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Rovers, has seen a dramatic increase as a recreational sport, partly due to the increased numbers of suitable vehicles available.
          "In the late 1980's the Japanese-led sudden increase in 4wd sales led to an upsurge in 4wd trail driving.  This did cause problems of erosion in some parts of the country, and a wave of anti-vehicle campaigning….  Ten years on, the level of 4wd trail driving seems to have stabilised".  (LARA & LDNPA, 1997, p3).
    In addition to the increase in vehicle numbers attraction to rights of way has been influenced through vehicle manufacturers' advertisements, showing their 4WD vehicles ploughing through mud and scaling hills with no apparent concern for the environment through which they blast.  Additionally through high profile events such as the Camel Trophy (sponsored by Land Rover) and the Paris - Dakar Rally, the media and sponsors provide powerful images of off road adventure.  To be fair the Camel Trophy's format has been changed, so there is less emphasis on driving through muddy rainforests to a more physical human challenge, utilising canoes, orienteering and mountain bikes.
    Unfortunately a few people believe they can try to create their own off road adventure on rights of way.  As is always the case this small minority of individuals that do abuse the countryside gain the media attention and public eye.  Attention to this uncontrollable element has not only occurred because of the present attention on vehicles on rights of way, but there have always been problems regarding motor vehicles and the countryside as this quote from 12 years ago concerning motorcyclists illustrates,
          "Informal riders may vary considerably in motivation and attitude, from highly proficient adults who seek opportunities for off road riding with the minimum of disturbance to others…to "cowboy" teenage riders using stolen and stripped down machines on rough land with little obvious concern for the impact of their activities on the environment or neighbouring site occupants."  (Elson et al as cited in Glyptis, 1992, p145.)
    Today the attention is on off road 4WD vehicles although different vehicles to motor bikes the principles are the same. It is controlling this "cowboy" element who go out every weekend tooled up with winches and aggressive vehicles looking for the biggest/muddiest holes to get stuck in, that provides the biggest problems in terms of damage to rights of way and damage to the image of responsible vehicle users. The Land Access and Recreation Association (LARA) estimates that it has approximately 10,000 members who actively participate in using rights of way.  Although due to the nature of greenlaning, i.e. the fact that anyone at any time can drive a Byway Open to All Traffic, exact numbers are extremely difficult to precisely predict.  The vast majority of enthusiasts follow the "Tread Lightly Code" (a set of guidelines designed between LARA and offroading groups to minimise the impact of vehicles in the countryside, see appendices).  As part of organised clubs these people know that if they behave irresponsibly then they jeopardise the future of vehicular access to the countryside for all vehicle users.  If one listened to the press surrounding this current rights of way issue then it would seem the majority are against vehicles using rights of way, which they have a legal entitlement to use.
    The main reason for concern over vehicles on rights of way that is the basis of many conflicts between user groups is that of damage to the tracks.  The various councils in conjunction with the Highway Authority maintain rights of way in England under Section 1,36 and 41 of the Highways Act 1980.  They are maintainable at public expense, although the Countryside Commission has been increasingly providing financial support to under funded councils to help with reclassification

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