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my track
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
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That's interesting... where is all that woodwork, and stuff?
Where are all the helmets?
looks like awesome fun!
Can I get an invite to come ride the trail?
I'll bring the beer, promise....
He is from Newport, Robin. In Pittwater, somewhere.
mmm I think that answers all our questions(mainly about legality)
I think we all knew this was illegal, I was just curious as to how much incriminating evidence would be forthcoming.
Listen Oscar... you obviously know what you did was wrong. The question is, will you learn from this?
That being, do you understand that every time someone builds something illegal like this, the chances of getting a decent, legal network of tracks are diminished? That's because you give ammunition for the anti-MTB lobby who argue that riders are just environmental hooligans.
Plans for legal trails have been announced recently so why bother making a few hundred metres of your 'own'? Just go and use the many kilometres of stuff NPWS are going to put in for you!
Please... because if we all do the right thing, getting the next set of legal tracks won't be as hard!
Cheers
Scotland Island. Might be a bit awkward to get across the water to some legit trails..... Not sure about what rules / laws apply to spare land there. Maybe Crown or Council land??
Nah... I doubt there is enough empty land on Scotland Island to build anything worth while.
Given that Oscar appears to live on the North side of Lovett Bay it fits that he and his buddies have been building stuff in the bush above his place.
Oscar - the land directly behind your house is National Park so if this is where the track is you (and each of your buddies) are up for a $500 fine if the rangers see this. You will also be up for rehabilitation costs which look like they could run into thousands of dollars. Looks like a bit of Towlers bay in the vid. too, if it's there the same applies.
Giving you the benefit of the doubt though - there is a very, very small parcel of private land just down the road from you. Is that where you've been building? In that case, no drama. Well... assuming you have the permission of the owner.
Mind you - he was doing the shuttle run from his tinny. Looked impressive to have a row of bikes across the back of a dinghy. Scotland Island - maybe... or any other remote part of KuRing Gai, accessable by boat only. Whenever we get permission to impliment trail fairy days - give these boys a call, theyre obviously motivated, have woodworking skills etc.
Oscar,
NPWS found your track over at Towlers Bay yesterday after watching your vid on this site. It is actually built on council land illegally. I suggest that you head over there today to clean up all of the timber before the council has to. It would be good if you could do this to try & redeem yourself after cutting all of the trees down over there. This is public land for everyone to enjoy, as Rob mentioned earlier; everytime someone builds an illegal track it ruins it for people that are trying to do the right thing & work towards getting more legal trails.
I'm a bit lost here...
Quote by Rob : "...every time someone builds something illegal like this, the chances of getting a decent, legal network of tracks are diminished..."
is totally contradictory to this (SMH 3/10/11):
MOUNTAIN bikers will be welcomed back into some state national parks under a government plan to stop illegal trails being cut...
...The aim is to end illegal trail blazing, which has led to fines and track closures,... The hope is that providing proper trails in safe areas will halt illegal track building...
...The National Parks Association of NSW, which has vigorously opposed people building ad hoc trails through the bush, said it would not oppose mountain-bike riding in designated areas if it stopped illegal activity.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/o...
Doesn't the construction of these illegal tracks provide an impetus for more legal tracks to be made available? Would we have seen any advance in the opening up of legitimate trails if it wasn't for the efforts of the renegade trail fairies?
Discuss.
Pancakes... you note that my statement is in contradiction to the SMH article, and you also note that I disagree with the article quite strongly.
You will know this as you took part in that discussion: Official trails to stop mountain bikers in their illegal tracks
Rob, I've gone back and read through your responses to that article, and mine as it happens. (I cannot recall every comment I let alone everyone else makes...). Your sadness is noted.
The fact remains that the various levels of land management from the NSW Environment Minister down seem to think that providing legitimate trails will reduce construction of inappropriate trails.
Is this what you disagree with?
Confused,
Frenchs Forest
I disagree with the stance that people should break the law in order to change the law.
Read this: http://bmorc.com/node/31529#comment-99801 (It was linked from the topic above).
Let me ask you something: Do you think Oscar's track, if it is indeed illegal, will provide ammunition for the anti-MTB lobby by giving them 'just one more' example of an environmentally insensitive rider?
If the answer is, "Yes" (and I'm thinking it can be nothing but "Yes" - please provide a sensible argument if you disagree) then how can you also not see that giving ammunition to a group of people who are against what you are trying to achieve is a bad thing?
P.S. Your question is borderline trolling (don't push it!) so I looked at your history to see if you'd done this before.
Unofficial trail construction is no longer tolerated. Things have changed.
This is partly internal attitudes in government and also lobbying from green groups.
All in all it gives us a bad name and makes things difficult.
It is now widely accepted that official trails are needed.
Unfortunately and also fortunately due to changing society attitudes trails must now go through an approval process.
The double standard and irony isn't lost on us given the number of now official walking tracks around the State we can point to that were built unofficially. There are also a number of walking tracks in a worse state than bike tracks that have received complaints.
As I said though times have changed which will see us and the environment better off. Lets move on and work with it.
"Do you think Oscar's track, if it is indeed illegal, will provide ammunition for the anti-MTB lobby by giving them 'just one more' example of an environmentally insensitive rider?"
Yes it gives them some ammunition, but it's old .22 thats been left in a pocket and put through the wash and will do no more than make a "thupp" sound and foul the barrel.
Given the very reason stated above for the opening up of the new trails it will only give more credence to the validity of the new (exsting in some cases...) trails.
What the antis/greens fail to acknowledge is that by making a resource, i.e. a national park, open and available and of value to users ensures it's continued preservation. In their view it's much better to lock it up and not allow any nasty humans in there.
ps. For my benefit, which question was borderline trolling and did you simply consider it trolling because it was asked of you?
Simon, +1
That's all I was saying. Sure, it might be weak, but as we've seen on other projects, even a tiny bit of the stuff can cause major headaches.
Simon, +1 too.
Absolutely. One of the points we argue is that parks can only be preserved if they remain relevant.
So are we all friends again now?
P.S. To answer your question - when you drag up an controversial old thread and present it in an argumentative way it looks a lot like trolling.
Its a shame something so positive could become negative. But I respect the issue of ruining mtb tracks for others so I have removed all wood and structures from the track.
two thumbs up to you oscar, for doing the right thing dude, next time try approaching the land owner and ask permission, worst they can do is say no, and thats a lot better then a big fine
Thank you Oscar... it's not often we see such maturity.
BTW, if you want to know what plans NPWS have for MTB in the Northern Beaches area try and get along to Garigal National Park Information Day or Berowra Valley Information Day.
I really hope they have some volunteer days so those that like to help out can still enjoy building.
Thanks heaps Oscar for working with everyone and cleaning up. Much appreciated. If you're keen on DH riding Ourimbah has an awesome track & will always welcome new comers. They are actually running thier first all mountain race on Sunday week. Check out the link here; http://www.rotorburn.com/forums/showthread.php?232623-Ourimbah’s-first-All-Mountain-race-6-November-2011 Thanks again mate.