8 December 2011

What are the rules with fire trails around Canberra?

| Tecko12
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Is it illegal to drive on fire trails in the local mountains and hills?

Also are you allowed to drive in forest areas around Canberra, such as fadden hills which have no fences or fire gates?

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Well my neighbour thinks the fire trail behind his house is actually a storage facility for his extra cars and a car park for any tradesmen working on his house. Its certainly not for any emergency vehicle to use as theyd never get passed!

Rawhide Kid Part3 said :

p1 said :

You said :

Unlocked, free access fire trails are fine. If you have a motorbike, the bike must be registered, you have to stick to speed limits and you have to be wearing the appropriate gear.

Appropriate gear, apart from rego on the bike, is a helmet. Public nudity charges aside, all other protective clothing is optional.

You said :

I’ve had people on horses purposely block my path, scream and interrogate me whilst going through these areas before….

Did you point out that their horse is also a legal vehicle in that context? I believe road rage laws would apply…

I always thought you gave way to Horses no mater what.

You do have to give way to horses. Even the most bomb-proof one can be unpredictable.

Good one you for stopping, much appreciated.

I’ve had idiots in cars scream past; dad taking the kids for a drive in the 4×4 and me and my horse with nowhere to go if things had gone pear-shaped, except into the gully if lucky, the bull-bar if not.

I’ve also met ‘kids’ who were out for a ‘hoon’ who did as you did, stopped and turned off their engines.
I know which I prefer to meet.

switch said :

Mang said :

It would make my day to walk past a horse being defected…

Careful, it might defecate on you instead.

Haha that’d be Dickson Horse Registry’s problem, not mine…

Some areas are not allowed unless you have prior permission – ie. Stromlo and most of Canberra Nature Park. If you take the oppotunity to go for a drive through an open gate, you could well find yourself locked in.

Mang said :

It would make my day to walk past a horse being defected…

Careful, it might defecate on you instead.

daddy said :

If they want to ride a horse on a road they should be made to pay registration and affix appropriate identification to the horse

Compulsory roadworthy inspections!

It would make my day to walk past a horse being defected…

You said :

I’ve had people on horses purposely block my path, scream and interrogate me whilst going through these areas before, even after i’ve been courteous enough to turn off my engine and pull over to the side so as to not scare the horses as they pass.

Ugh, it’s riders like that that make a bad name for the rest of us. Seriously, if they think their mount can’t handle being passed by a couple of bikes, they should just stay in a nice safe arena. In my experience most people are generally pretty courteous to horses, however I’ve had experiences with some people who get deliberately antagonistic (namely certain campers who let their dogs loose) so maybe that’s where they’re coming from with trying to stop you going through? Stupid way to do it though.

I believe the speed limit in the forests is 40km/h

Horses are vehicles but special rules can apply. In my hillbilly town someone lost his license for drunk driving then started driving around in a horse cart instead. There was a big deal about whether he was driving while disqualified, where he was allowed to park, what roads he could use and so on.

If they want to ride a horse on a road they should be made to pay registration and affix appropriate identification to the horse

Rawhide Kid Part3 said :

p1 said :

You said :

Unlocked, free access fire trails are fine. If you have a motorbike, the bike must be registered, you have to stick to speed limits and you have to be wearing the appropriate gear.

Appropriate gear, apart from rego on the bike, is a helmet. Public nudity charges aside, all other protective clothing is optional.

You said :

I’ve had people on horses purposely block my path, scream and interrogate me whilst going through these areas before….

Did you point out that their horse is also a legal vehicle in that context? I believe road rage laws would apply…

I always thought you gave way to Horses no mater what.

Really? I thought horses were considered vehicles when ridden on public roads (like bikes)? Personally I am very cautious around them, because I don’t like to torment the poor animals (or scare them so they kick me). From the OPs description though, they were being pretty thoughtful and copped abuse anyway!

Rawhide Kid Part31:43 pm 08 Dec 11

p1 said :

You said :

Unlocked, free access fire trails are fine. If you have a motorbike, the bike must be registered, you have to stick to speed limits and you have to be wearing the appropriate gear.

Appropriate gear, apart from rego on the bike, is a helmet. Public nudity charges aside, all other protective clothing is optional.

You said :

I’ve had people on horses purposely block my path, scream and interrogate me whilst going through these areas before….

Did you point out that their horse is also a legal vehicle in that context? I believe road rage laws would apply…

I always thought you gave way to Horses no mater what.

You said :

Unlocked, free access fire trails are fine. If you have a motorbike, the bike must be registered, you have to stick to speed limits and you have to be wearing the appropriate gear.

Appropriate gear, apart from rego on the bike, is a helmet. Public nudity charges aside, all other protective clothing is optional.

You said :

I’ve had people on horses purposely block my path, scream and interrogate me whilst going through these areas before….

Did you point out that their horse is also a legal vehicle in that context? I believe road rage laws would apply…

Some area’s require a park permit. Not sure how to tell the difference though.

Unlocked, free access fire trails are fine. If you have a motorbike, the bike must be registered, you have to stick to speed limits and you have to be wearing the appropriate gear.

Even the pine forest at weston creek, between the arboretum and cotter road is fine to drive/ride through, regardless of what many self righteous people on bicycles and horses seem to think. I’ve spoken to various people at Canberra Connect, and the police, and they all say it is totally fine as long as you’re obeying the above criteria.
I’ve had people on horses purposely block my path, scream and interrogate me whilst going through these areas before, even after i’ve been courteous enough to turn off my engine and pull over to the side so as to not scare the horses as they pass.

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