I probably run and ride Tokai in equal amounts. I see runners on the mtb tracks and I see riders on the horse trails, on the restricted jeep tracks. The payment issue is moot, as so many riders sneak in without paying. I personally feel that no-one should pay to use the mountain - but lets not go there. I have had far, far, far more incidents involving riders on illegal paths when I am running than I have encountered runners on the singletrack. The way I feel is that if riders want to break the rules they need to face the consequences if SANParks shuts Tokai to riders or continues to give the Mtb community (metaphoric) continual uphill. General environmental awareness also needs to go to the runners, little or no littering, not taking shortcuts, no skidding and sliding around, far less aggression and less "we own this place" attitudes. The riding community needs to sort out its own activities before pointing fingers at the runners, they are on balance a far more law abiding bunch. One final question how is a DH'er pushing his rig up the single track any better than a runner going up the same track, as per the photo on the first page of this thread. On that point how are big groups of riders hanging around on blind corners, riding up singletrack, riding in lycra, stopping on singletrack, falling over, cutting corners (on the tar road down from the mast) any worse than the odd trail runner, who in general WILL get out of the way, it is pretty difficult to miss a DH rig shaking the earth as it flies down the trail. Its just because they are one of you that you look the other way, runners are causing no more disruption to your ride than other guys on bikes. I run with the Trail and Tar guys pretty often, they are frequently told to stay off the singletrack, on the big Wednesday run I have never seen anyone run mtb singletrack. Why cant people just get along, no-one owns the trail, no-one owns the mountain. Riders joking about slamming into runners etc... need to realise that Tokai is a place for beginners, pros, families who are all over the singletrack, yes even on sections of the DH, you may have a 60 year old codger, my 5 year old who likes going over the bumps, someone who is a bit lost, a unicyclist. You bury your 2.5 inch Maxxis in someone's head you are going to be the one to blame. You need to be able to control your rig and take care especially on busy days. You want to ride with reckless abandon, then ride closed courses. Unless portions of Tokai are formally closed to all but a select group of riders consideration needs to be paid to all trail users. Just because you are able to go down the hill like Steve Peat doesn't give you the right to endanger others. I am pretty sure if a rider badly hurts another trail user who is on foot and the trail isn't formally restricted to riders only, you can kiss goodbye to riding in Tokai as we know it
