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Manly Daily today- strength in numbers
Well, it seems strength in numbers does work- with local council anyway and hopefully NPWS to follow.
On page 5 of today's Manly Daily, it says Manly council will stump up $10K to re-build the dirt bike track in Seaforth they demolished previously due to injury (litigation) concerns.
'While illegal, the track had been in existence for up to 30 years'
This is what Chris Southwood talked about in his ed coloumn of the recent AMB (also a pic of him jumping at said trail in MD) where he and others sat through a boring council meeting to have their say on the closure.
It was a result of this that the council has decided to re-build 'a professionally designed track that meets the council insurers' specifications'.
The article continues 'the track received strong support from the councillors, many of whom critisised council staff for removing the track in the first place'.
The squeeky wheel gets the oil.
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I saw it as well. Where is the track?
When are they going to put the trail back? And who's giogn to design it? And last but not least when will it be ridable?
you do konw its not a trail as such, its just a full on dirt jump spot. no need for your xc bikes there guys
Condescending much?
realise it's not a trail
I don't think I will ever visit or even know where it is
It was more the process I was posting about. That these guys got involved by turning up at a council meeting and coming to a compromise rationally that works out well for everybody.
If they just said 'oh, f*^% it' they would be nowhere.
Now CS is on the front page of the MD with the heading 'the bike track is back' and more people (who can't differentiate between dirt jumping and trail riding) will see it and say 'oh that's good that the young folk have somewhere to go and do something healthy'
And maybe this will lead to a more open minded approach by all parties
Those who are -and in a society where no-one takes any responsibility - quite rightly shit scared of litigation from the parents of some blue eyed boy who comes home all broken up from being on council/ NPWS land doing a dangerous activity
And those that want to take responsibility for their actions and have somewhere to go and do what makes the working week worthwhile (while emptying their pockets of the proceeds)
Trail bike trails aren't closed in an effort to spend a budget on signs or just be nasty.
They're closed because in this crazy 'it's not my fault' society where law suits are encouraged, the threat of very expensive litigation is very real
And I think the editorial in AMB sums up our (anyone with a bike) situation and feelings
And likewise the Manly Daily article sums up all local councils and the National Parks and Wildlife Service
For once I say, well done Manly council.
My opinion anyhoo
What if a plan was proposed with NPWS that if we buy some sort of license, which included a personal waiver if injury occurs not to proceed with litigation. Would it make it any easier to ride the trails we love but stay away because they are now illegal?
Has anyone seen where some schools have banned children from playing during school hours because a school was sued by the parents of a little darling that was hurt while playing on school grounds.
Of course most parents are outraged that their children now can't play at school, but the schools can't afford expensive legal action and so must ensure they don't leave themselves open etc etc
Sound familiar
Problem is, a really bad injury can be really expensive
And in order to cover bills, some people are forced to sue.
Also, I'm not sure of the legal validity of these documents
There's lots of issues outside of being sued as well.
But it seems that now more dialogue is happening between parties which can only be a good thing
Anyway, I'll shut up now before I really start ranting.
Usually I would be having a Friday arvo spin, but a spider bit my foot and it's swelled up like a football.
If I could find the spider I'd sue his arse. Ha ha