Farms blocking access to public land.

[BergForce]

On Saturday a certain Swiss pro mtbiker and current Epic title holder were told at the gates of a certain farm in the Western Cape that he could not enter. This really upset the Swiss rider and he jumped the fence and sped off through the farm. He was pursued and escorted off the farm. He was upset that he was not allowed to pass through and said that in Switzerland he can ride through any farm.

 

Now what he did was 100% wrong, but is it not also wrong that farms block access to the mountains when the public has the right to be there and pass through the public land?

[brad890]

On Saturday a certain Swiss pro mtbiker and current Epic title holder were told at the gates of a certain farm in the Western Cape that he could not enter. This really upset the Swiss rider and he jumped the fence and sped off through the farm. He was pursued and escorted off the farm. He was upset that he was not allowed to pass through and said that in Switzerland he can ride through any farm.

 

Now what he did was 100% wrong, but is it not also wrong that farms block access to the mountains when the public has the right to be there and pass through the public land?

 

i dont know that's a bit of a tough one, because if the farmer owns the land then, i dont see any reason why he cant tell someone to bugger off and get off his land. it would be the same as me saying that i have the right to walk through your yard at home to get to the neighbors house or the street behind your house?

[johannrissik]

South Africa has laws governing access to land and it's in everyone's interests that we act within the parameters of those laws.

Landowners illegally denying access to, or passage through an area is the flip side of the " I'll ride where I like" coin.

Regrettably the Swiss cyclist's behaviour is out of line, he spoils things for those who come after him (assuming the landowner was within his rights to deny access).

 

Oh, and it doesn't matter if he was the Pope Himself, South African laws would apply to him too (in the same way that Swiss laws apply to South Africans visitng Switzerland).

 

Farmers are generally most obliging when it comes to access, until it's spoilt by some bad behaviour.

[BergForce]

i dont know that's a bit of a tough one, because if the farmer owns the land then, i dont see any reason why he cant tell someone to bugger off and get off his land. it would be the same as me saying that i have the right to walk through your yard at home to get to the neighbors house or the street behind your house?

 

Yes the farmer has the right to deny access to his land, but it is not the same as walking through someone`s yard to get to the neighbour. You still have access to the neighbour`s property.

[DJR]

Now what he did was 100% wrong,

 

That should be the end of the story!

 

He is lucky to have been escorted off the farm without force or legal charges of trespassing. Here the farmer has the same right to his property as said Mtbiker has to his house. I'm sure he would object to people jumping his garden wall to have a braai on his lawn.

 

I have zero sympathy because this type of behaviour is what stuffs it up for everybody. Imagine Amarider (or such organization) next week asking that same landowner whether they can build a trail over his land. Most likely they will be escorted off the farm the same way.

[brad890]

Yes the farmer has the right to deny access to his land, but it is not the same as walking through someone`s yard to get to the neighbour. You still have access to the neighbour`s property.

 

ok calm down i'm not trying to cause a barney, just making assumptions on what you have told us

 

you should let us as the listener know as much as possible then before complaining. like said mountain, does the farmers land encompass the entire mountain? are there other routes on getting there?

 

i'm just thinking from the farmers perspective, if some twat started giving me stick, when passing through MY land, i would definitely tell him where to go stick it quite frankly, if its a D road that the guy was on and the farmer owned the land on both sides, and felt that it belonged to him then different story.

 

I dont know each to their own i guess, i'm just saying that if it was my land and some stranger was on it i wouldnt be too happy regardless of reason.

[slowlady]

Nationalisation will solve problems related to access to private property...

[brad890]

Nationalisation will solve problems related to access to private property...

you have just opened a totally different can of worms with that comment lol

[BergForce]

ok calm down i'm not trying to cause a barney, just making assumptions on what you have told us

 

you should let us as the listener know as much as possible then before complaining. like said mountain, does the farmers land encompass the entire mountain? are there other routes on getting there?

 

i'm just thinking from the farmers perspective, if some twat started giving me stick, when passing through MY land, i would definitely tell him where to go stick it quite frankly, if its a D road that the guy was on and the farmer owned the land on both sides, and felt that it belonged to him then different story.

 

I dont know each to their own i guess, i'm just saying that if it was my land and some stranger was on it i wouldnt be too happy regardless of reason.

 

No complaining or getting upset here, just debating on a moral level. Its just sad that things are like this while in Europe it seems cyclists have more freedom to ride where they want and even passing through private land is generally not a problem.

[gummibear]

The rider is right that here we can ride on any land with our bikes

In SA with security issues i can see them saying no to letting guys ride on restricted land.How does the farmer know who is a legit rider or someone just eyeing out his stock?

[DJR]

..... and even passing through private land is generally not a problem.

That is almost never an issue here either, BUT, you have to ask POLITE permission BEFORE the time! It will most likely be granted.

[gummibear]

Nationalisation will solve problems related to access to private property...

 

Sure it will

It will also mean that more meat and veggies in SA will have to be imported and become more expensive:(

[TNT1]

At the OP, on the face of it it seems that the farmer was blocking access to his own land, and it would also appear that an escort off the land was a lot better than what the average south african's attitude to trespassers would have been.

 

At sauser, this isn't switzerland. Try abide by the law of this country.

Edited December 27, 2011 by TNT1

[stringbean]

Whats with all the smoke and mirrors?

1.Christoph has been riding the area for mor than 10 years,he knows where he can and cant ride.

2.He was TOLD he cant enter so he decides to jump the fence.

On twitter he comments how pissed off he is because they treated him like a child.

 

He's an absolute idiot.There are a lot of clubs and individually working hard with farmers for land access and building trails and all it takes is something stupid like this just to f%ck it up for everyone.He's arrogant and broke the law.

A few nights in a SAFA jail would of sorted him out.

[Brian Fantana]

Nationalisation will solve problems related to access to private property...

 

You might gain access easier, but you will not hold onto your bike very long,.

[TNT1]

Whats with all the smoke and mirrors?

1.Christoph has been riding the area for mor than 10 years,he knows where he can and cant ride.

2.He was TOLD he cant enter so he decides to jump the fence.

On twitter he comments how pissed off he is because they treated him like a child.

 

He's an absolute idiot.There are a lot of clubs and individually working hard with farmers for land access and building trails and all it takes is something stupid like this just to f%ck it up for everyone.He's arrogant and broke the law.

A few nights in a SAFA jail would of sorted him out.

 

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