The TRF CBT – introducing young people into safe, responsible and sustainable trail riding.
At the beginning of September, the TRF held possibly its first formal training event aimed at introducing young riders to Trail Riding.
What is a CBT?
Compulsory basic training (CBT) was introduced in 1990 to help reduce the very high accident rate among inexperienced motorcyclists. CBT must be completed by Law, before any new moped or motorcycle rider is allowed to ride on the road with L-plates or D-plates in Wales. This includes riding green roads and trails open to the public.
What’s different about the TRF approach to CBT?
An Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) study in 2009 of 3500 accident showed that 250 16-year-old boys are killed or seriously injured in moped accidents.
The IAM says the three top priorities are:
* A review of the Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) programme that currently lasts for just two hours.
* A “Think Moped” campaign informing drivers and teenagers why, when and where riding mopeds is risky.
* A new commitment to develop ways of targeting illegal and reckless riding.
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In addition
In addition a 2015 report from the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) who surveyed CBT takers came up with many recommendations that the TRFs offering will help with in the following ways;
1: Success rate
The TRF proposes a minimum two-day course rather than a one-day course.
DVSA say- The average completion rate for CBT across all Approved Training Bodies(ATB)s is the same as that found in the learners’ survey – 96%. The average one-day completion rate (amongst all learners) is 84%.
2: Safety
The TRF offers additional safety training in particularly on riding unsurfaced roads, group riding and first aid training.
DVSA say Four in ten learners (39%) would pay extra for more on-road and safety training.
3: Trail bike machine skills
The TRF offer riding a proper trail bike (including 50cc moped) with gears.
DVSA say – Most trainers (72%) feel that completing CBT on an automatic does not prepare learners well for riding a manual
4: Trail riding skills
The TRF will give training on the following areas
Off tarmac Trail riding skills
The law covering access and where to trail ride
Managing risk –sharing the trail and managing conflict – eg trail & road rage.
Social & Environmental responsibility and least impact
Dealing with injuries and first aid
This will basic course form the foundation of a formal Trail Riding course undergoing ROSPA & ACU accreditation.
5: Continued learning through 12 months of TRF membership
Those completing the CBT have access to thousands of guided rides and related training through our 40 groups nationwide. The natural next step is preparation for a full licence and the TRF can offer plenty of “saddle time” with experienced riders. The DVSA Approved Training Bodies will offer further training to DVSA test standard.
DVSA say – it should be made easy and not overly costly for those who want extended training to be able to come back for another 2 hours on the road for example. The onus should not be on completion in one day and while trainers claim they don’t tell learners how long it should take, the fixed fee per course price structure may be influencing many trainers to aim for one day completion.
6: Further qualifications past Driving Test
The TRF offer the full licence holder access to the following qualifications
Qualified First Aider including for riding injuries (1-day course £30)
IAM Advanced Motorcyclist Skills for life (10% discount)
ACU Coach
ACU Clerk of Course
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Why are the TRF
Why are the TRF doing this?
The membership that make up the new TRF is fast changing and the TRF Directors are leading a programme to assist newer young riders that are interested in trail riding to join the TRF and learn about responsible trail riding.
We get many enquiries from young riders who are interested in trail riding and we, the TRF Membership, need to make it clear to young riders who go trail riding, that the first step is to attend a CBT course.
“Off the Kerb Trail riding” whose directors are long term existing TRF members, have been in discussion over CBT and young riders since last year. They also have great relationship with Fantic and run a fleet of learner legal trail bikes. More recently the TRF was invited a meeting at Mick Extance Experience Centre to discuss Safety training and met with East Midlands TRF member Paul Nunn of Shire motorcycle training who handle the bookings for Mick Extance Experience. Paul has an amazing team of trainers including young lady instructors with strong trail riding skills. He also has a fleet of Kawasaki KLX 125 for CBT use. From the TRF’s perspective it became clear that training on safe, legal and courteous riding starts with the CBT, rather than leaving it till later.
Off the Kerb and Shires have offered to look after the first step the CBT, and we are looking for young riders ideally 16 for moped and 17 for 125cc in need of a CBT
List of TRF linked DVSA Approved Training Bodies (ATB) who provide CBTs plus knowledge of Trail Riding include:
• Off the Kerb – London http://www.offthekerbmct.co.uk & http://offthekerbtrailriding.com/
• East Midlands – Shires – https://www.shiresmt.com/
Please contact Chris Barrable [email protected] TRF Training Director as a TRF member you would like to add any Trail orientated CBT Training providers to this list. Stewart Bosworth [email protected] is writing the course of Trail Riding. For other inquiries over Young Riders and the TRF, Tom Carnell [email protected] has agreed to look after this area.
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More info on CBT and rider training HERE
https://www.gov.uk/motorcycle-cbt
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CBT insights HERE
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More info on moped accidents HERE
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorbikes/5077581/Moped-rider-risks.html
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More info on motorcycle casualties HERE
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More info on the impact of training in reducing motorcycle accidents HERE
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0022437589900327
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Earlier this year
Earlier this year Cumbria TRF put out a call for help to repair The Old Coach Road, an iconic route through the northern Lake District that was literally being washed away. It looked like a big ask, until trail riders and other green road users did something amazing. We caught up with Steve Stout, the man behind the project to find out how this incredible green road conservation project came about and its legacy.
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Read the Old Coach Road Repair Plan HERE
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Read the Old Coach Road Survey HERE
https://trail.trf.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/02.-CTRF-U3132.U2236-Survey-04.18.pdf
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The OCR is approximately
The ‘Old Coach Road’ is approximately 8 km of unsealed unclassified county road in the parishes of St. John Castlerigg & Wythburn, Threlkeld, and Matterdale. It crosses the boundary of both Allerdale (U2236) and Eden (U3132) Districts of Cumbria County. It passes through an Environmentally Sensitive Area, for a short distance crosses a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and reaches a maximum altitude of 437 metres (1436 ft).
It was significantly damaged during Storm Desmond in December 2015.
The excessive rainfall left the road heavily scarred in several places. On the western end, a trench opened up running down from Hausewell Brow for almost a kilometre adjacent to the sheepfold at the bottom of the descent. (GR 341232 to 333235). On the eastern end, the damage on Hausewell Brow was not as severe or dramatic but a shallower trench opened up along the surface for approx. 1.5 kilometres to Mariel Bridge.
The eastern section between High Row and Mariel Bridge had several large puddles and the drainage gully was blocked for the majority of the route, but the water damage was less severe than at the western end. However, the whole road was suffering from a general lack of maintenance.
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Last known records
Last known records of maintenance and repairs to this lane are recorded in the minutes of a meeting of the Hierarchy of Trails Working Party Group in 2003. It is believed that Cumbria County Council, (CCC), the National Trust, (NT), and Lake District National Park Authority, (LDNPA), carried out some works to the eastern section as a joint project but this is still unverified. Since this time, the drainage gully that runs the length of the lane had become choked with sphagnum moss (Sphagnum spp.) and soft rush (Juncus effusus) and in some places both. Many of the culverts were also damaged with age issues.
Cumbria Trail Riders Fellowship, (CTRF), have worked for over twenty years in Cumbria conserving and helping CCC and the LDNPA to manage the green road network. CTRF decided to try to tackle the deterioration of the Old Coach Road and so the plan to repair the road was discussed and put into action in 2018.
Once the logistics of the project had been identified, drawing on knowledge of specialist contractors and professionals who have repaired upland rights of way in Cumbria for many years, the stages were identified and set up.
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The day after storm Desmond 2015
July 2018
December 2017
July 2018
Main drainage gully not evident in 2017
Main drainage gully and culvert reinstated 2018
Stage 1
Stage 1 was to re-open the drainage gully that runs the length of the road, Stage 2 was to repair or replace the culverts that run under the surface of the road to the downhill aspect.
Funding requests to the CCC (who technically are responsible for the route’s maintenance), the LDNPA and the NT were unable to be met, however permissions to continue were given by CCC, LDNPA, Natural England, the local Parish Council & the various user groups to complete the project. A crowd funding process was set up by CTRF and embraced by the national Trail Riders Fellowship, the Green Lane Association and the Trans Euro Trail community. Together these user groups generated a significant amount of the funds needed to repair the road; and a significant number of individuals donated funds to the project.
Stakeholders, including local residents, local user groups and local contractors completed the project’ donating their time and efforts unstintingly, however special thanks should go to the many individuals, the European community of trail riders and also to the many motor clubs from other parts of the UK who embraced the spirit of this project and helped to truly show what a community can achieve.
Both the Threlkeld Commoners and Threlkeld Mining Museum granted access to their stone quarry which has traditionally been used to maintain the road. A very big thank you goes to all of these people for their huge generosity as without this the project would not have been completed.
The team from Dan Birkett Construction did a great job and the effects of their expertise and hard work should be seen for years to come. The LDNPA and the NT donated items which helped immensely.
Twenty five of the sixty two culverts were replaced in all, seven in the eastern section and eighteen between Mariel Bridge and Klondike Quarry. Around 3000 tons of material was used to fill in the trenches taking a total of forty one man days for the paid construction team. Volunteer days was 118 days over the length of the project.
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Donations
DONATIONS
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Money 01
Trail Rider Fellowship Groups – £5,872.00
Green Lane Association – £5,000.00
Individuals– £3,690.00
Trans Euro Trail – £515.00
Lake District Land Rover Meet – £220.00
Bassenthwaite Motor Club – £200.00
Cumbria Soaring Club – £200.00
Byway Tour – £30.00
TOTAL – £15,727.00
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Money 02
Threlkeld Commoners – Materials
Threlkeld Mining Museum – Permissions and Stone
Cumbria Soaring Club – Volunteer time
Lake District Land Rover Meet – Volunteer time
Dan Birkett Construction – One unpaid day of four staff
Lake District National Park Authority – Volunteer Tools
National Trust – Culvert Piping x 7 lengths (TBC)
Sir Robert McAlpine – Expertise
Ashcrofts Construction – Expertise
Trail Riders Fellowship – Planning, Expertise and Enthusiasm
Trans Euro Trail – John Ross – Advice and Marketing
MW Graphics – Signage
Greg Villalobos Films – Fundraising campaigning and Generosity
Graeme Jackson – Drone Footage
Alan Williams – Drone Footage & Filming
Lucy Dunn – Patience and Support!
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Costs
COSTS
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Phase 01
PHASE 1:
Digger x 5 days – £1250.00
VAT – £250.00
PHASE 2:
Digger, dumper & workmen x 9 Days – £9,000.00
Culvert piping @ £58.00 x 18 – £1044.00
VAT – £2008.80
Just Giving Fees – 656.17
Diesel – £300.00
Bench & Plaque – £580.00
TOTAL PROJECT SPEND – £15,0888.97
MONIES LEFT OVER – £638.03
Monies left over will be used in the next two years to maintain the main drainage gully.
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The road is now
The road is now repaired for all users, whether they be walkers, cyclists, horse riders, farmers, paragliders, motor vehicle users or any other type of user.
What is needed for the future is ongoing maintenance and a commitment from the user groups to monitor the road and step in to maintain it as none of the ‘local authorities’ have committed to do so. This inability to implement maintenance on the higher-status public rights of way and on the lowest classes of roads is happening throughout Cumbria and across the UK, and so it is left to the user groups to take on the responsibility themselves until such time as our governments see fit to realign their sense of responsibility.
For the future it would be desirable for this road to become an entry point for both the community and visitors to access story boards which explain the landscape, the wildlife, the history and the current techniques used to manage this area whilst retaining its accessibility for all user groups. A plaque is to be erected to commemorate the generosity of the people involved in this project, this will sit at the top of Hausewell Brow for all to read and enjoy as they use this road.
This project has been a great success. The desired outcomes have been achieved, the community spirit of all the disparate parties involved has been a pleasure to behold and the generosity of all the donators, (whether they gave cash or time and effort) has been heart warming. Sometimes in adversity the human spirit does come together and achieve something special. Long may that continue.
Steve Stout
Chairman, Cumbria Trail Riders Fellowship , July 2018
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Last weekend North Wales TRF donated £1,080 to Wales Air Ambulance.
The group raised the money through their March Moon and Dolgellau guided trail riding weekends earlier in the year.
Pictured are Alison Winn from Wales Air Ambulance and NWTRF members Mike Rowlands, Neil ‘Timpo’ Thompson and Chairman Eddie Evans.
The air ambulance is an invaluable service in Wales due to the remoteness of its many paths, villages and settlements.