Ride Right is a national campaign aimed at reducing illegal and antisocial riding on public highways and private venues in the UK. Supported by leading industry associations, organisations, clubs and brands, it’s aim is to educate riders on lawful access, promotes responsible behaviour, and encourages pride in conserving the countryside. The campaign also reinforces the fact that that responsible riders value not only the landscape, but also the people who share it, as well as the permissions and facilities that allow riding on unsealed Green Roads, practice tracks and private competition venues to take place safely and legally.
Use only legal public roads, follow signage, and know your responsibilities
Use practice tracks and private land only with landowner permission or at officially organised events
Protect the landscape, follow the countryside code, and help keep routes open for everyone
Share the countryside courteously with walkers, cyclists, horse-riders, local residents, landowners, and those working in the landscape.
A single incident of riding a motorcycle illegally can violate multiple laws simultaneously, and you can be prosecuted for each separate offense. The penalties are cumulative, meaning they stack on top of each other, and can include fines, license endorsements, motorcycle seizure, and even imprisonment.
The consequences of any single breach—or combination of breaches—can be far-reaching, impacting your license, livelihood, insurance, and ability to ride in the future.
Motorcycle trail riding is a historic form of active recreation which is the responsible and sustainable exploration and enjoyment of the countryside on motorcycles using a mixture of sealed and unsealed roads, also known as Green Roads.
Lower speeds and a relaxed approach enable riders to engage with and embrace the countryside around them, enjoying an immersive experience with a sense of exploration and adventure. Think of it as rambling, mountain biking, or horse riding—just on motorcycles.
There is a limited network of Green Roads (unsealed legal highway) of around 6,000 miles that crosses England and Wales. The individual Green Roads are varied in their terrain and landscape. Green Roads are typically defined by the authorities as either Unclassified County Roads (UCRs) or Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs)—never ride on footpaths, bridleways, or restricted byways. Green Roads can be subject to a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), which will exclude certain user groups on a temporary or longer-term basis. Highway and Local Authorities keep records of all the UCRs and BOATs in their area and you can access these, often through their websites.
The Trail Riders Fellowship TRF has developed both a Code of Conduct on behaviour when using Green Roads and the Green Road Map, which is an online digital map showing the whereabouts of all the legal Green Roads in England and Wales. If you are new to trail riding you can discover more here.
For those seeking a more challenging or competitive form of riding, there are a number of motorcycle sports such as enduro, motocross, and trials. All these take place on private land, sometimes at dedicated venues. Many of these activities are associated with local clubs and if you wish to compete you will need to be a member and hold a license from the Auto Cycle Union (ACU). These licenses will be revoked for anyone caught riding unlawfully.
Practice tracks offer another great opportunity with ‘pay and play’ access at countless sites throughout England and Wales.
Most motorcycle sports use private facilities where permission is granted by the owner on specific occasions. Many of these events also require permission from authorities. Riding at these venues or on any private land without permission jeopardises the future of the sport for all.
Lead by example, showing that responsible riders are proud stewards of the countryside.
Politely call out illegal riding when you see it within your riding group or online.
Act as eyes and ears, sharing information with authorities.
