Time for our sport to mature and take control

[FezMember]

You see so much negativity on TV these days about bikes, you also see alot of crusty demon extreme stuff as well as X games and the like. I have yet to see footage of a mini bike club teaching kids basic bike control and safety techniques. The kids get training at the clubs say twice monthly by parents and coaches but you never see any footage of this on TV. Maybe if ACA or the like showed this sort of stuff as much as they do the negitives of the sport we wouldn’t get such a bad wrap.

[mikeMember]

Mr Blue wrote:

It’s out of hand, they (they- being the authorities) can and will use the shock value of loss of human life to further a campaign of anti-bike measures, just wait until after the next election, matters not who holds the reigns, the same public servants who dislike us will be leading the horses.

BC[/quote]
I reckon we need are own politcal party. we could be the “Dirt Bikers Party”. I know it sounds like a big piss up!! Seriously though we have alot of numbers and there are a lot of people who don’t ride but can associate with us.there will always be those up tight narrow minded cockheads who wanna stuff us up. I remember a few years ago some arsehole polly calling us motorised vermon. I always vote with the 4WD party and the Gun party cause they lobby the keep the bush open.

[timMember]

Well written Bruce, I agree totally with all, I joined the DSMRA years ago to support them with promoting our sport in a positive manner, what else can we do I don’t really know. I suppose if we do the right things and also teach our kids the right thing, hopefully over time maybe things may change, fingers crossed

[Mark SpencerMember]

I certainly agree with everything that has been written so far.
Lobby groups and good PR from Toy Runs etc can only help.

I think that each and every one of us needs to act responsibly when on a ride.
There is plenty of places to do wheelies, slides etc.
But like everything there is a time and place for it.

I believe in riding with courtesy (as quiet as possible) when near other people, whether they are horse riders, bushwalkers, picnickers or neighgbours.

If you want to go faster train more and get good suspension rather than a noisy pipe.

I’d rather ride anyhow than not be able to ride any day.

[Christopher BurnsMember]

[ul][/ul]Bruce, well done and it is good to see some like minded poeple on here as well.
Noise is the biggest killer in my opinion.
My friends and I ride “Stealth Bikes”, if they can’t hear you they don’t look for you.

I currently have an opportunity to provide some feedback into Andrew Stoner’s Liberal PArty Motorcycle Policy and I would appreciate some feedback/input/ideas.
Anything and I will dot point it and send it off to them.

[li]Stop the closing off of traditional riding areas, some of which have been used for decades.
Allow single track riding in State Forest pine plantations as the plantations are clear felled when harvested.
For instance the forest adjacent to the Lakes Way has been clear feeled for harvesting recently.
Introduction of recreational registration.
Better consultation before closing off riding areas that have been in use for decades.
More transperancy in relationship to lobbying from radical green groups like the Colong Foundation.
[/li]

Extract from the MCCofNSW dirt bike pages;
http://dirtbike.mccofnsw.org.au/
What Government agencies and land managers can/are obliged to do:

Accept that their policy decisions have helped create the problems
Provide adequate areas for the legal and legitimate use of dirt bikes
Maintain sustainable tracks, trails and riding areas for both registerable and non-registerable bikes
Consult with rider groups
Develop consistent signposting for tracks and trails on public lands
Install signs warning against illegal dirt bike use where appropriate
Put education ahead of stringent enforcement
Provide safe environments for children to ride mini-bikes

From Qld government;
The Premier has announced that 745 ha of State Government land at Wyaralong, near
Beaudesert will be set aside for SEQ’s first dedicated trail bike facility.
To quote Anna Bligh;
“Off-road trail bike riding is a legitimate recreational pursuit that is becoming increasingly popular in Queensland,”
and Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chairman, Cr Campbell Newman, said;
“South East Queensland’s 230,000 trail bike riders need more legal and safe riding options…”
http://www.qorf.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=1472[ul][/ul]

[Craig HattonMember]

Education has to be part of the process both riders and others along with available riding areas.
In my area I can only really take kids to the track for their riding, there are plenty of very good riders who go very fast on the track, but put them in the bush and they only have the skills to ride fast. When obstacles are put in front of them they are going too fast and accidents/offs occur and here lies the problem, you cant take kids out into the bush and teach them those skills so after spending years at the track and then getting their license, out into the bush they go, out of control and not knowing what to do.

To be able to takes kids out in the bush and teach them “bush riding skills” is imo what is required. If the new generation of riders get the education, than we are on our way to a better outcome for all.

Head on are a prime example, what skills can you learn at the track for this situation, when all riders are going in the same direction, taking up the entire track and not having to think about oncoming traffic.

This was something as an adult rider I never thought about(because I was always at the back or mid pack), but once I started to lead rides, it became very clear in a very short time that people can come from the other direction and that if you aren’t prepared, it’s too late.

When a kid has not had to think about that situation for many years,(track riding) their track habits are second nature and very hard to break.

I’m not very good at putting into words what I am trying to say, but I hope you get my drift.

cheers Hatto

[Christopher BurnsMember]

Hatto, thanks for that.
Sort of need a junior licence father/son supervisor deal?
I can see your point.
CJ

[Craig HattonMember]

CJ the bastard wrote:

Quote:

Hatto, thanks for that.
Sort of need a junior licence father/son supervisor deal?
I can see your point.
CJ

Yes, something like a boat system

hatto

[Mick DMember]

CJ the bastard wrote:

Quote:

Hatto, thanks for that.
Sort of need a junior licence father/son supervisor deal?
I can see your point.
CJ

Nice thought but I cant see it happening in the near future. Not on Government land, too many liability issues me thinks.

[RoyMember]

I agree noise is the big issue. It is monotonous and it even drives me crazy if I’m within hearing distance of a track for too long and I’m someone who appreciates bikes. Like others have said, imagine what those that don’t are thinking. At the end of the day there will still be people objecting on the basis of erosion but generally speaking most people never see this and wouldn’t care if they aren’t coming across it. People generally only complain about what effects them directly and that’s what noise does.

On the other issues listed, I’m not sure about supporting riding areas for unregistered bikes unless there is a sytem in place where these people are contributing financially to track upkeep costs like rego could be used for. I’m not saying it is use for that now but it could be and all users should be contributing financially as these things don’t happen for free.

The biggest issue I see with excluding registered bikes is that it excludes kids and I would like to see kids allowed under supervision.

[Adam RodgersMember]

I can only agree with what is being said. I also agree governments are slow to change and won’t adopt policy changes overnight. However if they aren’t pushed and prodded to make changes then they will never make changes. It’s an old saying but still stands true “The squeaky wheel gets the most oil”. I see this all the time in local community issues and it applies to trail riding as well. If we persue our cause and keep pushing for legislation favourable to us (as greenies do for themselves) then we will be able to carry on. Apethy will be what destroys us in the end.

Well done CJ the barstard (how did you ever come up with that name?) :laugh: We vote and pollies need to know what WE think.

Adam.

[Nick AgainMember]

I too agree on the Noise issue as being the major front for complaints being laid against bikes. On the errosion side, One of the bigger causes of errosions is people running through puddles at speed non stop and wheel spinning to get to the top of hills as mentioned.( again, the errosion we cause is a pittance to the clowns with thier huge MUD digger tyres in 4×4’s) Here in Maryborough there is a petition to have the local Bike track closed due to NOISE. Doesn’t matter said track has been in operation for years, the Speedway is coming under the same fire, again due to noise and its been here since Noahs boat got grounded. I decided against a power pipe for my bike due to cost and the added noise it would create. In our local paper some time back a family were complaining about the noise of the bikes in their area and the time it took for Plod to react to their complaints. To give an Idea on the mentality of these people,I wrote back in the Paper that perhaps they would like to help petition the council for an area where the Bike riders could go to enjoy their bikes without being a nuisance to Mr Average Joe who wants them out the way. My reply was, ” It is not my responsibility to help you and your ilk to petition the local and State government for you and others to go riding your motobikes, this is not MY concern nor is it my fight to fight. I have no Interest in your chosen sport and will not spend my efforts in assisting you with such a petition.” Needless to say, the Gent just couldnt understand that it is HIS fight, as he is one who is fighting to have the Bikes removed from his area. Today, when I ride in our local tracks, where these tracks come near houses I for one throttle off and go by at a sedate pace with minimum noise and minimum Impact. Its a small price to pay to keep our tracks alive here.

[Scott SouthwellMember]

Don’t discount soil erosion as a big issue to land access. Sure noise is a problem when riding within hearing of residential areas but when riding out in state forests and bush away from residential areas I would say soil erosion is the key issue and I no for a fact one of the main problems land conservationist look at and fight against.

Just recently our local down hill MTB track was closed down, no noise problems with MTB’s. The argument the greenies used to have the trails closed was soil erosion.

If we go around believing we can put quite mufflers on our bikes and tear up as much bush as we like than we will see more and more land closures.

[Adam RodgersMember]

Scotty you are also correct.

What the greenies forget though is that the graded two wheel drive road they drove in on to see where the MTB’s were riding at contributes ten fold to soil erosion every time it rains, and to keep it to a two wheel drive standard, every time it is graded. Again the greenies make alot of noise (no pun intended) and get heard. We also need to be heard making our own noises, other than what comes from our exhaust

Adam.

[Christopher BurnsMember]

Is there anyone in NSW available for a bike strategy forum on the 23rd Jan in Parramatta?
10am to 3pm and lunch is thrown in.
There is a gathering of riders and the powers that be from various Gov dept’s meeting to get motorcycle issues on paper as a group excercise.
This is a real opportunity to make a difference and get into the ears of people that control the future of riding from a Gov point of view. Anyone that feels they can contribute please PM me and I will get the details to you. We need level headed people with strong opinions about riding and rider safety.

@ Adam re CJ the bastard? A new foreman from years ago could not read my writing on a timesheet and stuck his head out and asked; “Who is the CJ, er am, bastard?” and it stuck but is usually left at CJ
Agree with Gov slow to move and as a mate of mine said recently, “They are normal people, we are the kind of poeple that seek adventure and they just don’t get it. They want a car with a stop button and a go button and big round thing in front of them so they can move from side to side”

@ Scott; Agreed, soil erosion is the big issue the radical greens get us on. For instance;

Colong, have a read and a surf
and the big issue with locals is noise………

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