Suikerbosrand Cycling

[andydude]

For your interest, my email to GU South Africa:

 

As a cyclists that uses your product, I have a question regarding the littering of the sachets. As you hopefully know, littering is quite a serious problem and the Gu sachets are quite prominent on and off the road where sport is practised (not only limited to cycling). The one problem is the littering itself and the second problem is the animals that eat what is left and even the whole sachet which could cause death.

 

My question is first of all, if you are aware of the problem, and hopefully if yes, do you plan to do anything about trying to be a responsible company by for example spending money to develop biodegradable sachets, etc.? Do you have an official company response to this?

 

I understand that firstly the people using your product should be responsible and not litter, but I also believe that the companies (which incidentally is just a collective group of individuals) have a responsibility to the society they operate in which would include the environment.

 

Their response (an hour later - I'm impressed!):

 

Thank you for your email, I am out of the office until Friday however will come back to you with a detailed reply addressing all of your points of concern by Friday this week. I have also forwarded your email to our principles in the US in order to get a response regarding your packaging queries as we are not the manufacturers but rather distributors of the product - Given my association with GU Energy over the last 10 years their environmental footprint is very much a concern to them as a business and as such were at the forefront of and are actively involved in several initiatives in the US. By way of background we have actively promoted a "Stash your trash" campaign for the last 10 years and to this extent even allowed the Cycle Tour and relevant cycling bodies to use our "Stash your trash" logo and campaign message in order to put together a joint initiative to ensure that littering is kept to a minimum. My understanding of this initiative is that it unfortunately did not gain momentum due to some of the brands not wishing to partake in said initiative. We most certainly share your concerns for the environment and are actively seeking solutions to not only the issue of gel wrappers but also water sachets which get dumped on the road by a significant percentage of participants. Should you have any queries in the interim please do not hesitate to contact me on 123456789.

[rudi-h]

That is so sad. Sad for us cyclists and sad for the park....I reckon they must make at least 20% of their gate takings from cyclists. Also not meaning to defend cyclists...I personally have seen very little of this type of littering...Goo is a common energy supplement and is also used by hikers and runners so I`d be very reluctant to identify this as a purely `cyclist `issue. It would also help if any cyclist who spots litter along the road stopped to pick it up, specifically Goo packets and the like as this is obviously in our best interest. Very often the wrappers fall out of pockets without the person noticing, i doubt there is much intentional littering.

 

I think you're being naive... Unfortunatly cyclists do litter intentionally. Goo packets are so sticky that its hard to throw away even if you want to cause it sticks to your hands. I'm very disgusted and sad, I really rate Suikerbosrand by a long shot as the top road cycling destination in Gauteng!

 

Isn't there anything WE as a cycling community can do to influence the decision? It would be really really sad day if we cant ride there anymore.

[Cassie]

For your interest, my email to GU South Africa:

 

As a cyclists that uses your product, I have a question regarding the littering of the sachets. As you hopefully know, littering is quite a serious problem and the Gu sachets are quite prominent on and off the road where sport is practised (not only limited to cycling). The one problem is the littering itself and the second problem is the animals that eat what is left and even the whole sachet which could cause death.

 

My question is first of all, if you are aware of the problem, and hopefully if yes, do you plan to do anything about trying to be a responsible company by for example spending money to develop biodegradable sachets, etc.? Do you have an official company response to this?

 

I understand that firstly the people using your product should be responsible and not litter, but I also believe that the companies (which incidentally is just a collective group of individuals) have a responsibility to the society they operate in which would include the environment.

 

Their response (an hour later - I'm impressed!):

 

Thank you for your email, I am out of the office until Friday however will come back to you with a detailed reply addressing all of your points of concern by Friday this week. I have also forwarded your email to our principles in the US in order to get a response regarding your packaging queries as we are not the manufacturers but rather distributors of the product - ...snip snip...

 

Well done!!

 

I might even start using their product - just for that...

[pastapouch]

...for some people its just too much effort carrying the stuff back home and throw it in a dustbin. the sticky thing on your cycling shirt, Uhm, don't they wash their shirts after riding? Now they're even more disgusting.

[scotty]

I doubt cyclists are the worst offenders in Suikerbos, iv'e often had to avoid glass on the road where some nitwit had lobbed their bottle out the window. A few years back one of the picnic spots was destroyed by visitors who broke the braai stands and fence around it. Seen a number of motorists relieving themselves as well on the side of the road. But like road safety, we need to clean up our act before pointing fingers.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Shoo, I haven't been there for a few years now but it was always nice knowing you could go if you wanted to.

 

I doubt entrance fees from cyclists is a big incentive to keep allowing them in, it was something ridiculous like 20 bucks when I last went, maybe its 25 or 30 now, either way losing three (or possibly even more) antelope would have had a net loss on their asset register of at least 30-45.000.00 bucks, you need around 16/1700 gate entrances from cyclists just to recover that loss, and chances are during those entrances you will lose another three buck to the same issue.

 

As for the excuse of it may be hikers etc who tossed the goo sachets, I doubt that holds water, from my experience in the reserve its mostly middle aged or older folk who walk around the park, they are usually bird watching or animal spotting, or sitting under a bush, they are hardly racing around the walks and going into oxygen deprivation, I doubt any of them have ever heard of a goo, never mind ever used one.

 

The fact is cyclists use goo frequently, I am sure the management of the park are also informed and dont make these decisions lightly, I really dont believe they are vindictive or "hate" cyclists as has been suggested.

 

In any event I think the issue is / will be, that many (not all) but probably the majority, see the park as a place to train, not as a place to slow down and view animals, watch the birds and enjoy the wonderful environment, so riding through the reserve with that frame of mind means that perhaps you speed downhills, perhaps you zip back against the flow to ride the hill again, or maybe in the rush you toss your goo packet.

 

....but mostly, I think its a classic case of the minority who (as is usually the case) ruin it for the majority.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I doubt cyclists are the worst offenders in Suikerbos, iv'e often had to avoid glass on the road where some nitwit had lobbed their bottle out the window. A few years back one of the picnic spots was destroyed by visitors who broke the braai stands and fence around it. Seen a number of motorists relieving themselves as well on the side of the road. But like road safety, we need to clean up our act before pointing fingers.

 

Yeah, but its a differant issue Scotty, its not killing animals, I dont know if its so, but I would say the issue to the park is the financial loss of the animals, as well as the loss to those who do come to view them, fixing a few braai's may cost a grand or two, replacing 3 Nyala's for eg, will cost 30.000 - 40.000 no park charging 20 bucks to get in can carry those losses.

[FlashJordan]

Dogs are not Ruminants. Plant-based food eating animals are. Things like cows, horses, deer etc.

 

As for the blame shift, the guys could just not throw them on the floor all the time. And then recycle them when they get home. Don't blame the company itself for the problem, when it has nothing to do with it.

 

Eeerm, sorry to be pedantic but a horse is not a ruminant, it has no rumen, actually has a 'simple' stomach with huge mother of a colon I do however think the type of animal is besides the point - plastic/wrappers/bottles can potentially do harm to any animal.

[DJR]

.........stomach with huge mother of a colon.......

 

I'm unfortunately going to see that scary picture in my head whenever I look at a horse in future!

[TNT1]

And you know that how?????

 

You really want to see that pic again, do you?

[PYGA1]

So still no official word on the closure then ?

[Tumbleweed]

So still no official word on the closure then ?

 

Would appear not.

[Blokman]

This is the trash that I picked up on my ride this morning.

Some of it may belong to road runners who had a race there two weeks ago.In relation to everything that gets dropped during a race it is very little .The organisers must have cleaned up.I'm just mentioning this so that us cyclists do not use it as an excuse.

 

The first tube I found at about 30 km and the second plus the bomb at 34 km. The 2 Turbovites as well as the energy bar were dumped very recently. Hammer sachets etc.Could only be cyclists.

 

Look at the first post . We are going to be thrown out of this place and we are not doing anything to strengthen our case.

 

If I see anybody throwing anything away I will confront you .I will check what you're riding and post it on the hub.

[TNT1]

Send the wrappers and sachets for dna testing?

[Blokman]

Send the wrappers and sachets for dna testing?

Don't know if there's a test for ignorance, arrogance ,don't care attitudes. I'm not the type but I feel a crusade coming on.

[TNT1]

Don't know if there's a test for ignorance, arrogance ,don't care attitudes. I'm not the type but I feel a crusade coming on.

 

Yeah, look, your post is kinda shocking. Hope you catch some of these morons in the act.