cutting across.....

You're riding in your city and you want to get from one street to another. If you were in a car you would need to stay on the public street and pay attention to the rules of the road, stopping at lights etc. But on the bike you can cut across a parking lot through an ally and on a sidewalk, as long as pedestrians are not in the way. Will anyone care? Most likely no. Some cities have rules against riding on sidewalks but if there aren't such laws a cyclist is welcome. There are no federal laws and rarely state laws governing sidewalks. Its up to the individual town or city.

Private property parking lots are also open to cyclists just as they are open to pedestrian walking through. There is really no issue cutting a corner through a private lot unless there is a no trespassing sign or a gate. If these are public places where customers are able to come and go such as a furniture store parking lot, then access is not an issue. Liability issues such as negligent maintenance are enforced if a cyclist gets injured but acts of weather such as ice or snow are typically not.

So what about cutting through a private driveway to access a public place on the other side? Suppose you want to ride across a property to acess some trails on a public park land on the other side. This is a different story. Business parking lots are public places. Even company employee parking lots allow visitors etc so crossing them is not a big issue but a private driveway, especially a home owners driveway, can be considered trespassing, especially if the owner tells you so. Different liability and privacy issues exist and cutting these properties is not going to be greeted with indifference. You can always ask for permission to cut through.

How about an empty house property, like one that is foreclosed and owned by a bank? Its still considered trespassing but enforcement would need to be first explained to the rider, either vocally or through signs. The owner or property manager would need to give a warning "Hey this is private property, don't ride through here!" or a properly spaced no trespassing sign. One solution would be to ask for permission here too. If you see a realitor or homeowner just say "Nice house. How much are you asking? blah blah. Hey you don't mind if I cut through the side here to get to the park do you? I can keep an eye on the place for you." The response might be positive and they know you're not some criminal, just a biker looking for a ride.

Getting permission....

About ten years ago I was riding an old quarry road that led out to a paved town road. It was the perfect connector to other properties. As I approached the road I noticed a pickup parked there. No one was around so I continued on my way. When I came back to the connector trail the owner of the truck was there. I stopped and asked who was the property owner. It was him! So I talked about the local taxes and hunting stuff for a couple minutes. I told him I lived nearby and then the gamble... would it be OK if I rode through his property once in a while? He said sure...just not during hunting season. Done. I never saw him again yet I remembered his name and used it on other nearby owners. I didn't bring big group rides through there but maybe a few friends now and then. I had permission and as far as I'm concerned I'll have it until someone tells me otherwise.

Property owners typically don't mind a "local" rider as long as they don't see them acting like its their right to be there. Ask permission and then disappear. Don't push the "access" button. Just ride quietly by and never during big game season or if logging is going on.

So what to do if the owner says NO!? Keep off my land! Well that sucks! Then I might try an end around trail. This type of trail skirts the property in question and stays as close to the property line as possible. The neighboring property owner might not care about a short simple connector along their boundary. It actually might be helpful when they want to walk their lines.

I don't ride through the other guys land and respect his ownership..... unless there's a thunderstorm brewing and its the quickest way back to safety.

So whats your method of getting access?

Have you ever found yourself cranking down an ATV trail wondering who's property is this anyway? Suddenly you round a turn and there is an old pile of wood, a few rusted tire rims, some basic old window frames etc. and in the distance you can see the back of someone's house. You get a little closer to see if there's an exit to the local town road when you hear the dreaded BARK BARK ! Oh shhhiii..... you turn and race back the way you came leaving the barker behind. Damn....dead end. Then you take another side trail and this time you find yourself flying down a rutted wash out trail, dodging or launching off rocks. You wind up in a small parking lot behind a couple stores. You pop out on to the familiar road and pedal towards home. A smile on your face because you have just experienced a POACH moment.