No, it isn't, the regulations specifically cover not only mass start events but also relate, and prohibit, time trialling. because the risk is from people going 'as fast as they can'.fatbikephil wrote: ↑Fri Aug 05, 2022 1:14 pm The 'no racing on ROW's' is aimed squarely at preventing massed starts and massed groups of riders charging around a place at break neck speed to the annoyance of other users. A large group of people setting off on a bike ride at once may also cause annoyance to other trail users and lead to complaints to the relevant Council or NP. They may then try to get in touch with the organisers to ensure they put in place proper measures to manage this, i.e staggered starts etc.
They aren't likely to take the organiser to court for holding a race.
until it all goes wrong
again, thats not the risk, its the health & safety prosecution when someone gets killed that is going to come back to the event organiser. See the spectator fatality in Wales as an example (though the prosecution fell apart in the end)Stuart Ryder (YD300 person) was contacted by the YDNP who were grumbling about him holding a race but it was just that - grumbling. Stuart was able to deflect them by directing them to his website where no mention of race was made. The hoo ha over the Polaris tested this as no racing was being done, it was just an event where a large group of people rode round looking for GR's in a fixed time. If you took a worst case scenario of a cyclist doing an off road ITT, individually or as part of a group start, colliding with a pedestrian on a BW and injuring them, then the pedestrian's life insurance company may go after an event organiser if they felt that their negligence had been a significant factor in the collision. But they would be on a pretty sticky wicket as the chances are such a collision will be entirely down to the actions of the people directly involved. In all honesty, a cyclist who crashes into a dog walker doing an ITT isn't going to say "It's not my fault, it's the guy who made me do this route's fault"
again, its not an issue, until it is an issue, inevitably after it all goes wrongPF's aren't scouring the land looking for illegality, they rely on reports from the Police. The Police would only be interested if they had received lots of complaints or there had been lots of injuries and their first tack would be to contact an organiser and deal with the issue 'softly'. The Police otherwise won't be remotely interested. The road traffic example that Labrat notes - speeding and running red lights - directly results in road casualties so the Police do take an interest and enforce (however minimally...)
Problem there is that, for a community constantly complaining that we don't have enough access, and are afraid of the trespass access we already enjoy being criminalised by the government (remember the uproar over that anyone?) We're hardly sending a message of responsibility are we? A small minority of our community are actively out there cutting our own throats for us, and being cheered on for it.So this ramble is me trying to say that none of this is ever likely to be an issue that is going to lead to any form of prosecution or country wide witch hunt of ITT organisers. There is always trial by the Daily Express et al which might make a few organisers nervous but ensuring the language used to describe their events is correct - i.e. it's a social / challenge ride, not a race - will deflect any accusation that they are encouraging widespread law breaking. Timing it is no different to someone timing their own ride for whatever reason - it's not going to lead to people behaving any differently to what they would do if just doing a bike ride, so won't materially alter circumstances if there is a collision or a complaint.
Remember what happened with the Charlie Alliston/Kim Briggs case? (fixie rider killed woman crossing road). Remember what damage that caused to the reputation of cyclists in general? Remember what happened when that triathlete rode into the horse and it was splashed all over the BBC?
Politicians see these stories blown up in the media, politicians listen to the people who oppose legalising cycling on footpaths because they see events like this happening.
Politicians and people who we need to get on side if we want more access
If we're unable to get our own house in order, who the F is going to give us that?