Meerendal (Durbanville) MTB Trails has a Hiking problem

[HeinMies]

I  was out riding the  Meerendal trails in Durbanville on 1^st May when I again almost maimed an entire family of 4. This is a common occurrence nowadays on the Meerendal trails…It’s not that I went out that day with the sole purpose of hunting down innocent people with my MTB as weapon of choice, but they were leisurely using the MTB specific trails (Switchbacks and berm sections) as hiking trails. This is unacceptable because it is a clearly marked MTB specific trail section that I was on and as a Tygerberg MTB member, some of my, and all other member's yearly membership fees goes towards building and maintaining these trails so that I, and other Mountain Bikers, can make use of them and enjoy them. They are not for hiking! Also, if you as MTB rider would dare to go on the hiking specific trails, they would probably gather their torches and pitchforks and hunt you down! 

But in all seriousness, if I were to hit somebody with my MTB at 30 km/h, which you can easily reach on these trail sections, they will definitely be seriously hurt, and I will probably as well! Any ideas of how to get the hikers to respect the MTB trails and stick to their own trails? I never see any of the Mountain Bikers using the hiking specific trails…. Just a bit of mutual respect is all that is required to keep everyone safe so the Mountain Bikers and Hikers can each enjoy their own designated trail sections. Currently the Meerendal trails are an accident waiting to happen…one of these days a Mountain Biker is going to mow down somebody on the MTB specific trails and then the hikers will probably be blaming the Mountain Bikers…even though it will happen on our MTB specific trails….that the club members pay for to maintain…. that the hikers aren’t even supposed to be on…. But hopefully this can rather be prevented from happening so that somebody’s beloved MTB doesn't need to be needlessly damaged….or the people involved obviously!

[openmind]

Maybe just stop and very nicely point out that it's a trail reserved for MTBs. Most likely they'll be cool about it and walk somewhere else. 

[Robbie Stewart]

@HeinMies then I suggest you rather don't go ride up Irish Climb at Jonkershoek either. You'd probably blow a fuse, as I did last Monday on a about 3 separate times. Same Same. hikers on clearly marked MTB only trails. The last group of 4 pensioners came trundling through the veld with scant regard for etiquette. I was pedaling up Irish 4 and had to veer of the trail to let them by. 

[Me rida my bicycle]

See I have a plan that's never failed, I just scream "no brakes" and look out of control. They usually jump or dive out of the way 😂🤣

[mikkelz]

Happens to me regularly at G-Spot/Eden (whilst riding *up* the single tracks). The look of disgust you get when you ask the walker to get out of the way blows my mind every time.

[Super Sywurm]

OK, now the car drivers can have the same argument.🤣

[440MTB]

I was at Meerendal a while ago, on a Sunday I think, and it was Park Run... They amount of people on the farm was ludicrous... Thankfully I was there early enough to get past the PR starting point (after squeezing past 4 trillion people standing on the gravel section, and vineyard section above the event tents, and asking them to please move - They stand like goats, just staring at you as you try and get past, not understanding there is no other way for us to get onto the trails), then thankfully one of the PR marshals loudly said: "GET OFF THE VINEYARD, THAT'S FOR MTB RIDERS!" hahahaha.

Thankfully I didn't encounter any walkers/runners again after passing them.

One thing that's always an issue though is the Dorstberg climb... there are a lot of hikers, and it's already a pain in the saddle hugging appendage to get up there as is, so dodging hikers whilst suffering up that climb isn't really fun either. 🤣

@Robbie Stewart - No ways! Irish at Jonkers is already a narrow trail to climb up, can't imagine having to dodge hikers there either.

[MORNE]

Ive was always been under the impression that irish at jonkers was dual purpose. I always expect there to be hikers on it…in both directions. It’s uphill for mtb’s only so nobody is flying up there, and nobody is allowed to ride down it…and it is not that narrow really.

After dislocating my shoulder on Armageddon 5 and having to hike a bike down from there, I know for a fact that Irish has signs that say ‘no horse riding’ but nothing about hikers, you become acutely aware of where you can and cant walk when you are trying to make your way down that mountain as easy and fast as possible

I hiked down irish and i was glad a nurse on her way up found me haha. 

 

Edited May 6, 2023 by MORNE

[Robbie Stewart]

54 minutes ago, MORNE said:

Ive was always been under the impression that irish at jonkers was dual purpose. I always expect there to be hikers on it…in both directions. It’s uphill for mtb’s only so nobody is flying up there, and nobody is allowed to ride down it…and it is not that narrow really.

After dislocating my shoulder on Armageddon 5 and having to hike a bike down from there, I know for a fact that Irish has signs that say ‘no horse riding’ but nothing about hikers, you become acutely aware of where you can and cant walk when you are trying to make your way down that mountain as easy and fast as possible

I hiked down irish and i was glad a nurse on her way up found me haha. 

 

I'll confirm later this morning. Maybe in just assuming it's no hikers. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[openmind]

17 hours ago, Robbie Stewart said:

@HeinMies then I suggest you rather don't go ride up Irish Climb at Jonkershoek either. You'd probably blow a fuse, as I did last Monday on a about 3 separate times. Same Same. hikers on clearly marked MTB only trails. The last group of 4 pensioners came trundling through the veld with scant regard for etiquette. I was pedaling up Irish 4 and had to veer of the trail to let them by. 

Jonkershoek is a problem at the moment because they don't let cars into the reserve, so many hikers just wander up the trails near the gate rather than walk the 5km to the hiking trail heads at the end of the valley. 

[Shebeen]

On 5/5/2023 at 2:11 PM, HeinMies said:

I  was out riding the  Meerendal trails in Durbanville on 1^st May when I again almost maimed an entire family of 4. This is a common occurrence nowadays on the Meerendal trails…It’s not that I went out that day with the sole purpose of hunting down innocent people with my MTB as weapon of choice, but they were leisurely using the MTB specific trails (Switchbacks and berm sections) as hiking trails. This is unacceptable because it is a clearly marked MTB specific trail section that I was on and as a Tygerberg MTB member, some of my, and all other member's yearly membership fees goes towards building and maintaining these trails so that I, and other Mountain Bikers, can make use of them and enjoy them. They are not for hiking! Also, if you as MTB rider would dare to go on the hiking specific trails, they would probably gather their torches and pitchforks and hunt you down! 

But in all seriousness, if I were to hit somebody with my MTB at 30 km/h, which you can easily reach on these trail sections, they will definitely be seriously hurt, and I will probably as well! Any ideas of how to get the hikers to respect the MTB trails and stick to their own trails? I never see any of the Mountain Bikers using the hiking specific trails…. Just a bit of mutual respect is all that is required to keep everyone safe so the Mountain Bikers and Hikers can each enjoy their own designated trail sections. Currently the Meerendal trails are an accident waiting to happen…one of these days a Mountain Biker is going to mow down somebody on the MTB specific trails and then the hikers will probably be blaming the Mountain Bikers…even though it will happen on our MTB specific trails….that the club members pay for to maintain…. that the hikers aren’t even supposed to be on…. But hopefully this can rather be prevented from happening so that somebody’s beloved MTB doesn't need to be needlessly damaged….or the people involved obviously!

Short history lesson.

When MTB started, it was mainly on hiking trails. There was a lot of drama in northern California sorting this out. The worm has indeed turned! Which is why we need to share the trails.

https://www.imba.com/ride/ride-vibes

 

If something is clearly marked MTB, then be nice to hikers using them. Education goes a long way.

Edited May 6, 2023 by Shebeen

[Jewbacca]

8 hours ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I'll confirm later this morning. Maybe in just assuming it's no hikers. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I was always under the impression it was dual purpose too. Please do confirm.

I have encountered MANY trail runners on the trails in Tokai. Some with ear pods in who can't (and don't want to) hear you coming.

It doesn't bother me. I've disconnected STRAVA, ride without a care and if I'm forced to slow down/stop and wait for other people enjoying the great outdoors, I smile, wave and head off again.

If I do clattering into one running up the DH trail then so be it, but very very seldom have I encountered walkers I couldn't slow down and be polite to.

I've stopped being in a rush and whether I'm out trail running, riding bikes, driving etc I am far more aware and courteous of cars needing to change lanes, people walking up/down trails and other cyclists and will happily slow down or stop to let them past without getting irate. 

It's WAY less stressful and I mostly don't even remember having to do it anymore because it doesn't bug me so it isn't a 'thing' if it happens.

(Hahahaha I have become SUCH a Muizenberg hippie)

[Robbie Stewart]

Sy after riding up Irish today I didn't even glance at any trail access boards. Ai.

I did encounter two joggers coming down who stopped and waited for me to pass. They kept glancing at their watches while waiting though. I thanked them and 5 seconds later I wasn't even thinking about them anymore.

[MTBRIDER1234]

43 minutes ago, Jewbacca said:

I was always under the impression it was dual purpose too. Please do confirm.

I have encountered MANY trail runners on the trails in Tokai. Some with ear pods in who can't (and don't want to) hear you coming.

It doesn't bother me. I've disconnected STRAVA, ride without a care and if I'm forced to slow down/stop and wait for other people enjoying the great outdoors, I smile, wave and head off again.

If I do clattering into one running up the DH trail then so be it, but very very seldom have I encountered walkers I couldn't slow down and be polite to.

I've stopped being in a rush and whether I'm out trail running, riding bikes, driving etc I am far more aware and courteous of cars needing to change lanes, people walking up/down trails and other cyclists and will happily slow down or stop to let them past without getting irate. 

It's WAY less stressful and I mostly don't even remember having to do it anymore because it doesn't bug me so it isn't a 'thing' if it happens.

(Hahahaha I have become SUCH a Muizenberg hippie)

I do somewhat agree, I have never used strava, and see no point in changing anything (plus garmins are a rip-off IMO). This being said, when I am going flat out down a trail, and  especially around a blind corner, and you are running up what is clearly a bike trail, it is completely your fault what happens to you. Sometimes stopping isn't so easy round a corner at 35km/h on a loose surface.

Runners have the massive jeeptrack and extensive network of hiking trails, so why choose the dedicated MTB trails, which are supposedly the one safe place for us to go balls to the wall without the fear/risk of encountering another type of trail user.

Also when I am riding in the cycle lane, and runners refuse to move onto the pavement which is 20cm to the side, it pisses me off. Why should they use a 'cycle' - not 'run' lane, as opposed to the perfectly fine pavement and make me swerve into the main road at peak traffic?

just my 2c

[Jewbacca]

26 minutes ago, MTBRIDER1234 said:

I do somewhat agree, I have never used strava, and see no point in changing anything (plus garmins are a rip-off IMO). This being said, when I am going flat out down a trail, and  especially around a blind corner, and you are running up what is clearly a bike trail, it is completely your fault what happens to you. Sometimes stopping isn't so easy round a corner at 35km/h on a loose surface.

Runners have the massive jeeptrack and extensive network of hiking trails, so why choose the dedicated MTB trails, which are supposedly the one safe place for us to go balls to the wall without the fear/risk of encountering another type of trail user.

Also when I am riding in the cycle lane, and runners refuse to move onto the pavement which is 20cm to the side, it pisses me off. Why should they use a 'cycle' - not 'run' lane, as opposed to the perfectly fine pavement and make me swerve into the main road at peak traffic?

just my 2c

Isn't this just going round in circles?

Cars would say the same of bikes. Runners will tell you they run on cycle tracks because they are often within a closed off or monitored area and are 'safe' compared to the wild trails of the mountain.

I've seen cyclists ride in the road right next to the bike lane

Running on the pavement sucks. Up and down, dodging people walking, side streets etc

It comes down to people and 'the right' which people assume is theirs to make their own life easier/safer.

If we all accepted that safety of those around us was the singular most important thing, we would all make better decisions and be less quick to get annoyed when our views don't align.

I'm certainly not condoning running on MTB specific trails nor riding on Hiking trails, but rather suggesting that we would all do well to be less inclined to be in a rush/ perpetual race, while driving, running, cycling etc

 

[Bub Marley]

Just to add to this. Meerendal are like geared towards trail running. I would say even more so than mtb’ing. That place is full of runners on weekends especially. So I would say if it bothers you that much perhaps don’t visit over a weekend. There are loads of other trails in the area where there are no runners.