29.7.2005 Canberra Times Article

[stinkytodamax]

Hi All

Just found this in the Canberra Times. Another article painting MTB as the anti christ.

[The_Hoff]

Hhhhmmm, interesting. The pic of old "Stevo the Deevo" in the air with a look of "what the f$%k am I doing?" probably doesn't help the cause much either :rolleyes:

Like Stevo said though, a lot of people doing the wrong thing are just "Joe Public" out for a cruise and do not understand/give a shit about fragile areas or the long term image/access of mtbing.

Can't wait to see the letters to the editor from anti-mtb crew that dominates the 'burbs of this town.

It's getting tough to have fun in this town......don't ride their.......get off the road......you're a hoon...... :rolleyes:

This has all come up before though, with some careful negotiating it will be sorted........or left long enough it will drop off the agenda.

[scratchy]

At least both sides (Environment ACT and the MTBers) are saying they need to work with the other party.

With the strong MTB community in the ACT I imagine some positive media action will happen with this.

[stinkytodamax]

For an activity that promotes a healthy lifestyle we get a pretty bad wrap. Don't ride on the dirt, don't ride on the road, don't ride on the streets. Where do you ride?

It seems the idea is to have everyone riding around the three lakes of Canberra and that's it.

Very true scratchy. I hope it all works out.

Cheers

[The_Hoff]

Here is a Government announcement from John Stanhope:

264/05 27 July 2005

MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDERS REMINDED TO STAY OFF DESIGNATED WALKING TRACKS

Chief Minister and Minister for the Environment Jon Stanhope has reminded mountain bike riders who use Canberra's nature parks that they must stay on formed roads and not ride on walking tracks unless they are designated and signposted multi-use tracks.

"Not only is incorrect use of tracks a safety issue for all park users, it is a significant cause of environmental damage," Mr Stanhope said.

"During one recent incident, a mountain bike travelling at speed along a steep, narrow walking track came suddenly upon a local Park Care group, almost causing a nasty accident and damaging the track, which now needs urgent rehabilitation to reduce soil erosion and sediment run-off."

Mr Stanhope said Environment ACT had witnessed an increase in the number of mountain bike riders in Canberra Nature Park since the 2003 bushfires, particularly on Mt Majura, Mt Ainslie and Percival Hill Nature Reserves.

While parks and reserves were for the enjoyment of all, certain rules applied. Mountain bike riders were welcome to use formed roads and designated tracks, but walking tracks were off limits unless otherwise sign-posted. These tracks were not built to take the impact of mountain bike activity and were vulnerable to soil compaction, increased run-off and weed invasion if used incorrectly.

"While steep walking tracks may present an attractive technical challenge to mountain bike riders, the risk to other park users and to the environment is unacceptable," Mr Stanhope said.

To cater for the desire of the mountain bike community for challenging tracks, clearly signposted multi-use tracks exist in the Bruce and O'Connor Ridge Reserves and on the Googong Foreshores. A number of dedicated mountain bike trails also exist in the Kowen and Majura pine forests."

Statement Ends
Media Contact: Penelope Layland 6205 9777 Mobile 0438 289 714 penelope.layland@act.gov.au
Leah De Forest 6205 1690 Mobile 0411 779 569 leah.deforest@act.gov.au





Jon Stanhope MLA
CHIEF MINISTER
ATTORNEY GENERAL MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINISTER FOR ARTS, HERITAGE & INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS
MEMBER FOR GINNINDERRA


Hhhhhmmmm.

Oh and you can't ride around the lakes either because it interferes with the people walking their dogs off the leads, but don't worry the dog is under control :rolleyes:

[stinkytodamax]

I was going to mention that. Last time I was at Majura a guy had his dog and it running all over the place and digging up the soil. 10x the damage that we create in just seconds.

Mr Stanhope needs to talk to the MTB community and see just how hard it is to have a bit of fun without breaking the "law". No disrespect to John Stanhope I am sure he is only following his advisors suggestions and our general apathy as riders means we don't often get our point across to said advisors.

None of us spent all this money on bikes just to ride around fire roads. Be you an XC racer or Downhiller.

(I'm thinking I could take some of my own advice here)

I would hate to get in the way of a runner on the lake and I have such fun riding the stinky around on tarmac.

Rant over

[floody]

01 April 2005

WALKERS REMINDED TO STAY OFF DESIGNATED MOUNTAIN BIKING TRACKS

Chief Minister and Minister for the Environment Jon Stanhope has reminded walkers who use Canberra's nature parks that they must stay on formed roads and not walk on mountain biking tracks unless they are designated and signposted multi-use tracks.

"Not only is incorrect use of tracks a safety issue for all park users, it is a significant cause of environmental damage," Mr Stanhope said.

"During one recent incident, a walker travelling at low speed along a steep, narrow mountain biking track came suddenly upon a local Park Care group, almost boring them to death by whinging about mountain bikers and threatening to write letters. They required urgent rehabilitation to bring them out of a catatonic state, chanting 'bloody walkers, bloody walkers, bloody walkers....' ".

Mr Stanhope said Environment ACT had witnessed an increase in the number of walkers in Canberra Nature Park since the 2003 bushfires, particularly on Mt Majura, Mt Ainslie and Percival Hill Nature Reserves.

While parks and reserves were for the enjoyment of all, certain rules applied. Walkers were welcome to use formed roads and designated tracks, but mountain biking tracks were off limits unless otherwise sign-posted. These tracks were not built to take the boredom of walking activity and were vulnerable to soil compaction, increased run-off and weed invasion if used incorrectly.

"While steep mountain biking tracks may present an attractive technical challenge to walkers, the risk to other park users and to the environment is unacceptable," Mr Stanhope said.

To cater for the desire of the walking community for challenging tracks, clearly signposted multi-use tracks exist in the Bruce and O'Connor Ridge Reserves and on the Googong Foreshores. A number of dedicated walking trails also exist adjacent to the nature strip on many residential roads"

Statement Ends
Media Contact: Penelope Layland 6205 9777 Mobile 0438 289 714 penelope.layland@act.gov.au
Leah De Forest 6205 1690 Mobile 0411 779 569 leah.deforest@act.gov.au





Jon Stanhope MLA
CHIEF MINISTER
ATTORNEY GENERAL MINISTER FOR BIKIN'
MINISTER FOR DH, FREERIDE & CROSS COUNTRY AFFAIRS
MEMBER FOR GINNINDERRA



How it ought to be...

[scblack]

How it ought to be...

Hehehe very good one Floody.

[stinkytodamax]

Your a champ floody

[mtb_man]

Nice one Floody. Maybe one day it'll be for real...

[Corty]

From the newspaper article: "Endangered bird species such as the glossy black cockatoo ... could be lost if nothing was done."

Exactly how will they be lost?? I have seen these "endangered" birds many times around the Watson/Downer area where there is legal suburban single track next to Northbourne Avenue. These birds don't even flinch when I thunder past on my MTB only meters away. So how is shifting a little dirt up in the mountains going to hurt them?? :confused:

Don't get me wrong, I really apreciate Majura & Kowen MTB trails, but the walkers are really getting the lions share of nature park trails access in Canberra. I'd like to see Ainslie, Majura (city side) and Red Hill opened up a little more. If a trail is built well from scratch it should withstand the impact of MTB riding.

[VPSDH]

One day we wont be able to leave our houses cause we might damage the grass and breath the fresh air, mind you its alright to throw a big block of apartments up and wipe everything in its path for the almighty dollar hmmmm. :eek:

seriously though, I'm sure this will get sorted out with a little common sense and some negotiation. :D

[Yeti]

Stanhope and the cheif enviromental ACT Ranger are complete fuckwits. Not only does the Cheif Ranger want mountain biking diminished in the A.C.T., he can not come up with a completely valid argument to why the amount of rebelious walkers around the northside mountain district do more damage by removing logs of the side of tracks and around the area of the track and palcing them to stop mountain bikers...compared to people riding down them. not to mention the copious amount of fucking greenies giving us shit on ainslie about riding...with their feral dogs running around without a leesh....

its been tried...

We need a new goverment..and a new type of fucking enviromental agency in canberra...one that doesnt care about loosing 1 bird to a car and blaming it on riders in canberra.....think what it could do for tourism...idiots.

[olly1oo6]

One day we wont be able to leave our houses cause we might damage the grass and breath the fresh air, mind you its alright to throw a big block of apartments up and wipe everything in its path for the almighty dollar hmmmm

well bloody said mate ;) couldn't have put it much better myself.