A few comments on the following:
Nicely said Jai, I don't think you have offended anyone with that post
Going forward, I see your points clearly, and I'll raise a slightly different viewpoint shortly, and I'm sure a few others will raise their viewpoints too (please do - because this debate has progessed beyond petty name calling and now makes sense )
Maybe it would make sense, when we have a few different viewpoints, to vote on an official Landyzone Greenlaning Policy. That way when speaking with councils etc, we can say we are a democratic group, and we have the following official policy. Grippa put up a sticky thread to this effect.Itwas basically a link to the GLASS regs.
Obviously no such policy is enforcable, but it would be good to know what the majority of people think, and to use as a guide for what not to do, and if done by accident, what not to post about !
So here are my current personal views (which I could be talked out with logical argument)
1. We pay taxes, like Ramblers and Horse Riders. They have thousands of foot paths, rights of way, and Bridle Ways for the horses. Why should they have exclusive/any rights to the Byways, which by nature are roads, and are for cars. True.
2. a) Once you remove vegetation from the soil, it will start to erode with just wind and rain. It doesn't matter if no vehicles drive it, it will still erode.Not striclty true.
b) When a road is in such a state that a standard land rover can't get by without difficulty, no car can get by anyway, so why should we then stop using the lanes. Untill the lanes are repaired/tarred, which they would be if there were enough legitmate users, no one can use them ! So should we then stop using them so that ramblers don't get their feet muddy ? If we rag a lane with a defender then say a gyalander cant get down it, isnt that selfish?My classic grounds out before the defenders i go out with.But my classic is far from a standard road car.
3. As for managing public perceptions I think we are confusing the Ramblers perceptions with that of the general public. The vast majority of the public haven't even heard of green lanes, and if they heard what I said above, I think they would support us.Why would they support something they arent interested in or understand?
I also think that the majority of the public perceive Rambles as eccentric tosspots, because that is what I thought of them the first time I heard about them, and this was many years before I ever got a Land Rover or drove a Green Lane. Some ramblers are toss pots, Im a hiker me self. And a laner so what does that make me?Me socks in red, but i do have a hat for cold days!
So my current personal opinion is we shouldn't be scared to stand up for what is fair and resonable, and fight for it. We are never going to appease to the Ramblers, so lets not even try. Lets rather all contact our local councils who administer the lanes we love, and say,
"We are a democratic group of greenlaners that believe "insert whatever we decide" and we would like to ensure that the lanes remain open, so what can we do to make sure they say open."
Then instead of our random acts of kindness going un-noticed by the people that matter, they would know exacly what we do for the community !