You are hereForums / BMORC News / "Official trails to stop mountain bikers in their illegal tracks" - SMH 3/10/11
"Official trails to stop mountain bikers in their illegal tracks" - SMH 3/10/11
Highlights moves by State Government and National Parks to provide legitimate riding opportunities in an attempt to curb illegal trail construction.
MOUNTAIN bikers will be welcomed back into some state national parks under a government plan to stop illegal trails being cut.
Construction will start on a series of dedicated tracks in parks around Sydney in the next few weeks, including trails in Garigal National Park and Berowra Valley Regional Park on the north shore, the government has said.
The aim is to end illegal trail blazing, which has led to fines and track closures, and stop conflict between cyclists and conservationists who argue that national parks should be purely wilderness areas.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/o...
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Pretty ridiculous article IMO. The aim of the Cycling policy review was not to stop illegal construction but to increase visitor rates as per the Tourism task force findings.
This article makes us sound like a bunch of criminals cutting a "swave" of illegal trails through pristine NPs and the powers that be have declared "if you can't beat them, join them"
The amount of illegal ST in NPs parks is minimal, especially outside the Sydney basin where state forest and crown reserves have always been more welcoming and have easier access.
Have to agree Flynny. It was the same theme at the Springwood meeting last year and one of the speakers made the point a few times. In the end I stood up and asked the local Ranger(s) if they were having issues in the mountains, to which the reply came NO. It was just making out that us Mountain locals were all out there cutting in new tracks in National Parks.
Anyway, I look forward to moving ahead now and showing that we can work with NPWS.
Despite the misrepresentation that perhaps the level of illegal trail construction is wide spread through National Parks which as we know is a myth, I feel the premise behind this message does to a degree aid us in highlighting the fact that with out legitimate trails and appropriate riding oppotunities for off road cyclist we as a group have little hope of controlling the fringe element who would seek to create trails with our proper sanction.
This has always been a strong argument from our group but unitl now has never really gained resonance with other groups including those who regularly canvass support to eliminate mountain bikes from areas based on environmental concerns.
Seeing NPWS and State government are now acknowledging that no trails means polifferation of poor trails, sends a clear message to land owners and custodians that if they want to eliminate illegal trails, then they need to provide alternatives otherwise, they will be responsible albeit inadvertantly for the ongoing creation of illegal trails.
This message as we have proclaimed so many time is simple, give riders somewhere to ride so they dont take matters into their own hands.
I think it's dangerous to use the line that providing authorised trails will (to some extent) reduce the number of unauthorised trails being built as justification for what most MTB riders are asking for.
Most MTB riders want to get close to nature, enjoy bushland and bushland views, spend time with friends and family in this setting, all while riding a bike. Some like to challenge themselves physically while doing this on demanding terrain. Most MTB riders are not prepared to break the law to do this. There are clear economic and social benefits from encouraging more people into National Parks and other natural areas so authorities should encourage this.
That is the correct message.
Now, if as a by-product this happens to reduce illegal activity in National Parks then all the better. Please though, don't go selling the idea on that basis as it sends the message that all one needs to do to get the law changed is break it on a regular basis. Think what life would be like if everyone took that approach!
Hi Rob,
my opinion on how illegal tracks are created and why is only my opinion, I don't like illegal trail construction and know from my own experience that riders who build tracks with scant regard for sustainability or the environment do so because the availability of legitimate trails is very limited.
Putting facts forward is just that, I do not feel that expressing my opinion would or should be taken as a hard line demand for trail access or a threat, my comments reflect the findings of many mountain bike communities around the world.
I hope that in time we will
be able to perpetuate the goodwill being created by land managers and off road user groups in Europe and America here in Australia.
There are exciting changes ahead and we are all going to part of this exciting process.