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MTB future
Suggestions have been made to the committee regarding positive action and hopefully we can channel the same energy seen here.
Riders and walkers can share the trails but all parties need to be educated and aware of each other. I have found even recently, that walkers seem rather put out to keep left to let a single file of MTB'ers by.
But all my experience with the horse riders have been a positive, considerate and polite affair. We always stop and wait for the horses to pass. But we are the two groups with the most to loose?
Designated areas could be a successful policy and the key will be ensuring we get a fair hearing.
Remember more that 1,000,000 bicycles will be purchased this year. Lets hope that we have safe places to ride where there are no cars. Maybe the RTA will ban bikes from the roads too? The RTA certainly has a clear lack of consideration for cyclists. (Although the way things are going with oil maybe we could have a bike lane next to the bus lane? There is a thought!)
We know how much the RTA hate cyclists by the negative press around bike paths.
All the MTB groups must pull together to work with the NPWS with a unified can do approach.
Craig
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I've encountered several large groups of walkers recently, and often pass single walkers on their own. We (the riders I was with) all give a greeting as we pass, either verbally, a nod of the head, a wave, whatever. I remember one particularly large group of elderly walkers on the Terrey Hills long trail - not one reaction to this. Not one smile or acknowledgment.
There's no way to sugar coat this - I've noticed a direct correlation between the age of the other group you meet (whether they be walkers or riders, or horse riders) to the way they react. Older people have probably been using these trails all their life. Maybe they hooned around in vehicles here (pedal powered or otherwise?) when younger, maybe they didn't. Maybe they feel the trails are 'theirs'? Maybe they have had some bad experiences with riders (the older you get, the more life experience in general you have - both good and bad)? Whatever it is, I find it odd that people who should be the most worldly and open and have the time to be friendly are not. That's sad.
You tend to find younger walkers are friendly, they sometimes have a small child (or children). Are they more friendly because they are young and enthusiastic or because they haven't been 'buzzed' by MTB riders enough times to build up a resentment of us yet? Or maybe they haven't been living in the area all their life and seen trail use grow, perhaps they feel the same privilege and joy to be on the trails as we do?
As Craig says, horse riders are probably the most friendly lot. It's slightly annoying it is us that must dismount for them, but I can live with that. Horse riders are generally a young-ish crowd too, is it this or their need for us to help them that brings on the smiles? Who knows, but it's good so 'nuff said.
Then there's the trail bikers. Hmmmm... I passed one at Cascades on Wednesday. I was heading down Heath Track and he up - we probably had 80Km/h closing speed and perhaps 50m to react. Walkers and other riders are pretty safe from MTB riders on the way down here - they might as well be stood still given the speed one can ride up this hill, and as riders don't aim to run into stationary objects that's safe. It's a shock to meet something fast coming the other way though, and this dude only briefly backed off the throttle as he shot by, trail spraying off his rear wheel in all directions. And that's the trouble with trail (motorcross - MX) riders - their idea of fun is sliding about, but sliding about is mostly accomplished with a right hand full of throttle leaving the trail ripped up. Never mind the fact that they like to ride 60-70Km/h (maybe more) where a bike can do 30-40Km/h in a downward direction only.
The lesson in all this is we need to be mindful of others and their feelings. MTB riders need to redouble their efforts to be courteous to all users, helpful on and off the trails, and active in their upkeep and management. Let's be such a nice bunch to have out there that they can't live without us!
Yep, all you can do is try and be polite and mindful.
I came up behind Dick Smith on that steep track in Terrey Hills a while ago. I slowed up and shouted a hello to give him plenty of warning and he jumped out of the way like he stepped on a snake.
Later I was talking to this old guy who mentioned that Dick said he should be careful 'of some idiot on a motorbike flying around'.(??)
I really admire Dick, but if that's Dicks opinion....jeez
I assume this area to be natioanl park and the guy had a dog off its lead. No-one mentioned that. I was going a little quicker than walking pace when I came upon Dick - unfortunately, people assume you have no control over your bike.
and in that startled state he did mistake you for being on a motor bike, or maybe there was actually someone out there on a motor bike that Dick saw earlier. As for the dog, well yeah people do do things that they know they shouldn't, mtber's included, and most of the other trail users don't care too much about it as long as it doesn't impact them and the people they encounter are polite and friendly
We all have gripes about different things but I really think, for the moment atleast, we need to stay positive about this and wait and see what comes of it. I am sure we have all met other users on the trail that have been less than polite or friendly to us, just as I am sure other users have all met mountain bikers out there that have been less than polite or friendly. Sorry guys I just don't see how all this negativity helps our "publc image" any. If we want to vent that's fine, but how about we do it privately.
Andy you hit the nail on the head, "all we can do is be polite and mindful" and when others don't show us the same respect then remember
"..all we can do is be polite and mindful"
Walkers are easily startled if you ride up from behind. I don't have a bell but I pull up a long way behind them (maybe 30 m) and make a funny "Ding-Ding" sound (like a bell) and then they turn around and I roll up towards them and say hello as I cruise past really slowly and comment on the weather or how I saw a bird or a snake or something earlier. Then I speed up again.
Old people just like to bitch and complain about change. They listen to idiots on AM radio that tell them that the good old days are gone and it's all getting worse. The good old days were actually totally shit-house compared to now but let them dream on till they die. As younger people, we need to just be tolerant and remember, its not their fault they have a major bug up their arse, it's John Laws fault!
dick is a nob, if you see him again, tell him i want my money back for all the shonkey 2nd rate electrical equipment he sold me
old people dont listen to am radio if its a dse one cause it prob doesnt work..
the trouble with old people, is their old, and shitty about it, so they crack it when they see younguns with supple limbs fanging around where they can just but walk..well prob be like that one day too..but unfortunantly all they can do is whinge, and how, as they have too much time on their hands, so they like to shut down activities and ban things, because thats all they have left. however the nice ones, on the other hand, are lovely good clean people.
Hey guys, try and keep this constructive will you?
Anyhow - after trying various calls I have found yelling, "Riders!" at whoever is ahead seems to do the trick. Of course follow it up with politeness as you pass, but yelling, "Hello!" or "Oi!" just doesn't have the same effect initially.