User Evidence is a record that a route has had use, or attempted use. It is very important that everytime a route is used, that a User Evidence Form (UEF) is submitted for that route some individual that used it, who should also record the use by others that he witnessed - travelling companions or those met on the road. It is also important that a UEF is filled in every time that an unsucessful attempt is made to use a route, but proved impossible due to obstruction or other problems.

If you only use a route in part, just say so in the comments.

Where several people are travelling along a route together, each individual would ideally fill in a seperate UEF. However, its more important to record the use, so make a note on your own UEF especially when there is doubt that the others would do it! Make a note of how many people (including children) actually use the route. If a route is used from start to end and then baxk again, it is only necessary to fill in the UEF once.

If you meet other users, you should make a comment about them too and their mode of transport. It doesnt matter if they are the landowner himself in a tractor even, they are using the route.

User Evidence is very important for protecting the existing network of routes. The NERC Act extinguishes many public rights, but they can be shown to have been saved if user evidence meets certain levels.

Another criteria on which a route can have its public rights removed or reduced is that of being 'unnecessary for public use'. It is very difficult for a case to be made that a route is unnecessary if there are many records of the route having been used! It is most important that a UEF is filled in for every route used because there is no means of predictig which routes are likely to be under threat in the future.

Additionally it is sometimes possible to claim a new public right based upon past use and UEFs provide a clear means of demonstrating past use of a route.

To find out how UEF information is kept, who can see it, and what might be done with it later, see 'User Ev' FAQ.