Illegal or Cheeky?

Illegal?

“Illegal MTB trail construction”. “Illegal trail riding”. These are terms that

unfortunately have become quite common in conversations regarding advocacy issues

and trail management discussions, particularly when MTB access is involved.

This has been bothering me for a while; not so much in that it is happening – for only

sweeping policy changes can counter that – but the way we have allowed it to be

termed. We really make ourselves sound like we do something far worse than ride a

bike on a trail. We really should be trying to get away from making ourselves sound

like such criminals, which we do when we deem the use of particular trails “illegal”.

Illegal is a term that should really be reserved - and then correctly applied – if said use

purposefully and knowingly involves the disruption or destruction of habitats for

endangered flora and/or fauna, for which there is no excuse. Riding an already

defined, sustainably built trail does not do such things, regardless of what certain walkers would have you believe.

Riding a bike on already constructed and available trails, which often have outdated

and ill-informed rules applied to them, should be deemed unauthorised, unplanned,

contentious, or, in the relevant cases, unsustainable, when we are referring to the

issue. After all, many trails are under review of some sort as it stands, will be in the

not too distant future or should be! And given that in our society we are geared

towards sharing and respect, it is crazy that whilst actually on the trail the ability to

share does work (albeit begrudgingly at times), in the discussions and decision

making processes it all seems to fall down and apartheid prevails, leading to the

continuation of the current, unresolved situation.

There is an ongoing and growing history of unauthorised riding in many of the parks

Australia wide (particularly in the ones closer to towns and cities), as evolved, up-to date

and genuinely user reflective and appropriate trail plans have not been

implemented, if even commissioned. Plans built upon desires and decisions from a

time when foot was the only readily available form of access to our parks, reserves

and open spaces on a mass scale, still, unfortunately, prevail.

Unapproved trail construction is clearly irresponsible and inappropriate, but along

with unauthorised riding, also reflective ofthe problems presented by this lack of sharing of what is available - both in terms of the current, existing trails and, in some cases, the knowledge of whytrails are not - and should not be - present in particular areas. To some degree, this often

seems to be due to bike riders being made to feel “unwelcome” in many parks,

particularly among segments of the walking-based volunteer care groups, once their preferred form of recreation becomes known and long before any intentions regarding their use are aired.

It also seems that as soon as an “illegal” trail appears, it is consequently laid at the

door of MTBers. It seems that because we have accepted that “illegal trails” are – at

times and in places – an issue that some sections of the MTB community have been

known for, that all unauthorised trails are the fault of every MTBer. Sometimes the

involvement of riders is clear as jumps, berms and MTB specific trail features are

present. However, this is not always the case. Whilst there can be great political

advantages by MTBers actively helping in the closure of unauthorised trails, I fear we

sometimes jump in too eagerly to do so, as if rushing to make amends for something

we did not necessarily do. And strangely enough, I see just as many bush walkers, dog

walkers and joggers taking short cuts and thus creating new trails or desire lines, as I

do MTBers riding along trails they shouldn’t access.

We all just want to be able to get out into our parks and bushland and enjoy spending

time there without every action being a political pitfall. And I’m sure none of us wish

to be thought of, or referred to, as criminals; I’m equally sure that park rangers do not

wish to have to “police” the trails either. So let’s start by not referring to ourselves in

such dramatic context and instead continue to focus on the positives of accepting

MTBers as valid users of trails, wherever we may be. Hopefully, although subtle,

such a change will continue to lead towards a further shift away from the negative

image that some try to portray of us and towards us being looked upon as what we

actually are; people enjoying our parks and bushland, but just choosing to do so by

bike.