 years of experience, Gerard has built a national reputation in the catastrophic injury sector, dealing with high value and complex cases. Alongside his legal role, Gerard supports several charities including Headway Central Lancashire, Northwest Regional Spinal Injuries Centre and spinal injury charity, Back Up.

Julia Eyton

Partner

Julia brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Cycle SOS team.

Specialising in representing those who have had life changing injuries, Julia handles some of the most serious and complex personal injury cases both within Cycle SOS and nationally.

She often works on high value claims and is skilled in winning complex liability cases.

NADIA KERR

Partner

Nadia has over 30 years of legal expertise and has represented hundreds of vulnerable road users. With a focus on ensuring timely rehabilitation, speedy repair or replacement of bikes and kit, and securing fair compensation, Nadia is committed to advocating for justice and client rights. Alongside her legal career, Nadia actively participates in national campaigns to benefit vulnerable road users and acts as a Trustee/Director for the national cycling charity, Cycling UK. Nadia was named in Cycling UK’s ‘100 women’ and was a founding member, now running a women’s cycling group, TeamGlow in South Manchester. Among her many achievements, Nadia takes pride in her spot on BBC Breakfast, where she provided expert commentary on long term government funding for pothole repairs.

Caroline Morris

DIRECTOR OF SERIOUS INJURY

Caroline has specialised in personal injury for over 25 years, recovering more than £56 million in damages during that time, to help clients rebuild their lives after injury.

Caroline is committed to achieving rehabilitation options early, meaning her clients benefits from the best care and treatment at the earliest stage possible.