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Cycling for Beginners

Can You Cycle on Bridleways and Footpaths in England and Wales?

By Cycle99 Editorial Team ⏱ 6 min read 📂 Cycling for Beginners

On public rights of way in England and Wales, a bicycle is allowed on bridleways, restricted byways and byways open to all traffic, but there is no legal right to ride a footpath. On a bridleway you must give way to walkers and to people on horseback. Riding a footpath is normally a civil matter between you and the landowner rather than a crime, but that is not permission, and a local byelaw can change the picture on a particular path.

This page describes England and Wales as of October 2026 and is not legal advice; Scotland and Northern Ireland differ (see the last section).

Four path types, four different answers

Rights of way are marked with signs or color-coded arrows. GOV.UK gives yellow for footpaths and blue for bridleways, and the Countryside Code adds purple for restricted byways and red for byways open to all traffic.

Path type Arrow Users GOV.UK lists Bicycles?
Footpath Yellow Walking, running, mobility scooters, powered wheelchairs No legal right to cycle
Bridleway Blue Walking, horse riding, bicycles, mobility scooters, powered wheelchairs Yes, giving way to walkers and horse riders
Restricted byway Purple Any transport without a motor, plus mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs Yes
Byway open to all traffic Red Any kind of transport, including cars Yes, but expect motor vehicles

GOV.UK notes that byways open to all traffic admit cars but are mainly used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

Where the bridleway right comes from, and what it does not promise

The right is written into law. Section 30 of the Countryside Act 1968, headed “Riding of pedal bicycles on bridleways”, gives any member of the public a right of way to ride a bicycle there, and Cycling UK credits the 1968 Act with introducing it. Two limits in the same section matter on the ground.

  • Local rules apply. The right is subject to any orders made by a local authority and to any byelaws, so a sign or order on one bridleway can restrict cycling.
  • No guaranteed surface. The Act creates no obligation to make a bridleway easier for cyclists to use, so it may be rutted, flooded or overgrown. GOV.UK says to report obstructions, poor maintenance or a misleading sign to the local council.

A wider tire with some tread copes better with unsurfaced paths, as covered in Gravel Tires Explained: Width, Tread, and Compound. For choosing a bike to match, see Gravel Biking: What It Is and Why Cyclists Love It and Getting Started with Mountain Biking: Bikes, Gear, and Trail Grades.

Who gives way on a bridleway

You do. The wording varies: the Act says cyclists “shall give way to pedestrians and persons on horseback”, the Countryside Code says they “must give way to walkers and horse riders on bridleways”, and Highway Code rule H2 says they “should give way” to horse riders on bridleways and to pedestrians on shared use cycle tracks. No version gives a cyclist priority, so yield to both walkers and riders.

Rule 63 of the Highway Code’s rules for cyclists covers sharing space with pedestrians and horse riders wherever sharing is permitted. It asks you to:

  • take care passing pedestrians and horse riders, especially children, older adults or disabled people;
  • slow down when necessary and let people know you are there, for example by ringing a bell or calling out politely (the Code recommends fitting a bell, and the 5-Minute Pre-Ride Checklist is a good moment to test yours);
  • not pass closely or at high speed, particularly from behind;
  • not pass a horse on its left, remembering that horses can be startled if passed without warning;
  • be ready to slow down and stop.

A pedestrian may be deaf, blind or partially sighted without this being obvious, so slow down even if a walker does not react to your bell. The Countryside Code adds livestock: slow down or stop, and give them plenty of room. Around horses, that means braking early, announcing yourself while still well back, and stopping if the horse looks unsettled. For road rules, see The Basic Rules of Cycling on Roads.

Footpaths: no right to ride, but not a crime by default

GOV.UK lists footpaths for walking, running, mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs; bicycles are not listed. Cycling UK, in a guide updated in February 2025, says cycling on a footpath is classed as trespass against the landowner, normally a civil matter rather than a criminal one, and that the landowner can sue the trespasser for damages in the civil courts. Three details matter.

  • Byelaws. In some places byelaws apply and riding would be a criminal offense, so look for signs.
  • Riding style. Cycling on any highway, public rights of way included, in a reckless or careless manner is an offense.
  • Cycle tracks. Beside a footpath or pavement, you must keep to the side intended for cyclists.

Pavement cycling is a separate matter: Rule 64 says you must not cycle on a pavement. Cycling UK traces the confusion to Section 72 of the 1835 Highway Act, which covers a footway or pavement, not a public footpath. If a footpath is the only link in your route, dismount and walk; Cycling UK says that it, and Parliament, believe the reasonable use of a right of way almost certainly includes wheeling a bicycle.

E-bikes on bridleways

GOV.UK says an electric bike that meets the electrically assisted pedal cycle (EAPC) rules can be ridden on cycle paths and anywhere else pedal bikes are allowed, which includes bridleways. The rider must be 14 or over, the bike needs pedals that can propel it, and the motor must have continuous rated power of no more than 250 watts and must not propel the bike above 15.5 mph (about 25 km/h). A bike outside those limits is classed as a motorcycle or moped and, per GOV.UK, can only be ridden on the road. E-Bike Laws: What You Can and Cannot Do (US, UK and EU) covers the wider rules.

Check the path before you ride

  • Read the arrow. Yellow means no right to cycle; blue, purple and red mark the routes where a bicycle has a right to be.
  • Use a map. Public rights of way appear on Ordnance Survey and other maps and on some council websites.
  • Stay on the marked path. The Countryside Code says to stay on marked paths, even when muddy, unless wider access such as open access land is available. Cycling UK says there is generally no right to use a bicycle on access land, although permissive or de facto rights may exist in places.
  • Permissive paths are separate. A landowner has allowed these in writing; they are not public rights of way, and the landowner can redirect or even close them. Follow what the signs say about cycling.

Beyond England: Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

The Countryside Code page applies to England and Wales and links separate publications for Scotland and Northern Ireland. GOV.UK points Scottish readers to the charity Scotways for rights of way. In Wales, Cycling UK said in its February 2025 update that access legislation was being reviewed, so check current Welsh guidance before relying on the footpath answer there.

Sources

Last reviewed: October 2026.

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