- Sat Jul 08, 2017 3:00 pm
#7486
I posted this in the TRF forum a while ago, but thought you might like to read it...
They walk, they talk!
And usually, when you are out on your Bullet on a byway, unclassified road or other type green-lane and you meet horses or a walker or walkers, you slow down or stop if they got dogs etc. and smile, say ‘thank you’ and try to leave a positive image of greenlaners, but once in a while you get a ‘moanist’.
Whereas a ‘moaner’ is somebody that moans, a ‘moanist’ is a person that was born to moan. They look for every opportunity to whine, bleat and generally ruin somebody else’s day.
I met one a few weeks ago and the encounter is still going around in my head.
I was taking Tornado down a track that runs through meadow and woodland at Powdermills, near Hildenborough. The strip of land runs between two roads, along a river, and it is legal for me to ride there. I was about ¾ of the way along when I spot an older (white haired) guy with an equally white haired small dog of the type that tends to gets under your footrests. Intrigued, I stop with the intention of asking what the guy was doing there as it is not a public right of way, but before I can get a word in, off he goes.
“This is a footpath, you are not allowed to ride motorcycles down here.†Instead of explaining that I had permission, I was taken by surprise and simply answered, “This is not a foot path, it is private land.†(if only I had left my helmet cam on !!!). He said, “It’s definitely a footpath, it’s marked on the map as running along the river.†By now, instead of taking the easy way out, I feel the need to explain as I answer, “There is a footpath, but it runs along the other bank of the river, the developers have just put it in.†I expected that to be an end to the matter, but no.
He doesn’t seem to believe me and insists that the footpath is this side and that bikes shouldn’t be on here, and it had frightened his dog (Which had been sitting there looking at me and wagging it’s tail all the time). I mentioned that his dog looked perfectly happy and that I had stopped my bike before they reached me and I repeated that the footpath was the other side of the river and that he must have made a mistake. That didn’t go down well at all.
He got very upset, rather loud and started accusing me of saying that he couldn’t read a map, and that bikers were always riding where they shouldn’t and that he was a member of the ramblers association (or something like that) so that proved that he was in the right cos he knew the rules and stuff, blah, blah, blah.
By now I was pretty miffed, but I did not want escalate the situation and so I calmly said, “I’m sorry you seem upset, but people do make mistakes. Look, let me show you on the map.†He looked a little taken aback when I said that. I took a copy of the plan from the deeds (always useful when you have authority to ride on private land) and mustering my best calm smile, showed him which was the private side and where the footpath was on the other side of the river. I find the best way is to leave the other person with a graceful way out. That way, you can both feel ok with the outcome. He studied the plan for a short while and replied, “Oh dear, I guess I have made a mistake?†I replied, “That’s ok, if you go back to the road, turn left and go about 30 metres, you will see a new looking wooden gate and the footpath is there.â€
With a total change of temperament, he thanked me and as far as I can tell, went happily on his way, dog in tow.
I actually learnt from this encounter. I learnt that it is better to be calm, cheerful and as helpful as possible, which leaves both parties feeling ok and shows that bikers are not the often stereotypes of rude gits.
Looking back, I could have just played my trump card, and sent the guy packing, but that would probably have left a bad impression of trail bikers with him.
Oh, my trump card??? I am the sodding land owner!



[center]
REOC 15084
Tabellarius de verbis. Ostensor gaudium[/center]
They walk, they talk!
And usually, when you are out on your Bullet on a byway, unclassified road or other type green-lane and you meet horses or a walker or walkers, you slow down or stop if they got dogs etc. and smile, say ‘thank you’ and try to leave a positive image of greenlaners, but once in a while you get a ‘moanist’.
Whereas a ‘moaner’ is somebody that moans, a ‘moanist’ is a person that was born to moan. They look for every opportunity to whine, bleat and generally ruin somebody else’s day.
I met one a few weeks ago and the encounter is still going around in my head.
I was taking Tornado down a track that runs through meadow and woodland at Powdermills, near Hildenborough. The strip of land runs between two roads, along a river, and it is legal for me to ride there. I was about ¾ of the way along when I spot an older (white haired) guy with an equally white haired small dog of the type that tends to gets under your footrests. Intrigued, I stop with the intention of asking what the guy was doing there as it is not a public right of way, but before I can get a word in, off he goes.
“This is a footpath, you are not allowed to ride motorcycles down here.†Instead of explaining that I had permission, I was taken by surprise and simply answered, “This is not a foot path, it is private land.†(if only I had left my helmet cam on !!!). He said, “It’s definitely a footpath, it’s marked on the map as running along the river.†By now, instead of taking the easy way out, I feel the need to explain as I answer, “There is a footpath, but it runs along the other bank of the river, the developers have just put it in.†I expected that to be an end to the matter, but no.
He doesn’t seem to believe me and insists that the footpath is this side and that bikes shouldn’t be on here, and it had frightened his dog (Which had been sitting there looking at me and wagging it’s tail all the time). I mentioned that his dog looked perfectly happy and that I had stopped my bike before they reached me and I repeated that the footpath was the other side of the river and that he must have made a mistake. That didn’t go down well at all.
He got very upset, rather loud and started accusing me of saying that he couldn’t read a map, and that bikers were always riding where they shouldn’t and that he was a member of the ramblers association (or something like that) so that proved that he was in the right cos he knew the rules and stuff, blah, blah, blah.
By now I was pretty miffed, but I did not want escalate the situation and so I calmly said, “I’m sorry you seem upset, but people do make mistakes. Look, let me show you on the map.†He looked a little taken aback when I said that. I took a copy of the plan from the deeds (always useful when you have authority to ride on private land) and mustering my best calm smile, showed him which was the private side and where the footpath was on the other side of the river. I find the best way is to leave the other person with a graceful way out. That way, you can both feel ok with the outcome. He studied the plan for a short while and replied, “Oh dear, I guess I have made a mistake?†I replied, “That’s ok, if you go back to the road, turn left and go about 30 metres, you will see a new looking wooden gate and the footpath is there.â€
With a total change of temperament, he thanked me and as far as I can tell, went happily on his way, dog in tow.
I actually learnt from this encounter. I learnt that it is better to be calm, cheerful and as helpful as possible, which leaves both parties feeling ok and shows that bikers are not the often stereotypes of rude gits.
Looking back, I could have just played my trump card, and sent the guy packing, but that would probably have left a bad impression of trail bikers with him.
Oh, my trump card??? I am the sodding land owner!



[center]
REOC 15084
Tabellarius de verbis. Ostensor gaudium[/center]
REOC 15084
Tabellarius de verbis. Ostensor gaudium
Tabellarius de verbis. Ostensor gaudium
