What are Public Rights of Way?

Public rights of way are all public highways. There are several different types of public rights of way, with different rights allocated to each.

Public Footpath

Public Footpaths may be used by persons on foot only. You are allowed to take a pram, pushchair or wheelchair along any public footpath, but please be aware that many paths may not be physically suitable for them. Footpaths are typically marked with yellow arrows.

Public Bridleway

Public Bridleways may be used for walking, riding or leading a horse, or pedal-cycling. Cyclists must give way to pedestrians and horse riders. Bridleways are typically marked with blue arrows.

Restricted Byway

Restricted Byways may be used for walking, riding or leading a horse, pedal cycling, and use by non-mechanically propelled vehicles (e.g. horse drawn vehicles), but can only be used by motor vehicles if it can be proven there are vehicular rights. In some cases there are private rights for owners and occupiers to use Restricted Byways in motorised vehicles. Note: Paths marked as "Road Used as a Public Path" or "RUPP" are now Restricted Byways. The signage along these paths will be changed in due course.

Byways open to all traffic (BOAT)

BOATs, often simply called 'byways', are ways along which there is a legal right to use wheeled vehicles of any kind, but which is predominately used for walking or riding horses. Vehicles must give way to other users, and comply with all driving regulations as for ordinary road traffic. BOATs are typically marked with a red arrow.

Other terms

Roads Used as Public Paths (RUPPs)

Routes that were formally known as RUPPs were redesignated as Restricted Byways (see above) in May 2006.

Traffic Regulation Orders

Public rights along a route can be restricted in certain circumstances by the use of Traffic Regulation Orders. These orders are normally used to regulate motor traffic, but they may be used to regulate all traffic, which includes cyclists, walkers, horse riders and horse driven vehicles.

• Horse Margins

The Horse Margin project aims to utilise the borough’s roadside verges on suitable roads in order to create links between existing bridleways and provide horse riders with a safe alternative to using the roads.

The horse margin can also be used by pedestrians and cyclists, and stems from the council’s policy to provide safe routes for horses.

The project looks at areas in the Borough where these horse margins can be easily implemented, with the aim of eventually setting up a circuit of routes which will create links between the existing bridleways network.

For more information regarding Horse Margins, please contact the Public Rights of Way Team.

• A "Green Lane"

This is a term used to describe an unsurfaced track usually bounded by hedges and often established a long time ago. The term has no legal meaning and if there is a public right of way along such a track, it will be classified under one of the above headings. To find out more please contact the Public Rights of Way Team.

• 'Concessionary', 'Permissive' or 'Permitted' paths

These are not rights of way but routes along which the landowner permits public use, sometimes for a set period of time. The permission may extend just to certain types of user, e.g. walkers or horse riders. The routes can be closed at any time but often form valuable links in the path network.

Sometimes the permission may be for the riding of cycles or of horses on a route which is a public footpath. In this case, walkers have a right to use the path, whilst riders use the same route with permission only. The route is a public right of way for walkers, but a permitted path for riders.

When a recorded public right of way cannot be established, the Council will seek a permitted route for the public in the interim.

• Cycle tracks, cycle lanes & cycle paths

An increasing number of routes are being provided for cyclists. Some are new, whilst others follow existing routes. They are mostly on footways adjacent to the highway, and sometimes shared with vehicles on the highway. A cycle track or path is a route physically separate from a road and which has been constructed for cyclists, although they can normally be used by persons on foot also.

The National Cycle Network (being developed by Sustrans in partnership with Local Authorities and others) involves sections of cycle path and cycle lane, as well as other routes. To visit the National Cycle Network website, go to http://www.sustrans.co.uk/.

• Footway or Pavement

A footway is a path set out beside a carriageway for pedestrians. It forms part of a main highway. The footway may not be used by either cyclists or horse-riders unless a part of it has been specially set out for their use - in which case, it will be signed and can be surfaced with a different coloured tarmac. Cyclists and horse-riders can of course cross a footway to reach a route which leads off the road.

• National Trails

Formerly known as "Long Distance Paths", there are a number of such routes promoted for walkers or riders by the Countryside Agency, with the Thames Path National Trail passing through the Borough.

More information regarding the Thames Path and other national trails can be found at http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk