The Snowdon Mountain Railway. Photo: Porius 1 CC-BY-SA-3.0

Mountain bikers have been warned to beware of trains on Wales’s highest mountain on the day a voluntary ban on using bridleways comes into force.

Snowdonia National Park Authority said there are concerns of increasing incidences of bikers near the railway track on Snowdon, especially in poor visibility when the trains are hard to spot.

It said it is working with biking representatives and the Snowdon Mountain Railway to tackle the problem.

A voluntary peak-time ban on cyclists using the mountain’s bridleways began today and will run until 30 September. The authority is asking bikers not to use the routes between 10am and 5pm in an attempt to avoid accidents when paths are at their busiest.

The arrangement was originally introduced in response to concerns that the large numbers of mountain bikers and walkers using the paths during the summer season could result in accidents and Snowdonia National Park Authority said it is keen that mountain bikers continue to honour the agreement, for the sake of their own and walkers’ safety and to avoid the need to consider a traffic regulation order on the mountain’s bridleways.

The current ban was agreed 11 years ago

The ban was revised and agreed in 2003.

Snowdon warden Helen Pye said: “2013 saw the vast majority making a huge effort to keep to the agreement. This was really encouraging, and mountain bikers should be applauded for this.

“We are however concerned about the increased incidents involving bikes near the train tracks especially when it’s difficult if not impossible to spot an oncoming train in low visibility.

“As a result, we’re currently working with representatives from mountain bike societies and the Snowdon Mountain Railway to address this issue.”

Ray Andrews, a representative from the local mountain bike club Clwb Beicio Mynydd Eryri said: “The route up and down Snowdon makes for the ultimate Welsh cross-country ride and the voluntary agreement of use during the busy times helps ensure that this epic journey is safer and more enjoyable for all mountain users.”

Ms Pye said: “Inconsiderate mountain biking during busy times can be dangerous, but also I’m sure fairly frustrating for the mountain biker.

“But it’s worth remembering that there are other incredible mountain bike opportunities in Snowdonia aside from Snowdon in the busy summer months, including fantastic trails at Coed y Brenin and the down-hill track at Antur Stiniog.”

The Countryside Act 1968 requires that cyclists must give way to pedestrians at all times on bridleways.

The Snowdon Mountain Railway runs from its base station in Llanberis to the Hafod Eryri visitor centre near the summit of the 1,085m (3,560ft) mountain.