g n i n Life a L
aton E n e r u a by L
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 each month. Enjoy!
The Dark Side of Laning - social misery
GLASS spends its time fighting for our rights to drive unsurfaced public roads. “That’s not news!” I hear you say, but it seems to have been forgotten in a mire of negative and unfounded accusations that constantly proliferate social media. Love GLASS or loath it, bash it or support it, the work our volunteer reps do benefits everyone who drive green lanes; who else is there to do it for 4x4 drivers? Motorcyclists have the TRF who do a stellar job for their community, and 4x4 drivers have GLASS. Without these organisations it is no exaggeration to say we wouldn’t have the hobby we have today. Volunteer to take the fLack
Our reps are all volunteers. Not only do they not get paid, but they also pay to be members. We do offer a discount, but most do not take it, many donate on top! The role comes with a requirement to drive a 4x4 and all the costs involved in doing so. If lanes need checking, fixing or repairing, if there are meetings to go to, signs to put up, or councils to visit, then reps have to give up their free time and fill their tanks to get there. Many, in fact most, volunteer the use of their own tools, and many carry all sorts of gear that most laners won’t think of packing let alone owning.
Reps stand up in rooms full of antis, stakeholders who wish to see the lane in question closed or green laning banned completely. They stand up to people with authority over our public roads, people who do not have any requirement to listen to us, and make them listen. If they don’t listen then legal action may be the next step. They do this in their own free time, on top of jobs, families, and life in general, and they do so because they know if they don’t then no one else will, and that lanes will be lost.
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