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Write and write some more
There seems to be little action here, so thought I should mention a bit of news from a while back.
Earlier this year I wrote to NSW NPWS regarding their maps of Ku-ring-gai and Garigal National Parks. I mentioned that these maps didn't show many trails that one can ride with the NPWS blessing. I explained how there were loads of fire trails in these parks that I knew were wide open roads that one could easily drive down, and ask if that's the case how come riding isn't permitted there.
I also eluded to the fact that there were other, skinnier trails about that it was obvious riders were using, and that use of said trails couldn't possibly be bad for the environment (think riding over rocks - of course with no cultural significance) and what was their attitude towards that?
It took a while, but a letter did come back. Whilst they chose to ignore the questions about sniggle (is that a good or a bad thing?) they did agree that the maps out there for the general public are wrong. At the next update they said these would be changed to show bike riders are welcome many more places.
This is a nice story to share. As if you are polite and tactful you do get a response, and what would seem like a positive one at that. We'll wait until the maps are updated of course, but it sounds hopeful.
As for the sniggle, hmmm... this is tricky. I'd like to write back and ask why they ignored that, but that could just be poking a hornet's nest! What would be a good option I think, is to suggest a sniggle amnesty of sorts. Get them to accept that unmarked trails are there and have been for years, and that being the case they are going to keep being ridden and might as well be recognised and mapped.
Thoughts? Anyone else done any writing? Planning to?
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Lenny Allen of the Hunter MTB club has been hassling the State Government on behalf of NSWMTB to try and get the NPWS Cycling Policy up dated and amended.
Current wording basically says you can ride on fire trail but not on Walking Track (With the assumption that all single track is walking track.
With more land coming under NPWS (Now the Department of Environment and Climate Change I think) control this means less and less area open for riding.
As lenny has been trying to point out, this actually conflicts with to the intent of the State Plan, which pushes for an increase in recreational opportunities.
He has apparently got his state member on side. I'll have a yarn with him to see if he can't get a paper together so that other people can take it to their State members. The more people pushing the same thing from different directions the better
Just remember that drafts for the RNP plan restricted bike use to just 6km of a possible 150Km of trail. That was the local governments idea of sharing the trails or what they thought the riders would be happy with. The reverse would probably suit everyone better.
The simple message must be that there is probably 10 riders for every walkers and trails can successfully be shared.
It is massively annoying the bikers seem to loose out when trails get managed or controlled.
I am all for a united approach...Craig