Eddy Gordo Posted September 12, 2012 Share On the hub we always read about conservation efforts, not riding unmarked trails, even though there is, not creating new ones etc. Now I know there is some damag, but this is minimal!! This Statement/question and go on and on and on, but basically as hiker, mtb'ers, recreational fisherman, 4x4 enthusiast, we have to put up with alot of @@@###%%%$$ as far as conservation is concerned!! But detrimental activities like Fracking for example is allowed!!! Africa is the last so to say untouched resource in the world. Things are only gonna get worst from here on in, mines and the like are gonna start popping up all over the place simply because africa is the poorest continent and money makes the world for round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Omega Man Posted September 12, 2012 Share On the hub we always read about conservation efforts, not riding unmarked trails, even though there is, not creating new ones etc. Now I know there is some damag, but this is minimal!! This Statement/question and go on and on and on, but basically as hiker, mtb'ers, recreational fisherman, 4x4 enthusiast, we have to put up with alot of @@@###%%%$$ as far as conservation is concerned!! I've had this thought so many times myself. We rebuilt an illegal trail in the glen a while back. We happily shared the trail with walkers and the like. Yes you can stand you your high horse and say it was illegal and blah blah blah but we were doing no harm at all. We moved a little bit of dirt around and cleared some logs. THAT'S IT! Did it get shut down? Yes.Were we threatened with arrest? Yes. Something about the environment was mumbled by the sanparks guy. The trail is off of a 4 LANE TAR ROAD FFS!! It's meters from multi million rand mansions. Stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTBeer Posted September 12, 2012 Share I've had this thought so many times myself. We rebuilt an illegal trail in the glen a while back. We happily shared the trail with walkers and the like. Yes you can stand you your high horse and say it was illegal and blah blah blah but we were doing no harm at all. We moved a little bit of dirt around and cleared some logs. THAT'S IT! Did it get shut down? Yes.Were we threatened with arrest? Yes. Something about the environment was mumbled by the sanparks guy. The trail is off of a 4 LANE TAR ROAD FFS!! It's meters from multi million rand mansions. Stupid.hey, I rode that trail 2 weeks ago, from Kloof Nek intersection down to the Roundhouse. Fekking awesome trail. Nice work. Didn't know it was illegal. Didn't see any signs at the top, but there were signs at the bottom saying showing no MTB. so I guess it's ok to ride down (yay) but not up (double yay). Eddy Gordo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Omega Man Posted September 12, 2012 Share hey, I rode that trail 2 weeks ago, from Kloof Nek intersection down to the Roundhouse. Fekking awesome trail. Nice work. Didn't know it was illegal. Didn't see any signs at the top, but there were signs at the bottom saying showing no MTB. so I guess it's ok to ride down (yay) but not up (double yay).Ja that's the one. Careful. We were told by a parks official that we'd have our bikes confiscated and get arrested for trespassing. Such bullsh!t. Less than 200m away peoples dogs are crapping the park to pieces and low lifes are using drugs in the park. I think it's one dude who dragged a park official up the trail to close it. There's clearly some fun police in Camps Bay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jigghead Posted September 12, 2012 Share My thought is that MTB riding in all forms is the least offensive activity, conservation wise you can get. Apart from walking maybe, but who walks? One of the primary reasons why I took up MTB as opposed to road riding was the nature aspect of it. A couple of rule would be, never litter and stay on the trail. How much damage are we actually doing? Most MTB riders appreciate the pristine environments we get to ride in, if we're lucky, so why should one be threatened with arrest? This is just crazy, I fail to see the significant impact some single track will have on the environment, apart from maybe disturbing some of the wild life. Someone please enlighten me here. I fish, catch and release only, even if the fish is tasty to eat.I ride, whatever my limited skill allows me to. Never litter, often pick up rubbish if I find it, I sometimes I feel that I do more for conservation than these f~rking SANPARKS idiots who revel in the sense of power they are afforded by their positions. Maybe you should keep a bit of homegrown litter in your pocket and show it to the guys giving you sh~t next time tell them that's what you've picked up so far and ask haven't cleared it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JGR Posted September 12, 2012 Share There is a lot of money raised through MTB that goes towards conservation - more than most other sports to my knowledge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddy Gordo Posted September 12, 2012 Share I agree with all of the above posts, I too fish, I have a 4x4 aswell, but I dont go and abuse the environment, some trails have been around for centuries, the impact a mtb has on a trail compared to a 4x4, well one couldnt compare the 2 as the mtb is so insignificant in comparison. Mtb does alot for conservation, look at the efforts of TMB etc, but then look at what the minister for conservation goes and approves, it is totally ludacris. It is just a case of soft targets in the end and money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaydenWilson Posted September 12, 2012 Share the problem with environmental laws and procedures in this country is that it has been formalised in such a way that as long as procedure is followed then no actual thought is required. I.e. Fraking. they probably got some half assed environmental company to do the impact assessments, notified everyone within 500m of the site as to what was happening (as required by law). Did the cursory environmental study, didn't find anything rare on the site, published in a local newspaper and thats it. EIA done as far as the authorities are conserned. never mind that the impacts are in such a way that they will not be picked up by an impact assessment as required by the governement. Makes me grumpy. Oh yeah, did you know that to be an environmental practitioner you do not need to have studied ecology or botany or animal sciences or anything? A townplanner is allowed to sign of EIA's when it is likely nthat they cannot even understand the jargon used in specialist reports! so the authorities do not even get made aware of the potential impacts outlined in a specialist report as everyone that does the signing cant handle polysyllabic words!AAAARGH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkerr Posted September 12, 2012 Share There is a lot of money raised through MTB that goes towards conservation - more than most other sports to my knowledge. True and good - trouble is there is a lot of money that gets raised through oil, mineral and gas rights that goes towards fat, greedy, corrupt and incompetent politicians who only care about their next plane, car, house etc etc. Sadly I think we'll always be on the losing end of that one .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeker911 Posted September 12, 2012 Share Ja that's the one. Careful. We were told by a parks official that we'd have our bikes confiscated and get arrested for trespassing. Such bullsh!t. Less than 200m away peoples dogs are crapping the park to pieces and low lifes are using drugs in the park. I think it's one dude who dragged a park official up the trail to close it. There's clearly some fun police in Camps Bay. I'd love to see someone try confiscate my bike ... oooh yes please Eddy Gordo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JGR Posted September 12, 2012 Share True and good - trouble is there is a lot of money that gets raised through oil, mineral and gas rights that goes towards fat, greedy, corrupt and incompetent politicians who only care about their next plane, car, house etc etc. Sadly I think we'll always be on the losing end of that one ....All that is true and governemnt aside I think MRB contributes enough to justify having trails/riding in eco systems. Most people who enjoy MTB are nature lovers at heart. Another example of 4x4 and motorcycles influencing the eco system is at the Atlantis dunes, which is allowed or certainly not regulated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
covie Posted September 12, 2012 Share On the hub we always read about conservation efforts, not riding unmarked trails, even though there is, not creating new ones etc. Now I know there is some damag, but this is minimal!! This Statement/question and go on and on and on, but basically as hiker, mtb'ers, recreational fisherman, 4x4 enthusiast, we have to put up with alot of @@@###%%%$$ as far as conservation is concerned!! But detrimental activities like Fracking for example is allowed!!! Africa is the last so to say untouched resource in the world. Things are only gonna get worst from here on in, mines and the like are gonna start popping up all over the place simply because africa is the poorest continent and money makes the world for round. Hopefully they will start fracking then at least America will have a good reason to come and invade us and restore some sense into this country. All that free of charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkerr Posted September 12, 2012 Share All that is true and governemnt aside I think MRB contributes enough to justify having trails/riding in eco systems. Most people who enjoy MTB are nature lovers at heart. Another example of 4x4 and motorcycles influencing the eco system is at the Atlantis dunes, which is allowed or certainly not regulated. Something else that worried me at Atlantis, much as I enjoyed it, was sandboarding. You might be thinking I'm going to bang on about dune erosion, but what worried me was all the floor wax you put on the boards to make them slide. I've no idea of the toxicity of that stuff, but over time with a lot of boarding that has to build up in the ecosystem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Omega Man Posted September 12, 2012 Share What would the converse be tho? What if we were just allowed to do and go wherever we liked? Build whatever we wanted wherever we wanted? Ride our bikes wherever we wanted. Drive our 4x4's whenever and wherever we chose? I know I'd ride my dirtbike up Tokai. I just know I would. I wouldn't be the first guy to do it but as soon as I saw tracks on the ground I'd be in there. Most of us would probably not abuse the environment all the time. But some would. And then more. And more. Unfortunately the human condition is such that our behavior always escalates to the point where someone has to step in and save us from ourselves. My wife councils drug addicts and their main gripe is that no-one trusts them. But the fact is they can't be trusted. Humanity in general is exactly the same. Edited September 12, 2012 by Omega Man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve61 Posted September 12, 2012 Share Today I was riding round the back of Pomona and saw that some quad riders have really stuffed up a nice piece of jeep track by doing donuts and wheelspining in the mud after the recent rains ..... I hate quad riders. They must be the most retarded form of life!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidlangebaan Posted September 13, 2012 Share SANParks stated mission: To develop, manage and promote a system of national parks that represents the biodiversity and heritage assets by applying best practice, environmental justice, benefit sharing and sustainable use.Unfortunately the chops that run it haven't read this; they seem to think that they should simply police and prevent rather than facilitate responsible and controlled access for the public.They run the parks like they are their personal fiefdom, when they are actually there for all South Africans. They are simply the managers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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