L a n i n g L i f e

Read about green laning as seen through Lauren ‘Sunshine’ Eaton's windscreen at The Green Lane Association, and find out what’s hot, or not, in the laning world.

Scorcher of the month

The ‘C’ Word As we all know there’s a virus about, and how that viral threat affects us is going to be different for each one of us. Some of us are on the front line - doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, 4x4 responders, shop staff, wagon drivers - all working harder than ever to keep things running smoothly during a crisis.

Some of us are in enforced isolation - those over 70, in the at risk group, pregnant, or with babies, and the rest of us are just trying to find some sense of normality during a very abnormal situation.

What can we do to entertain ourselves if and when a trip out isn’t possible?

If you’re self-isolating, ill, or simply spending more time at home or away from social groups and feeling the pinch of all the cancelled events, there are still hundreds of ways to communicate and keep group meetings/socials going remotely using technology - it could actually be a lot of fun! I’ve offered to start up Zello meetings with my GLASS area groups; we all love a chat on the CB and Zello offers this ability using our mobile phones - the bonus is distance is no obstacle!

We use Zello in the 4x4 Response service both locally and nationally, and I sometimes use it when leading laning trips for people who don’t have a CB. It’s a fabulous tool and allows private and group voice chat facilities.

It’s also been arranged for our next GLASS exec meeting to go ahead using Skype, rather than us travelling from all over the UK to meet at the British Motor Museum as we usually do. If things carry on much longer you may have to cope with me doing Facebook lives too! (sorry, not sorry).

Anyone who isn’t a technology wiz fear not! None of the apps are difficult to figure out, but if you do need help ask your resident Communications Officer (that’s me btw!).

You could finally get around to adding comments and photos to TrailWise2, they really do help other users when planning their trips out. If you can’t get out right now why not help a brother/sister out? TW2 is going to receive some serious upgrades at the end of March so now is the best time to get access and get route planning!

Researching history and routes for the future. If you’re interested in the history of our lanes and understand the NERC act, you could always search for NERC exemptions that could be processed in the form of a definitive map modification order – that will definitely keep you busy! Things haven’t been easy for us since the dreaded changes in 2006 - but there must be exemptions still out there. If not, why not research local lanes in your area, or those that are infrequently used in others? Our honeypot lanes are overused, but there are almost 20,000 out there to research and explore once you can get back out on the road.

GLASS and The Mud Life are always looking for material to publish, why not send in your stories?

What's hot...

Staffordshire

I stepped down as Staffordshire rep during March, it was never meant to be a long term position, but I am very sad to see it go! Both Staffs and Cheshire have been fabulous counties to work with, they are our biggest areas in membership numbers and the enthusiasm is palpable.

I’ve handed the reigns to Hannah Bailey and her glamourous assistants John and David Turner. These guys are experienced laners, very motivated and have some fabulous ideas for the county. I wish them all the very best in their new roles!

Cheshire

I was invited along to the March Cheshire LRC (a GLASS affiliate club) meet to give a presentation on GLASS and laning. What a club! They were so welcoming and seeing how active they are when it comes to activities (including a lot of laning) was great! I also bumped into many old faces from the Land Rover, ALRC, Ash4x4, steam and classic car worlds. They kept me busy with lots of interesting questions, which I love to answer – laning isn’t a simple hobby underneath the days out in pretty places, so this blonde got serious with the legal side of things, but also had a good laugh. I might join them myself!

DMMOs in Derbyshire – and NERC free!

(An update from Chris Mitchell, our Derbyshire rep.) New Lane (TW2 ID SK1372-06) is an adopted highway (aka UCR) that runs northwest from Priestcliffe to join Long Lane just before the B6049 south of Millers Dale. Back in 2004 a motor cyclist submitted a Definitive Map Modification Order (DMMO) request to Derbyshire County Council (DCC), requesting that this route should be added to the Definitive Map as a Byway Open To All Traffic (BOAT). The claim was submitted before the NERC Act took effect, so BOAT status may still succeed, despite the effects of NERC, if the evidence of pre-existing public carriageway rights is sufficiently persuasive.

Now (16 years later), DCC have notified user groups that they are investigating the route with a view to determining its status. If you happen to see notices at each end of the lane posted by DCC, this is why they are there. GLASS are currently gathering and examining copies of the available evidence, and will submit a response to DCC in due course. It may be necessary to submit user evidence to DCC to cover the 20 year period before the claim (ie. 1984 to 2004), so if you or anyone you know have driven/ridden the route during those years, please contact me at derbyshire.rep@glass-uk.org

Tackling illegal off-roading in Devon and Cornwall

The Devon and Cornwall Police Rural Crime Team have been hard at work and issued two Section 59 warning notices to drivers, who they also signposted to GLASS.

Illegal off-roading really is the biggest problem we face in our community and is often the cause of negative relationships with other user groups and calls for lane closures.

The advice is simple – stick to the track! GLASS and our local area rep, Jim Hancock, work very closely with Devon and Cornwall RCT to tackle this problem, and we’re making headway with other police forces across the UK. GLASS offers free membership to all police forces so they can use TW2 for up to date information.

4x4 Expo

GLASS held its regular stand at the Expo at the end of February. Hosted by Chris Mitchell (Derbyshire), Faye White (Warwickshire), Dave Wright and myself, we gained 15 new members, and raised £170 for our big Welsh project fundraiser. Many thanks to all who came and said hello, joined up, or donated!

What’s not...

Fear and loathing in the show/events world. Unfortunately this year’s show & events season has been hit very hard, and with events cancelled UK wide many businesses, organisations, and clubs are going to struggle.

We can help!

We don’t need to be physically there to continue to purchase from our favourite mod shop, or to join and support a club or organisation. We can join, buy and support online, and we don’t need to be physically there to keep in touch either. I’d love to see us using technology to help each other out!

Why not fill the internet with positive photos, videos, reviews, recommendations, shares, and fun news? Find new ways to contact those in your social circles and clubs, especially those who are in current isolation.

We don’t need any more of the negative, so let’s start a positive trend and learn some new skills to boot! GLASS have over 30 Facebook pages and groups open to members and non-members alike, we want to see your positive stories, pics and news!

If you usually attend one of our social pub meets why not start up a video or voice meet (or ask your rep to)? Or go live and make us all laugh!

When it comes to a situation it’s your reaction to it that has the power to make it better or worse, so let’s make things better!

That’s all from me this month folks! Stay safe, Lauren x GLASS Media and Communications Officer

For more information on green lanes visit: www.glass-uk.org

To join GLASS go to: www.glass-uk.org/join-glass.html