Where can hikers walk then?Do they have free acces to all land?
Well, not everywhere, but Happy Valley is in open access Land; since 2005 and CROW Act it is an area where bobblies can exercise the right to roam. They have no need to walk on the road - but because it is a ROAD they like walking on them cos they're level and don't have dangerous tufts of nasty grass which can hurt their footsies
Group sizes
Not tricky this one, but the issue with group size is impact on other recreational users and passing other vehicles. 12 cars meeting another 12 on lanes can be chaos - with the chance that a large number of vehilces will have to drive off the road to pass, which brings me on to...
Section 59:
Where an police officer has reasonable grounds* for believing that a motor vehicle is being driven off the road and also the manner of use of the vehicle is causing or has been causing or is likely to cause, alarm distress or annoyance** to members of the public, you can be issued with a section 59 notice can be used to initially give a written warning (valid for twelve months) and if you do it again, to confiscate your car.
*reasonable grounds = a walker, responsible green laner or landowner clocking you, or a video on youtube. A rozzer does not have to be present. The Ramblers Assoc. issue advice on how and when to report drivers to the police in line with section 59.
**Annoyance can include the impact of large group of vehicles, noisy exhausts, winching, or simple a dislike of knobbly tyres kicking up mud and my pet hate - orange off roaders. They annoy me - which is entirely subjective, but that's section 59 for ya.
