WRC Mountain Bike Issues

May 95 

The Wellington Regional Council's Regional Outdoor Recreation Strategy (1994) states regional outdoor management has two clear responsibilities:

1. The provision of access to a wide variety of recreation opportunities.
2. The management of recreation access to ensure minimum impact on the natural resources and other users.

In 1986 Mtbing began to take off with NZ's first national champs held on WRC land. There were 2 cycle shops in Wgtn city and approx 10 in the Wgtn region (selling mostly road bikes). The Wgtn Cycle Touring Club ran regular off-road trips and would soon change its name to the Wgtn Mountain Bike and Cycle Touring Club.

Today there are 9 cycle shops in Wgtn city and approx 30 in the Wgtn region, with mountain bikes amounting to roughly 70% of total sales. New mountain bike sales appear to have plateaued out at 15 000 - 20 000 per annum, while there is an increase in dedicated customers spending large sums on bike upgrades (eg: suspension forks for $1000). There are now 4 Mtb clubs in the Wgtn metropolitan area.

Mountain bikes are banned from 19 tracks/areas on WCC land, 15 tracks/areas on WRC land and is either banned or not possible on most DOC tracks/land. Permission to ride on private farm tracks is usually granted on a track-by-track basis (except during lambing).

Rennie (1995) has predicted an increasing trend towards participation in 'Ecology and outdoor lifestyle' leisure activities such as walking, cycling and open air outings. The fastest growth in interest currently appears to be in cycling throughout the western world.

Thirty-two percent of Wellingtonians participated in mountain biking in 1993 (AGB McNair). Future activities that their survey respondents were interested in trying included tramping or bush walking (11%), sailing or yachting (10%) and mountain biking or cycling (9%). Mountain biking participants improved their health, fitness, and self esteem by overcoming challenges; enjoyed scenery, peace and quiet, social interaction with other users, and the exhileration of an active sport. Many also gained a greater awareness of the outdoors in general. Mountain biking has grown significantly since 1993.

WOMB(Women On Mountain Bikes) prefer 2hr-long rides or occassionally weekend rides. Racers prefer steep challenging terrain and routes that take up to three hours to ride at a relatively fast pace. Downhill specialists enjoy steep fast descents with few other users and will often drive to the top of a hill if possible. Many recreational and family groups prefer flattish rides with few obstacles. It is important for all types of mountain bikers to be able to get away from motor vehicles.

Mountain bike clubs would like to see the various agencies responsible put more resources into maintaining popular mountain bike tracks. They do not feel that a fair proportion of the recreation budget is being spent on mountain biking (compared with field sports or walking only tracks). The Christchurch City Council paid for two new mountain bike tracks to be built in 1993 (the tracks are also used by walkers and runners).

Access to tracks close to the cities is important for children and low income groups who do not have access to a car.

Tracks which provide an alternative to busy highways will be very popular for cycle tourists (eg: The Rimutaka Incline).

Mountain bikers in general are supportive of the W.R.C.'s management of mountain biking to date.

Because of the proximity of many public areas suitable for mountain biking (and perhaps the lack of road riding opportunities), to Wellington's urban areas it is more popular here than in any other part of New Zealand. Wellington has been described as the 'Mountain Bike Capital of New Zealand' by tourism promoters.

The impact of mountain biking can be classified in terms of social impact, physical impact, safety hazzards, and economic impact.

Social impact is the most significant and difficult to manage, form of impact. Many walkers dissaprove of mountain biking because of its perceived physical impact, the risk of being hit by a rider out of control or because they see it as impinging on there appreciation of nature. In 1992 22.5% of walkers on the Heaphy Track wanted bicycles completely banned from the Heaphy. For some (walkers and mountain bikers) seeing few other users is an important aspect of their wilderness experience. "The problems caused by the mountain bike are not so much to do with the machine as to the imposition of yet another use on a limited resource.....Conflict arises not so much from any evidence of damage but from the fact that mountain bikers are different and are assumed to be irresponsible. The notion that 'they do not care for the countryside in the same way as the rest of us' has become prevalent." (Landscape Research, UK, 1993). "If walking and mountainbiking were incompatible as some walkers claim, why is the Dry Creek track, which our club cleared, popular with walkers. Responsible riders are not a problem", HVMBC member.

Mountain bikes are a quiet, pollution-free form of transport. All track users have a physical impact.A track's ability to withstand mountain bike impact is proportional to vegetation cover, soil cohesiveness, stone content, drainage, slope, line of sight, number of users, the age and width of the track and how smooth its surface and mellow its corners are. (Mark Cormack B.Sc Physical Geography). Research to date has not shown mountain bikers to have a significantly greater impact on tracks than walkers. The greatest cause of environmental impacts is the existance of the track itself (Wilson & Seney 1994). The way in which a mountain bike is ridden has an affect on that riders impact (eg: whether or not they skid). Bicycles are generally track-bound and therefore have little impact on vegetation.

Irresponsible mountain biking can pose a saftey hazard, however the danger is more perceived than real. One mountain bike fatality has occurred and there have been a few SaR operations involving cyclists in the Akatarawas. A small number of accidental collisions have been recorded. None of these involved serious injury although it is possible that this will occur sooner or later. This risk can be minimised but not eliminated.

There are approx 120 people directly employed by the cycle industry in the Wgtn region. It is conservatively estimated that $14 700 000 per annum is spent directly on mountain biking in the Wgtn region. The advent of the Mountain bike has also had a major impact on the number of people commuting by bike, which has trebled in the last four years (in Wgtn city).

Wellington's mountain bike tourism potential is largely untapped. There is only one mountain bike tour operator in Wgtn at present. Areas such as Auckland, Rotorua, Taupo, Hanmer and Queenstown actively promote their mountain biking areas and succeed in attracting many riders. DoC Turangi are funding the production of a regional Mtb guide to promote the tracks they want used. The 1000-rider Karapoti Classic had just over 300 out-of-town entries in 1994. The 'Big Coast' two-day, recreational ride attracted over 800 riders this year. Wgtns notoriety as a mountain bike venue will increase dramatically when it hosts a round of the World Mtb Cup (in 1997).

See 'Table 1'

Classification of the Wellington Regional Councils tracks is currently underway.

To date tracks have simply been classified as 'Open' or 'Closed' to mountain biking on W.R.C. land based on the apparent physical impact of bikes. Other areas have classified tracks as seasonally open or one-way only.

Mountain bikers deeply oppose track bans unless they are based on unmanageable physical impacts to tracks (eg:old Baked Beans Bend track) or extremely high walker numbers (eg:Orongorongo Five Mile Track, which is open to ride once a year).

In some areas, tracks have been put aside and designated as one-way for 'extreme riders' who persist in exploring the limits of their bike handling skills.

Mountain bikers completed 260 hours of voluntary track maintenence in the Wgtn area in 1994. The implementation of simple water bars on the Hawkins Hill Tip Track, which has suffered from several metre-deep ruts in the past, has proved to be extremely effective.

Speed control devices are an effective way of preventing collisions on blind corners. It may be necessary to reinforce the shoulder of tracks on tight corners where beginners sometimes stray to close to the edge. Cutting back vegetation which impairs vision on corners may improve safety. Steps should be built right to the edge of a track to eliminate the possibility of side-lining by cyclists.

Management options, listed from positive to negative, are: promote dual use - sign the track - user education - track modifications - promote use on other tracks - do nothing - one-way traffic - seasonal track bans - build a seperate track - track bans (for walkers or bikers).

The placement of the Off Road Code (or similar) at road ends is common practice in America. It reminds riders to behave responsibly and lets walkers know that they may meet a cyclist on the track (thus reducing the 'Startle factor').

The bike shops have seen how popular the WRC and WCC pamphlets and 'Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides' have been and believe they do have an effect on where and how people ride. They stress the importance of education in managing mountain biker's riding habits.

Walkers who see mountain biking as inappropiate on narrow tracks should be made aware of the many walking only tracks available. They might also respect cyclists as legitimate track users if they knew more about them; specifically that they share similar outdoor values (see 'Recreation Resource Conflict, Utilisation and Allocation' by Duane P Coughlan)

Given the size of WRC lands, regular enforcement is unrealistic. Voluntary compliance by over 75% of mountain bikers is realistic if the rules are seen as reasonable.

Events must be sustainable. To this end a ceiling on the number of events in each area may be necessary. Limitations on course marking methods should be clearly laid out. An adequate safety plan should be provided with an application to run a race. If the WRC wishes to encourage events it should not charge an application fee.

Event organisers believe the WRC fees should be proportional to the number of entrants, as they are at present. Perhaps the fees should be scaled to reflect that the impact of racers is greater in the wet months (May - Aug) and less in summer. For safety reasons, races need exclusive use of an area for their duration (1 -4 hrs). The WRC should recognise the track maintenence efforts of organisers when applying its fees. The opportunity for the WRC to raise its profile on event entry forms and posters should also be recognised.

Events are an effective way of promoting a particular route or area. The WRC might want to support races of national or international significance.

Sams Bike shop believe events boost their sales by 5-10% for short periods.

There are four mountain bike clubs in the Wgtn metropolitan area. Clubs can assist with the dissemination of information and provision of labour for track maintenence.

A certain consistency in region-wide mountain bike policy is desirable. A region-wide mountain biking booklet (not a throw-away) could effectively promote this policy. DOC Turangi is currently having a regional guide booklet prepared.

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The WCC Mtb policy has had little effect on riding habits, largely because it has yet to be implemented. It did stir up ill will during its creation. It has all but eliminated mountain bike events from WCC lands (6 in 94, 2 in 95) due to the severity of fees imposed. Track bans that are seen as unreasonable are ignored by a large cross-section of riders. Riders have become more heavily involved in track maintanence.

The CCC Mtb policy has been bitterly rejected by the mountain bikers involved in its creation. It is largly ignored by them.

In the USA the Sierra Club had classified mountain bikes as ORV's (Off Road Vehicles) and lobbied to have them banned from all narrow tracks since 1985. In 1994 they changed their policy and stated that "mountain biking is a legitamate form of recreation and transportation on trails, including single-track, when and where it is practiced in an environmentally sound and socially responsible manner."