Richard Simpson wrote:
Here's one that no one's mentioned yet.
Many police etc tend to believe what they are told by landowners, householders etc when it comes to 'motorcyclists riding illegally in the countryside'.
There have been times too numerous to mention when TRF members riding legally in the countryside have been threatened with prosecution, and when the police/CPS have been presented with evidence about the lane in question by the TRF the case has been quietly withdrawn.
Don't think that you won't sometimes get hassled for riding perfectly legally and responsibly. If you do, then you can expect the TRF to weigh in on your behalf. What you pay for a year with the TRF wouldn't even get you through the office door with a lawyer...and the lawyer will know less about RoW law than the TRF do.
So, if you look on it as nothing else, look on it as very cheap legal insurance.
This brings me back to a topic I raised some time ago.
Should each group make a formal relationship with their local county police force?
Not just to become 'friends' but also to educate them about where we can and cannot ride.
As legal riders we should not have the worry of an ill prepared prosecution hanging over us while the rights of a route are argued over - this should be decided right at the beginning before any action is taken.
It is clear from recent discussion with our local police that, even where two of them are bikers, they don't really know where the legal lanes are and where TRO's are implemented.
Sorry for the hijack but I think the case for joining has been well made now.