Mud on the road – irresponsible farmers

I commuted on lanes for a

I commuted on lanes for a couple of years and it was pretty annoying; I don’t think we’re talking about a bit of mud, it’s the 2 inch thick layer of stcky clay mud that’s been dragged up from the depths of the field.  Sticks to the wheel and you have to stop to clear it off.  One of the reasons I steer clear of lanes from now until March as it’s all a bit random.  Couple this with vehicles smashing up the muddy verges and it’s just not worth the hassle of a major bike clean after a ride.  Luckily I moved jobs but I was about to give up the winter commute as the bike needed cleaning every evening or else the mech just siezed up.  Lots of bits needed replacing after that period of riding.

Htc wrote:

Yeah, we all know that it’s an offence. Most farmers actually do regular road cleaning themselves. Doesn’t mean that the road is always going to be clear of mud or that’s in completely avoidable. Get over yourself.

From the OP:

Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a whinge about a little mud which might make my bike a bit dirty. I get that at this time of year that’s inevitable – what I’m talking about are substantial deposits which could be hazardous if ridden over – there’s a difference.

Get over yourself   

It’s inevitable.  If a

It’s inevitable.  If a tractor drives off a muddy field then it will bring some mud with it.  Just ride to the conditions. 

brooksby wrote:

Htc wrote:

Or…. just people going about their business trying to make a living. It’s the countryside, get over it.

Except that it is an offence:

https://www.wrighthassall.co.uk/knowledge/legal-articles/2012/12/18/whos-liable-mud-road/

Farmers (and other vehicle operatives such as construction companies) are legally obliged to clear up after themselves and are potentially liable for a range of offences. While there is a range of powers available to the police and highways department the primary powers fall under the Highways Act 1980:

Section 148 of the Highways Act 1980 makes it an offence to deposit mud etc. on the highway that would interrupt other users of the highway.

Section 149 of the Highways Act 1980 gives the highways authority the power to clean the road and recover its expenses from the person causing the obstruction.

Section 161 Highways Act 1980 “If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, deposits anything whatsoever on a highway in consequence of which a user of the highway is injured or endangered, that person is guilty of an offence”. Contravention of sections 148 and 162 can lead to a Level 3 fine of £1000 in the magistrate’s court. Furthermore if mud on the road leads to personal injury, damage to property, or any loss or inconvenience then the person responsible may be liable for damages. A conviction in the criminal court may be relied on in a claim for damages.

‘Countryside’, ‘trying to make a living’, ‘whatever’, I’m pretty sure you still have an obligation to obey the law and not put other road users at risk.

Yeah, we all know that it’s an offence. Most farmers actually do regular road cleaning themselves. Doesn’t mean that the road is always going to be clear of mud or that’s in completely avoidable. Get over yourself.

There’s a few places on our

There’s a few places on our local routes which get muddy at this time of year, certainly you need to be a bit more careful, but it’s the countryside, it’s autumn (a very wet autumn) and tractors go in and out of fields. No sense getting het up about it, it’ll rain and all will be right again soon enough.

ibr17xvii wrote:

Agree with the OP.

They are murder for this & also for close passing. If anyone should be giving more room than normal it’s them with the size of their tyres right next to you but for a lot of them it seems too much to ask.

Most tractors are limited to 30mph so overtaking a road cyclist is tricky, particularly on tight country lanes. I tend to pull over and let them past, otherwise you just end up with a tractor plus a huge queue of pissed off drivers behind it.

As to the mud on the road, it’s the countryside. Just like you don’t have a bike wash available when you come off the trail, they don’t have tractor washes in every field. Dealing with mud and run-off from fields is the downside of living in the countryside and all those other benefits you get. Same with thorns and rubbish from hedge cutting and, in my case, coming round a corner on a descent to find the road full of pigs. Or getting covered in cow shit. Or being chased by cows. Or having deer appear from nowhere. 

If you live somewhere rural you make adjustments for local conditions. I’ve never encountered an issue with mud on the road in years of cycling in and around the New Forest. Diesel spills, now that’s another matter…

Or…. just people going

Or…. just people going about their business trying to make a living. It’s the countryside, get over it.