Discussion
Out of interest, who here is a member of GLASS (Green Lane Association)? Who is aware of GLASS but is not a member and why? Who might consider joining and what might persuade them? http://www.glass-uk.org/
Hello,
I am the area representative for Worcestershire and another occasional pher is the area rep for Wiltshire.
I keep an eye on this and other forums in order to try and steer newcomers to green laning in the direction of GLASS to encourage responsible and sustainable use of lanes. I'd really appreciate it if the moderators could put a sticky up pointing to the GLASS and Treadlightly! websites as I firmly believe that a lot of problems on unsurfaced roads stem from a lack of education rather than wilful damage.
Also please note that green laning is NOT OFF-ROADING! and you don't need special insurance to use them as they are public rights of way - for this reason please ensure that any vehicles you take laning are fully road-legal.
O/T
A major gripe of mine has been the fashion for challenge style 4x4s being used for green laning - please, try and keep your vehicles discreet; I know that wide tyres, stickers, tree sliders and rows of spotlamps look the parts but it only gives the wrong impression to other users of green lanes.
My laning car may be a Bowler Tomcat but to the casual observer it is just an oddly proportioned soft-top Land Rover - I suppose an all-terrain Q-car!
I am the area representative for Worcestershire and another occasional pher is the area rep for Wiltshire.
I keep an eye on this and other forums in order to try and steer newcomers to green laning in the direction of GLASS to encourage responsible and sustainable use of lanes. I'd really appreciate it if the moderators could put a sticky up pointing to the GLASS and Treadlightly! websites as I firmly believe that a lot of problems on unsurfaced roads stem from a lack of education rather than wilful damage.
Also please note that green laning is NOT OFF-ROADING! and you don't need special insurance to use them as they are public rights of way - for this reason please ensure that any vehicles you take laning are fully road-legal.
O/T
A major gripe of mine has been the fashion for challenge style 4x4s being used for green laning - please, try and keep your vehicles discreet; I know that wide tyres, stickers, tree sliders and rows of spotlamps look the parts but it only gives the wrong impression to other users of green lanes.
My laning car may be a Bowler Tomcat but to the casual observer it is just an oddly proportioned soft-top Land Rover - I suppose an all-terrain Q-car!
100SRV said:
A major gripe of mine has been the fashion for challenge style 4x4s being used for green laning - please, try and keep your vehicles discreet; I know that wide tyres, stickers, tree sliders and rows of spotlamps look the parts but it only gives the wrong impression to other users of green lanes.
This!The amount of people I see green-laning in what look like Paris-Dakar specials is exactly proportional to the amount of people who complain they don't like laning any more because the locals moan at them!
Up until recently my laning motor was a very standard looking green 90 with steel wheels, 235/85/16 mudders, a mild lift, true-trac up front and detroit locker in the rear. I fitted an orange light bar on the roof and the words 'County Surveying' on the side and could've pretty much driven it anywhere without getting an adverse comment from anyone!
100SRV/Mon Ami Mate, I had a look at a few bits but a lot of it was for registered members only.
I don't want to pay £30-odd to sign up without knowing it's worth it, and a lot of what I could see seemed to be in other parts of the country. Is there much activity in the South East / Essex area?
There's a fair posse down here but no one I know has joined it yet and I'm sure more would be keen to if it proved to be useful.
I don't want to pay £30-odd to sign up without knowing it's worth it, and a lot of what I could see seemed to be in other parts of the country. Is there much activity in the South East / Essex area?
There's a fair posse down here but no one I know has joined it yet and I'm sure more would be keen to if it proved to be useful.
I should explain, I've just taken on the task of publicising GLASS and Tread Lightly. My objectives are to help them increase their membership and to get their message out more thoroughly to wider groups of people. I'm not surprised you've struggled with their website, because it's not currently up to the task. What I'm trying to ascertain is what perceptions people currently have of the organisation and what might encourage them to become members. Clearly an improved website is a critical component of this!
Mon Ami Mate said:
Out of interest, who here is a member of GLASS (Green Lane Association)? Who is aware of GLASS but is not a member and why? Who might consider joining and what might persuade them? http://www.glass-uk.org/
I know of GLASS but that's about it.If I wanted to go laning, would GLASS be able to tell me some local lanes and if they are open or not? Sort of a lane route planner?
As for joining, well I think £33/year is a tad pricey, that's more than I pay to join any motorclub and apart from getting info from GLASS I'm not sure what I'd be getting for my money. I'm not against paying, but when all said an done I can drive a lane without paying an entry fee, but I can't enter an RTV without club membership. So in order of priority paying to join GLASS would be at the very bottom of the list.
Im currently a member of GLASS and joined about a year ago so my membership must nearly be up. Not sue I'd join again as to be honest I havent found anything usefull for my ££'s spent. I realise that some of the ££'s go to the fighting fund but around me here in Wiltshire all I see are more and more lanes either permanently closed or being TRO'd time and time again with no hope of being opened again.
I have only been green laning for about 5/6 years but have seen the number of lanes closed or ruined by increasingly over zealous Councils dumping huge volumes of chalk or worse still, toxic road planings all over them and destroying the 'natural' charactor of a Byway.
I have only been green laning for about 5/6 years but have seen the number of lanes closed or ruined by increasingly over zealous Councils dumping huge volumes of chalk or worse still, toxic road planings all over them and destroying the 'natural' charactor of a Byway.
My personal view on it (it may be different now) from when i looked at what i could get from my membership was that it offered very little. Information that i could access was quite outdated. I got the impression that its one of those things you join to support the cause rather than to get a lot from it in terms of route planning and up-to-date lane closures etc..
If you want to get out on the lane maintenance days and the like and to fight the fight then go for it.
If all you want from GLASS is to get routes etc you're far better getting involved with a local 4x4 club and get busy map marking and make contact with your councils ROW officer.
My aim isn't to talk anyone out of joining this is just my opinion on it. I'd love to have an organisation that has local groups to support greenlane use and maintenance but i personally couldn't see that i would get this in my area.
If you want to get out on the lane maintenance days and the like and to fight the fight then go for it.
If all you want from GLASS is to get routes etc you're far better getting involved with a local 4x4 club and get busy map marking and make contact with your councils ROW officer.
My aim isn't to talk anyone out of joining this is just my opinion on it. I'd love to have an organisation that has local groups to support greenlane use and maintenance but i personally couldn't see that i would get this in my area.
mcjimny said:
My personal view on it (it may be different now) from when i looked at what i could get from my membership was that it offered very little. Information that i could access was quite outdated. I got the impression that its one of those things you join to support the cause rather than to get a lot from it in terms of route planning and up-to-date lane closures etc..
If you want to get out on the lane maintenance days and the like and to fight the fight then go for it.
If all you want from GLASS is to get routes etc you're far better getting involved with a local 4x4 club and get busy map marking and make contact with your councils ROW officer.
My aim isn't to talk anyone out of joining this is just my opinion on it. I'd love to have an organisation that has local groups to support greenlane use and maintenance but i personally couldn't see that i would get this in my area.
I am very inclined to agree with you McJimny. As an area rep I put a lot of effort into organising laning trips, camping weekends and volunteer work days, I do benefit from a slightly reduced membership rate but can understand why those interested in laning won't join BUT those interested in laning shouldn't shout too loudly while their rights are gradually eroded for want of a large organisation willing to fight their cause...what does a large organisation need? Members.If you want to get out on the lane maintenance days and the like and to fight the fight then go for it.
If all you want from GLASS is to get routes etc you're far better getting involved with a local 4x4 club and get busy map marking and make contact with your councils ROW officer.
My aim isn't to talk anyone out of joining this is just my opinion on it. I'd love to have an organisation that has local groups to support greenlane use and maintenance but i personally couldn't see that i would get this in my area.
I am not sure of the numbers but wouldn't mind betting that the Rambler's Association outnumber GLASS by 1000 to 1; they also benefit from a "pro" spin on anything involving "walkers" from the likes of the BBC and media in general.
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