For anyone riding off-tarmac in the UK, understanding rights of way isn't optional, it's the foundation of riding legally. The whole system rests on the legal classification of each route, and getting it wrong can mean an offence, a fine, or damage to the fragile right of access that riders depend on. This guide explains the categories clearly, so you know exactly what you can and can't ride.
Why "green lane" isn't a legal term
Start here, because it catches everyone out. "Green lane" has no legal meaning. It's a useful everyday word for an unsurfaced rural route, but the law doesn't recognise it. A green lane might be a byway you can ride, or a footpath you absolutely can't. What determines your right to ride is the route's legal classification, not what it looks like or what it's called locally.
The categories that allow motor vehicles
Only two types of route are open to motor vehicles like motorcycles and 4x4s:
Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs). Often just called "byways", these are open to all users and all traffic, including motor vehicles, alongside walkers, horse riders and cyclists. They fall under the Highways Act, which is why a road-legal vehicle is required. Because they're unsurfaced, they're often only passable on a trail bike or in a 4x4. On Ordnance Survey maps they appear as a line of green crosses.
Unclassified County Roads (UCRs). Also called "other routes with public access" (ORPAs), these hold road status, often historic. They're maintained at public expense as part of the highway network, so they're generally presumed open to all traffic, though because they aren't formally classed as public rights of way, restrictions should be checked with the local authority. On OS maps they appear as widely-spaced green dots.
The categories that do NOT allow motor vehicles
Getting these wrong is where riders get into trouble:
Restricted Byways. Open to walkers, horse riders, cyclists and horse-drawn vehicles, but not mechanically propelled vehicles. You cannot legally ride a motorbike or drive a 4x4 on these. Many were reclassified from an older category (RUPPs) that did allow vehicles, a change that removed motor access from a great many routes.
Bridleways. For horse riders, cyclists and walkers only. No motor vehicles.
Footpaths. Walkers only. No motor vehicles, horses or cyclists.
One useful thing to remember: foot traffic has a right of access on all of the above, so walkers may be on any route you ride. That's part of why courtesy to other users matters so much.
How the law got here: NERC and CRoW
Two pieces of legislation shaped today's map. The Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act and, in particular, the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act of 2006 removed vehicular rights from many routes across England and Wales. Before these changes, a larger share of the rights of way network was open to vehicles; afterwards, it roughly halved. This is why the network available to riders today is fragmented, and why access varies so much by county: some, like Kent and Wiltshire, retain extensive vehicular networks, while others have very little.
TROs: even a legal byway can be closed
Finding a BOAT or UCR isn't the end of the checking. A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) can restrict or close a route to motor vehicles, permanently, seasonally (for example over winter to prevent damage) or temporarily (for logging, safety or wildlife). Some byways are also restricted to motorcycles only, excluding 4x4s. TROs are usually signed on the ground, but not always, so confirming current status before you ride is essential.
How to check what you can ride
Because maps aren't always conclusive, the safest approach combines sources: use OS Explorer 1:25,000 maps to identify BOATs and UCRs, cross-check with the local Highways or Rights of Way department, and lean on the local knowledge of TRF or GLASS groups, who track closures and restrictions. We cover finding routes in the guide on where you can legally ride, and the wider sport in trail riding in the UK.
Staying on the right route with WildTrack
Understanding the categories is one thing; staying on the legal route in the field is another, especially where a legal byway runs close to a footpath or bridleway you mustn't ride. WildTrack lets you load the GPX of a confirmed-legal route, download offline maps, and follow it precisely, with an off-route alert the moment you drift off the intended track. Because straying from a byway onto a bridleway or footpath is an offence, not just a wrong turn, knowing exactly where the legal line runs has real value. It works offline, on iOS and Android.
In summary
UK rights of way come down to a simple rule with important detail: only BOATs and certain UCRs are open to motor vehicles, while restricted byways, bridleways and footpaths are not. "Green lane" is a description, not a legal status. The NERC Act reshaped the network and left it fragmented and county-dependent, and TROs can close even a legal byway, so always check current status before you ride. Know the categories, confirm the route, and ride only what's legal, that's what keeps you right with the law and keeps the network open.