Scratch Off UK Mountain Bike Trails Map Poster | eBay UKRecent research by Paul’s Cycles has unveiled a significant disparity in the availability of technically challenging mountain bike trails across England. This imbalance may be contributing to the rise of unofficial trail riding.
Key Findings:
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Trail Distribution: The study analysed English counties based on the number of “hard” or “strenuous” routes listed on AllTrails. It found that challenging trails are 29% fewer than family-friendly options. Additionally, approximately 78% of England’s Rights of Way network remains inaccessible to cyclists.
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Regional Disparities: Certain counties exhibit minimal access to challenging trails. For instance, Tyne and Wear, Herefordshire, and Bedfordshire each account for 0.1% of England’s challenging trails. In contrast, Cumbria leads with 17.1%, followed by Derbyshire at 10%, and North Yorkshire at 9.5%. Notably, over half of England’s technically demanding routes are concentrated in the North West, South East, and Yorkshire and the Humber regions.
Industry Perspectives:
Tom Thornley, Managing Director of Paul’s Cycles, commented, “Illegal mountain biking isn’t driven by bad behaviour, it’s driven by a lack of suitable infrastructure. Riders aren’t actively looking to break rules; they’re seeking progression, challenge, and flow. In many parts of the country, that simply doesn’t exist within official trail networks.”
James Allsopp, operator of Peak and Moor Mountain Bike Guiding, added, “As a professional, I don’t promote or condone riding unsanctioned trails, but I do offer guidance. The current rights-of-way system is archaic and broken, as exclusion is often based on historical usage rather than modern suitability.”
Implications:
The scarcity of accessible challenging trails may be driving riders to seek out unofficial routes, potentially leading to environmental degradation and conflicts with landowners. Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach, including the development of more progressive trail systems and a reevaluation of existing access regulations.
For a detailed analysis, visit Paul’s Cycles’ website.