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Crowd Source Funding of Trails
Do you think 200 people would donate $100 if the outcome was formally managed and properly built trails at Red Hill?
The funding is mainly to get environmental studies completed.
$100 is less than many bike parts and you get a trail network.
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If the money is raised and the studies are completed what is the likelihood trails will be constructed?
With Simon at the helm?
I'd say, many times better than spending the same dollars or more on entry fees for the Mont or the Husky, and getting a dry race.
I would happily dig deep although I'd like a plan in place to see where in the process my money was being spent and what the following outcomes were. I'd also find it hard to believe that you wouldn't find enough people through Sydney who wouldn't either. As long as you market the idea effectively, you should probably get the numbers you're after.
And hey, by the time the new trails come to fruition, Red Hill MAY have dried out...
As close to 100% as you can get.
At Red Hill they largely already exist but need some fixing up, proper management, signage and crews to help maintain. There also needs to be some reroutes and new single track.
The biggest barrier at the moment seems to be getting the environmental studies done. There are grants around for construction which match 50/50 volunteer time and other funds raised. There are also grants for bush rehabilitation.
Later on XC and AM race events and multi sport could generate some revenue to put back into them.
I reckon we could offer a money back guarantee if for some reason the environmental study didn't go ahead.
I would happily dig deep. $100 a bargain, also agree with the other lads comments re were the money is being spent etc, all sounds very positive.
If I were you, I'd spend a bit of time on Kickstarter looking at how people there structure such crowdfunding arrangements. In particular, setting different price points for different recognition might elicit larger investment. e.g. get to name a corner for $2000 - the corner has a little sign for it on the map/trail
As others have pointed out, documenting the process and associated risks would be equally important. Past experience and references (e.g. we helped get approval for trail XYZ in the past) would also build credibility
If it were a properly managed arrangement (and if you're looking into it Simon, I gather it will be), then I'd be well keen! Personally, I'd happily donate $100, or well upwards, if the result was well planned out and I knoew exactly where that money would be going.
As someone mentioned above, I think you'd get more interest if you structured it with a tiered donation scale, with different levels of donation generating different levels of kudos.
More than willing to make it an annual donation if the outcome is the old loops from redhill, oxyford falls, deep creek are all reinstated !
Hell it would be better spent then going to IMBA which god knows where that money goes !
D
I would happily donate money towards funding for bike trails. I'd say I speak for a lot of people who work 60 - 70 hours a week and have kids that I am extremely time poor so watch and admire all the good work done from the wings. However where I'm weak in time I am happy to put forward funding and donations.
What about if the study came back with adverse findings and the proposed network is either reduced, or cannot proceed at all?
Im not in the local area, but I'd most likely kick the can as well.
I'd certainly chip in $100 to get things moving along. To put in into perspective - its cheaper than a day's ski lift ticket in Oz!
I think a lot of people would also seriously consider paying an annual membership to fund & maintain trails, too. I've often considered that something along the lines of a Golf Club business model would work well for a MTB park. It wouldn't necessarily be as expensive as a Golf Club membership since there won't be a fancy clubhouse & expensive grounds to maintain, just enough to cover any lease & trail maintenance costs.
and take my money!!
I'm an out of towner also and have never been to red hill but would consider making a donation.
i have all ready spent more on tools/wood to fix some of the trails up there, i would like other to follow my lead and on those days when the trails are too wet get out there, find the problem area and fix it.
I have done this a in a few areas and the trails are now ridable within a few days of rain instead of weeks.
Crowd-sourced funding of trail advocacy and maintenance is a sensational idea.
I haven't ridden Red Hill in 5 or 6 years, but would be happy to donate to getting more sustainable trails in there if was some transparency in the process.
I'm guessing if you provided something concrete (e.g. a quote with the name of the environmental assessor) that you'd get a lot of backers. And if you commit to returning the money in the unlikely event of the assessment not going ahead, who wouldn't want to help out?
And perhaps once the assessment is complete, publish it along with a "thank you" list on the Trailcare web site?
for all the feedback.
Sounds like this idea may have potential. Will take it to the next TrailCare committee meeting.