It would seem to me that enjoying yourself is a criminal offence!

To pursue any way of life beyond the norm is to be an outlawed minority. My way of life is motorcycling. We are still tarred with the same worn-out brush from the 1960s. Hooligans. Rebels. Anarchists.

For the vast majority of folk this is an outdated stereotype. I treat people with courtesy and consideration, and it is returned, by and large, in spades.

It is the same riding off-road. On a Sunday, returning from an early ride, those families who have the courage to turn the TV off and get some fresh air always gather their children and dog on sight of our machines and, as we pass at a walking pace, they still have enough hands free to wave in response to a courteous "thank you". And while those who walk have such a wealth of isolated pathways to choose from, some choose the busiest and historically oldest vehicular right of way (the Ridgeway), and wilfully obstruct our progress, either by refusing to step aside, or by deliberately blocking our passage.

They are sullen and rude in their response to our courtesy, and go home rich in bile and spite to try to remove the last few vehicular rights of way from our maps.

The irony is that, away from the Ridgeway, if I said I have seen more than a dozen people walking the more isolated byways whilst riding over the last 2 years I would be exaggerating.And yet members of GLEAM and fractions of the Ramblers Association would deny us these as well.

If the Ridgeway's users are coming into conflict, it is wide enough to segregate the path from the track (as indeed it has in some places). The authorities should clamp down on illegal use such as motocross bikes and unlicensed scramble machines. All of our motorcycles are taxed, insured and road-legal.

I would welcome more of the police checkpoints I saw at the edge of Salisbury Plain this Sunday.

Common respect and courtesy is all that is required by all parties.

Peter Flynn

Trail Rider

Member of the Swindon and District Motorcycle Club