Stop Off-road Vehicles Using Public Footpaths and the Countryside

Originally written by Abigail Taylor, updated by the editorial team on 19th May 2026

What counts as a vehicle under UK law

Normally, vehicles are thought of as cars, vans and motorbikes. The legal definition varies depending on which legislation applies. The term "mechanically propelled vehicle" appears in several laws and covers quad bikes, trail bikes, motorised scooters and similar machines. Electric scooters have their own regulations and occupy an unusual position, currently illegal to use on public roads and pavements in most circumstances despite being widely sold.

This matters because the rules about where motor vehicles can go depend on these definitions. A dirt bike unlawfully operating on a public footpath is breaking the law in the same way a car would be.

There are some exceptions. Electric bicycles that meet specific standards are treated differently from other motorised vehicles. To qualify, they must have a maximum power output of 250 watts, provide assistance only when the rider pedals, and cut off that assistance at 15.5 mph. Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs are also allowed in places where other vehicles cannot go. These exemptions exist because the devices serve a different purpose and cause far less damage or disturbance.

If you are unsure whether a particular vehicle or device is allowed in a specific area, check local signage or contact the landowner. Rules can vary depending on the type of path, Traffic Regulation Orders in force, and any local bylaws that apply.

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Laws protecting footpaths and the countryside

Several pieces of legislation deal with the misuse of vehicles on footpaths, bridleways and open countryside in England and Wales.

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 makes it an offence to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle on a footpath, bridleway or restricted byway without lawful authority. The term "mechanically propelled vehicle" has specific legal interpretations developed through case law, and Traffic Regulation Orders can sometimes modify what is permitted on particular routes. This legislation covers most common situations where someone is riding a quad bike or scrambler along a walking route.

The Road Traffic Act 1988 also applies in many situations, particularly where driving is dangerous or careless. Offences under this Act can carry significant penalties including fines, penalty points and disqualification from driving.

The Police Reform Act 2002 gives officers specific powers to deal with antisocial vehicle use. Under sections 59 and 60, police can seize vehicles that are being driven in a way that causes alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public. This applies whether the driving takes place on roads or on land that is not a road, such as parks, open land or footpaths.

Before seizing a vehicle, officers will usually issue a warning. If the behaviour continues or the same vehicle is used in a similar way again, police can seize it. The owner may be required to pay retrieval fees, and persistent violations can result in the vehicle being destroyed. Fines for related offences vary but can reach several thousand pounds, with the possibility of criminal records for serious or repeated breaches.

Local councils may also have bylaws that restrict vehicle use in particular areas. These can add another layer of protection for parks, nature reserves and other green spaces.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Why these rules exist

The restrictions on vehicles exist for practical reasons. Footpaths and bridleways are not built to take the weight and wear of motor vehicles. Repeated use by quad bikes or motorbikes can quickly turn a path into a muddy trench, making it difficult or dangerous for walkers, horse riders and cyclists.

Erosion caused by tyres can also damage the surrounding habitat. In areas with sensitive wildlife or protected plants, the effects can be lasting.

Noise is another concern, as the countryside is valued for its peacefulness away from traffic. A scrambler bike running through a nature reserve disrupts that for everyone nearby, including wildlife that may be nesting or feeding.

There are also safety concerns. Footpaths are often narrow and have limited visibility. A fast moving vehicle on a path designed for people on foot creates a real risk of collision and injury.

What you can do about off-road vehicle misuse

If you regularly see vehicles being used illegally on footpaths or open land in your area, you have several options.

Reporting to the police is appropriate when the behaviour is ongoing or poses an immediate risk. Call 101 for non emergencies or 999 if someone is in danger. Try to note the type of vehicle, any registration details if visible, the time and location, and the direction of travel. Even partial information can help build a picture if the same vehicles cause repeated problems.

Your local council can also take action. Councils are responsible for maintaining public rights of way and can investigate reports of damage. They may install barriers or gates to prevent vehicle access, improve signage, or work with landowners on other solutions.

Contact your council's rights of way team or countryside management service
Provide details of the location and the type of damage or disturbance
Ask what measures are already in place and whether more can be done

Some areas have community partnerships or rural crime teams that focus on issues like this. Local advocacy groups and community action initiatives can also coordinate responses and put pressure on authorities to act. Your local police force website will have details of any specialist teams operating in your region.

If the problem involves private land, the landowner has the right to take action against trespassers, including seeking civil injunctions or reporting criminal behaviour to the police.

For more information on rights of way and countryside access, visit GOV.UK or contact your local council directly. The Ramblers and other walking organisations also publish guidance on reporting path problems.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Noise Complaint Letter Builder lets you generate a formal noise complaint letter ready to send. Takes 2 minutes. Try it now →

10 questions

Ask Problem Neighbours a Question

Skate 20/04/2023 at 1:39 am

Balls! A skateboard is legally a 'vehicle' therefore this entire article is an attempt to muddy the waters as to what is and isnt legal.

Teejeepee 08/07/2021 at 4:48 pm

I live on a bridleway which is constantly used by all kinds of traffic, including HGVs who take up all the available space - we've done our best to stop them as they are ruining the surface of the bridleway and making it unsafe to use, but neither the Council nor the Police wants to take the responsibility for this. The many legal users of the bridleway, horse riders, cyclists, walkers have complained and we are worried about their safety. (The motorists complain that there are too many potholes and their cars are being damaged - even though they have no rights!) The owner of the bridleway has been harassed and threatened by people who have no right to drive on it. There is another route people can use which takes an extra 5 minutes to go around, but they still constantly use the bridleway as a cut through. We go round in circles trying to sort this out and, I believe, one day, a child will be killed on it. Any suggestions?

saffywoo 08/01/2021 at 6:07 pm

I was never against off roaders it was legal , HOWEVER over the last few years as a registered blind person but with very little vision 6/60 I find that bikers drive to fast and expect you to step aside for them, don't mind providing I get the opportunity.

I would love to see our new government bring in tough rules to restrict numbers riding together (normally in multipoles of 2 plus) leave it for walkers Horse riders, bicycles and
stop this destruction of rural areas

Mother nature 29/11/2020 at 9:57 pm

Absolutely sick of off roaders ruining the countryside, destroying the natural habitat and making public byways unfit for walking and cycling. Plus the noise nuisance it causes locals. It needs to be banned!

wardlaw 24/11/2020 at 11:38 am

To all you commentators - its pretty clear from this article that the writer is talking about illegal use of areas by motorised vehicles (and not pedal bikes with motors on them). Note the references to "prevention signs which clearly state what types of vehicle are allowed to use the land" and "prevent off-road vehicles accessing footpaths".

It is illegal to drive a motorbike or a car on a footpath or a restricted byway. And some of my local vehicle groups are actually publishing maps for their members showing restricted byways as being accessible - causing conflict when challenged by others and danger to the legal users of those routes. Illegal motor vehicles are also damaging the routes, making them less accessible and are not taking any responsibility for that but simply quoting their "right" to use a route without doing any proper research.

Sunshine 27/11/2019 at 11:37 am

At no point do you explain that vehicles are legally allowed to drive byways open to all traffic or unclassified county roads. By carefully picking legislation you have inferred that driving vehicles on public rights of way is completely illegal, but there are thousands of unsurfaced rights of way that are legal public highways and can be driven in any road legal vehicle. The upshot of this bias is alarming, only last sunday a group of legal motorists were verbally attacked and had rocks thrown at them simply because the walkers they passed had no idea of the law, ignorant or not it does not excuse their behaviour! But "articles" like yours do add fuel to their anger. There have been many instances of legal motorists being challenged and attacked over the years, even the press chooses to "spin" the law to suit themselves and project anyone in the countryside in a vehicle as irresponsible or illegal. Many disabled users cannot access green spaces on foot, cycle or horseback, and so use a vehicle, taking their rights and freedom away over what is either ignorance or a purposeful misrepresentation of facts due to a personal agenda is beyond selfish. Many organisations use byways open to all traffic to train their response drivers, the 4x4 response service for example, who ensure your doctors and nurses get to work in the winter, who assist emergency services to access injured parties, mountain rescue of course use these vehicular routes too, as do farmers to access their land, power companies to access cables etc. Vehicular user groups campaign against illegal usage of rights of way, pump tens of thousands of pounds into local authority pots to help maintain rights of way, provide signage and assist with countless outdoor projects. Recently I was involved in a project on national trust land that was partly funded by vehicular user groups. Facts please and less of the bias! You'll be old one day and unable to walk where you used to, it won't mean you wont want to though, maybe a 4x4 may bring you some ability to continue to access the beautiful landscape in our country. Maybe you've walked many rights of way vehicular users have funded works on, maybe you'll need the skills of those who learned to drive them during times of bad weather, or to access a doctor who would have been stuck in the snow. Perspective is a wonderful thing, please see ours!

Chipps 24/04/2019 at 10:59 am

I should point out for clarity, that pedal-assist mountain bikes (defined as having a max power of 250W and a max speed of 25km/h) are legally considered to be 'bicycles' for rights of way purposes.
Twist-throttle e-bikes aren't, but a pedal-assist bike is. So you're allowed to ride a 'normal' e-bike on bridleways and byways.

Super 04/02/2017 at 9:49 am

Yes some people take libertys but then so does the other side of the table in Hertfordshire I have seen unrestricted byways with posts in the ground and gates locking people away from using the giving right to use the byway for mechanically powered vehicles, as a child I rode motorcycles and quads in the early 90s and there was not many places to go legally maybe if the encouraged people to use the unrestricted byways and had maps that didn't cost money showing where the byways were there wouldn't be such a problem but it's always against the off roader

Ben 05/09/2016 at 10:11 pm

Perhaps you should clarify that motor vehicles are allowed on byways.

Ziggy 20/08/2016 at 3:31 pm

The Mother of a Teenage Son next door admits she has no control over him so goes away every weekend and leaves the semi-detached house to him and his friends who drink; take drugs; play loud music and smash bottles in the garden until all hours. I have spoken to him and her separately both calmly and in temper, but nothing I say has an effect. She says to phone the police but we do not want to have to declare a neighbour dispute if ever we sell the house. Feel so angry the little s**t is getting away with it scott-free.

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