Manly Daily - Riders fear bikes ban call

C'mon one and all - we need as many of us as possible to get on the Daily website and make a comment before all of those clueless naysayers jump on and post irrevalent garbage comparing us to bmxers jumping off of horse sheds and the like.

Absolutely right Rob.

I posted the following comment

'With due respect to Mr Cox, he sounds remarkably like the playground bully. As a mountain bike rider, I'm obviously the new kid in the playground who he thinks should be punished with impunity.

Imagine the bleating If the mountain bike community suggested that walkers drive for an hour to a state forest for their recreation... a serious case of Nimby-ism.

There are numerous studies showing the relative impacts of walking and mountain bike riding if Mr Cox would care to look at them (particularly those on IMBA.com). These fairly clearly refute Mr. Cox's claims and show that on properly designed trails, walkers cause the same amount of erosion and environmental damage as mountain bikes. This can be seen in examples of properly managed trails all over the world ( including the likes Stromlo, Sparrow Hill and Majura in Canberra!).

If you will allow an over used quote, with regard to walkers and riders, there is more that unites us than divides us. The majority in each group appreciate the natural beauty of the native bush, are very environmentally aware, responsible and keen to make sure our natural asset are both protected and open to give inspiration to future generations. There are bad apples in both barrels undoubtedly, but I would warn Mr Cox that he is in danger of appearing hypocritical by trying to adopt a morraly superior position. More importantly, he is in danger of driving a wedge between two groups who are actually natural allies and should be working more closely to ensure that future generations have the option of weaning themselves from the playstation and can get out and enjoy the health benefits available in our National Parks. He does not seem to realise that many riders are also walkers and many walkers are also riders. I'm not sure which I would call myself as I and my family enjoy both pastimes.

Surely Mr Cox's organisation should be encouraging riders to join them and help create truly sustainable, well managed and well maintained access to the areas we all find so beautiful.

Wedge politics is a course of action which actively promotes division and confrontation in order to satisfy narrow self interest. When I think of the people and organisations who have used these tactics, they have invariably been the worst bullies and I certainly wouldn't want to be considered one of them.

Doesn't seem to bother Mr Cox though. '

I can only repeat JJS's comment above. Come on one and all.

CB

I cant believe it is necessary to waste time responding to such a ridiculous idea, but added my post to the collection anyway:

Mr Cox’s knee jerk reaction to a perceived problem regarding mountain bike incompatibility in national parks is particularly worrying and I am surprised he thinks banning is an option. A more sensible approach would surely be to work on managing the parks to cater for all users in a positive way. I would suggest that a ban is unlikely to be effective long term solution and Mr Cox and his team need to be a little more creative in their approach to parks management.

Is it feasible to garner some celebrity support to our cause? Does anyone here lunch with George Gregan or ride with him?

Hi All,

I have written a letter to my local member:

Dear Mr O’Dea.

I would like to draw your attention to recent matters of concern within the local community with respect to access to National Parks for Mountain Bike riders.

For many years, the National Parks in the Northern Sydney Basin, Garigal, Oxford Falls, Ku-ring-gai and Bantry Bay have been enjoyed by over 5,000 local mountain bikers and many from adjacent areas of Sydney. People have been attracted to the area due to it’s challenging terrain and beautiful aspects. Now, that has all changed with the National Parks and Wildlife Service systemically closing access to these once-loved trails.

The reasons for this have been recently highlighted in the Manly Daily on the 30th of June. Andrew Cox, the executive officer of the NPA (National Parks And Wildlife) has stated that mountain bikes are not compatible with National Parks. He is quoted as saying:

“Mountain bikes are damaging to the shallow soils found within many of the sandstone parks of the Sydney Basin,” he said. “Furthermore, they conflict with the access of walkers on narrow, single tracks.
“There is a risk of serious injury and the risk of litigation if mountain bikes continue to use such tracks.
“However many of these activities could be placed in lands of different tenure, where the environmental and social impacts they cause are more acceptable.
“Providing for this should be one of the functions of good regional planning.”
With respect to his justification, there are a few points that I would like to highlight:
1. There is no such independent conclusion that has sited mountain bikes have contributed overtly to erosion and degradation to National Parks trails and terrain. Many concurrent activities such as walking, abseiling and horse riding have all been continuing in earnest and no group has sited mountain bike riding as a negative influence on the National Parks and it’s surrounds.
2. There have been no recorded serious injuries resulting from mountain biking in National Parks that have led to litigation.
3. Other states and territories have managed mountain bike recreational activities seemleesly and without incident.
4. Mountain bikers are typically environmentally sensitive and appreciate the surroundings they are accessing. They understand the fragile nature of the National Parks and wish for their children and further generations to enjoy it too. As such, they only access designated trails and routes.
5. There are numerous studies showing the relative environmental impacts of walking and mountain bike riding. I am reffering to those on IMBA.com (the International Mountain Biking Association). These explain that on properly designed trails, walkers cause the same amount of erosion and environmental damage as mountain bikes, typically a minimal impact.

Local mountain bike riders alreadly have trail advocacy groups established and are only more than willing to assist in the development and maintainance of environmentally sustainable trails that can be enjoyed by all of the community. There is already evidence of such actions in areas such as Manly Dam, Sparrow Hill and Majura Pines in Canberra.
I urge you to take the time to understand the overwelming community views on this subject and act accordingly in an effort to assist in providing a workable solution that will allow all interested groups to enjoy National Parks as was originally intended upon their establishment.
If you wish to discuss this matter further, do not hesitate in contacting me directly.

I know that the following celebrities are big MTBrs

Jason Richards - V8 Supercars
Mark Webber - Formula 1

Does anyone lunch or ride with them?

don't forget George W Bush.

OK in reading the NPA website
they have stated we should be out of national parks (nothing new there)
but they have stated that other areas be freed up
we need to find out who has more support

i suggest we put this to the test and all Support Mike Baird.
write to him or call his office and state your support
lets see who has the numbers

Kurt

P.s
here is his speech from parliment

[Ed. snip]

http://www.mikebaird.com.au/interactive/speeches...

.......OK , rode it last night, few of the bigger puddles (lakes) are still there but the rest of the track is dry .

Thanks guys!