Table Mountain rider etiquette

[Hackster]

So with Tokai and Silvermine shut down there are suddenly a whole lot more of us riding Table Mountain and Rhodes Memorial routes. This last Sunday was the busiest I've ever seen it. Perhaps some folk were out to ride the prologue route too.

 

But here's the thing... that part of the mountain has always had a lot of other traffic on the weekends - walkers, dog walkers, hikers and trail runners, and the vibe on Sunday was a little stressed.

 

There would seem to be three simple rules for peacefully co-existing with other mountain users - lets call pedestrians for simplicity's sake.

 

1) Don't pass pedestrians at speed. It leaves no room for error if there's a kid or dog that does the unexpected. If this means that you have to abort your favourite high speed descent because there's a pedestrian halfway down it, so be it. That's the price of sharing.

 

2) Give pedestrians right of way. Don't take up the whole road with your buddies, go single file the moment you see someone in your path. Warn people of your presence when you come up behind them, 'good morning, passing on your left/right'. On single track or path, consider stopping to let pedestrians by.

 

3) Be nice. Greet every pedestrian or pedestrian group you come across. It's hard to dislike people who're friendly towards you.

 

Ja, I know that people should leash their dogs. I know that some people are permanently, unreasonably grumpy. And I know that some people are walking/running trails built specifically for riders.

 

But it feels like we need to be the good guys here.

 

On this last little bit of mountain we're still allowed to ride on.

[tubed]

So with Tokai and Silvermine shut down there are suddenly a whole lot more of us riding Table Mountain and Rhodes Memorial routes. This last Sunday was the busiest I've ever seen it. Perhaps some folk were out to ride the prologue route too.

 

But here's the thing... that part of the mountain has always had a lot of other traffic on the weekends - walkers, dog walkers, hikers and trail runners, and the vibe on Sunday was a little stressed.

 

There would seem to be three simple rules for peacefully co-existing with other mountain users - lets call pedestrians for simplicity's sake.

 

1) Don't pass pedestrians at speed. It leaves no room for error if there's a kid or dog that does the unexpected. If this means that you have to abort your favourite high speed descent because there's a pedestrian halfway down it, so be it. That's the price of sharing.

 

2) Give pedestrians right of way. Don't take up the whole road with your buddies, go single file the moment you see someone in your path. Warn people of your presence when you come up behind them, 'good morning, passing on your left/right'. On single track or path, consider stopping to let pedestrians by.

 

3) Be nice. Greet every pedestrian or pedestrian group you come across. It's hard to dislike people who're friendly towards you.

 

Ja, I know that people should leash their dogs. I know that some people are permanently, unreasonably grumpy. And I know that some people are walking/running trails built specifically for riders.

 

But it feels like we need to be the good guys here.

 

On this last little bit of mountain we're still allowed to ride on.

great advice

[DJR]

Absolutely agree, Hackster! It is not difficult at all, just politeness, manners and common sense needed. All cheap as dirt. Welcome to my backyard all you mtb refugees! 

[HowardSteele]

Having crossed over for our afternoon training rides ...fortunately in the week ,after 5 its still pretty quiet but  i can see these trails getting rather busy if the Tokai trails remain closed for the rest of the year.

another etiquette request...Announce your presence,....No the biker ahead of you does not necessarily hear you coming up behind him,a sharp whistle or a howzit makes it easier.

Yep I know you get a bell for this

[MTBeer]

Absolutely agree, Hackster! It is not difficult at all, just politeness, manners and common sense needed. All cheap as dirt. Welcome to my backyard all you mtb refugees! 

you're a funny guy. know any other good jokes?

[T-Bob]

Yeah, it's got busy in this neck of the woods, the trails are taking abit of a hammering and there are some riders and other members of the public wondering what has hit them with so much action. 

 

It's a smaller playground with alot more people (walkers, runners, riders, yoggers, etc) so act accordingly. It's not a strava chute. Have a smile and a chat, it's fun.