The Association of Peak Trail Riders (APTR) is petitioning Derbyshire County Council Highways Authority to reopen four iconic Peak District lanes to motorcycles.
Chapelgate, Roych, Long Causeway and Leys Lane were all closed by the National Park Authority to “preserve their beauty and amenity”, ignoring the fact that they had been used by motorcyclists for over a century.
The association was formed by the Association of Peak Trail Riding Businesses, an alliance of 50 businesses in and around the national park which are wholly or partly dependent upon trail riding. They include local inns and hotels, cafes and coffee shops, motorcycle training and tour operators and motorcycle workshops, accessory shops and dealers.
A spokesman for the APTR said: “There are many more footpaths, bridleways and restricted byways which are open to those who do not want to encounter motorcyclists when they are enjoying the Peak District than there are vehicular rights of way in the park.
“The anti-trail riding policies of the national park authority are driving trail riders away to other, more welcoming, areas. This is now having a real impact on businesses in and around the park.
“We are asking the county council highways authority to put local people and businesses, jobs and the tourist trade first and remove these damaging restrictions.”
Find the petition at:
https://www.change.org/p/derbyshire-county-council-highways-authority-re…