The Spruit in Sandton Chronicle

[Tumbleweed]

Aha' date=' now what is a teetet toter?[/quote']

sorry, missing a "t". a teeter-totter is a see-saw for bikes.

 

Thanks, now I'm up to speed.  A teeter-totter is not someone who will refuse a beer after a ride.

 

 

very good. do you people who would do that?

 

oh, and a ladder bridge is not an elevated card game!

[Ane Gouws]

IanJ,

 

Hi, I am involved with building trails at Groenkloof nature reserve. I would like to get in touch with the Morewood guy, for some advice. Would you be able to help me?

[Thug]

So as is normally the case, a "Journalist" fails to properly investigate a story probably before rushing to print.

 

As far as I'm aware, permission was granted to build the various structures on the Spruit and the AMA are also somehow involved.

 

[Tumbleweed]

IanJ' date='

 

Hi, I am involved with building trails at Groenkloof nature reserve. I would like to get in touch with the Morewood guy, for some advice. Would you be able to help me?

[/quote']

 

ane, i ride there with my kids quite often. any way we could help out?

[Danger Dassie]

Would like to read the article, but from the comments this seems to have been poorly done and entirely subjective.

Has anyone/clubs contacted the Sandton Chronicle? Think they're part of the Caxton stable...

[Tumbleweed]

Would like to read the article' date=' but from the comments this seems to have been poorly done and entirely subjective.

Has anyone/clubs contacted the Sandton Chronicle? Think they're part of the Caxton stable...

[/quote']

 

it is indeed. the standard of journalism in this country is shocking. people report simply on what is said or told to them.

[Hog_]

 

Would like to read the article' date=' but from the comments this seems to have been poorly done and entirely subjective.

Has anyone/clubs contacted the Sandton Chronicle? Think they're part of the Caxton stable...

[/quote']

 

I don't have a scanner - maybe someone can scan it? The article (if you can call it that) has a pic of the one warning board at the drop off the big rock in Bryanston, and they cleverly figured out that it MUST be quadbikers/motox-ers that build these things.

 

There's no mention of mountainbikers in the article.

 

Idiots.

 

 

[Danger Dassie]

Argh... nay, don't even call it journalism. More like reporting, hack style.

 

Like I said though, I'd like to read the article before passing comment.

[_Daemon_]

 

[AndreZA]

Someone heard a ring but does not know where the bell is.

 

 

[KeithB]

My take on what has happened here is this:

 

* That week we had all the holidays I noticed two teenagers on motorbikes

riding in the open area alongside St Audley Rd, between Bantry Rd and The

River Road. This is on the western side of that Scout Hall - on the

eastern side of which the n/shore stuff in the photo has been built. No

mtb'ers normally ride in the area where I saw these kids, it is off our

trail.

 

* clearly these kids annoyed the local residents, and understandably so

 

* I reckon someone has phoned the Chronicle with a complaint and one

journalist Mr Theo Nkonki was dispatched to investigate

 

* he breezed around the area and lo and behold discovered the n/s stuff

on the other side of the hall to where those kids were riding

 

* assumption (perhaps aided and abetted by misinformation from local

residents, who would no doubt enhance/distort facts to further their own

cause) = "all this stuff has been built by motocross and quad riders, is

illegal, and must be removed forthwith"

 

* no mention or consideration of quiet mtb'ers who have been riding that

spruit for months and months, to the delight I honestly believe, of local

residents who are only too pleased to see the spruit being used by folk

other than squatters & criminals.

 

* when I first moved to this area 8 years ago, many locals used to walk

their dogs along the spruit, and there were relatively few squatters.

Over the years the balance shifted, dog walkers decreased then virtually

vanished, squatters noticeably increased

 

* almost immediately the mtb clubs took responsibility for the spruit, and

cleaned it up and started riding, the balance shifted back again, and I

know that those people whose properties border the spruit are delighted

about that.

 

* yes, there are currently a lot of squatters again - a function, I

think, of great amount of building presently going on in the area

 

* the only residents that I have ever experienced who are not happy with

mtb'ers riding the spruit are those who, while out walking their dogs, get

startled by an mtb'er hurtling up behind them. And that's also

understandable. I believe that all spruit users need to understand that

no one group has a monopoly on the spruit, and that we as mtb'ers need to

be polite and considerate to others. Nothing difficult or onerous about

slowing doen a tad and giving some warning when coming up behind a walker

 

The big problem, AS ALWAYS, is how to prevent the MX'ers and quad'ers from

muscling in, and then destroying it for the mtb community. This has

happened many times before and in many many places - and we as mtb'ers

always end up being prejudiced when we are not the one's at fault

[Danger Dassie]

I've made a note of the email address on that article and shall contact the guy. Perhaps send a link to this thread.

I think I'll also contact Mr Earp, since I'm also entitled to have a say.

 

I'm interested to find out how 'more than 5 residents' (so no more than 10 then) constitutes the majority of feeling for residents as a whole.

 

Mr Earp also seems to imply that the park is private property?

[Danger Dassie]

Ok, I couldn't wait long enough to send an email. So phoned Caxton directly and got hold of the editor for the Chronicle (Kennedy)

He was extremely pleasant and helpful and noted my concerns, took my details and has instructed the reporter to refile the story. Apparently he's been inudated with riders calls protesting the article.

 

The number to call is 011 293 6068, option 3 then wait for the switchboard wher they'll transfer your call.

Keep it tidy people, abuse and bad language will NOT help.

 

From reading the article I'm also extremely tempted to find out Vincent Earp's standing. I cannot abide cheap politics, as this is how I interpet his actions and comments here.

[Baaisikilist]

I race motorcross on quads, i too have ridden the very obstacle pictured in the article on my MTB and can tell u right now it would be impossible for a quad to even fit through that gap or on any of the stuff in the spruit. The article is a journalistic embarrassment...

[slowpoke]

well done DD - you are an absolute star!

[_Daemon_]

Off another mailing list

---------

 

It's being handled already.  We have already spoken with the councilor,

city parks, metro police and Caxton.  The problem is not the dirt

jumps, it's the NS.

 

It's not the counselor who is driving this, it's 5 residents.  The

councilor is helping us.  And we have been speaking to city parks for

months now.

 

We are now also going to work with Bryanston East Community Forum.  Keep your knickers in check girls...