riding…">riding…">riding…">
25 July 2008

Barr to help out the kiddie trail-bikers

| johnboy
Join the conversation
19

With a police force on the war path tracking down juvelline trailbikers and their illegal thrills Andrew Barr is http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=7157″>riding to the rescue and promising the kids a trail-bike park where they can legally zoom around (presumably after a parent has dragged the bike onto a trailer and driven it to the park).

    “I have asked my department to investigate the options and to meet with organsiations and interested parties over the last few months to ascertain the demand and options for a possible trail bike park. The ACT Government identified funds in this year’s Budget for this type of motorsport-related infrastructure”

Before the kids get too excited though, they need to ask their older brothers about this thing called a “Dragway”.

Join the conversation

19
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Tooks said :

gazket said :

Andrew Bar said he was looking into a trail bike park in 2008. Still sitting at his desk with his thumb up his @rse .( he probably likes that ) 4 years later still nothing. They just spent over $2 million on two skate parks , a trailbike park park would cost 20% of that. For those saying insurance is a problem is bullshit. how does the gov deal with the skate parks in the A.C.T. I haven’t seen anyone sue the gov for any broken wrists or ankles there.

The A.C.T. gov have to stop this motorsport discrimination . I hear now the Molonglo river is closed to water skiers now and reopening is not going to happen. Too many fags and party poopers in government . The gov like taking fuel tax, rego tax, take the money from GST mechanical bills. I think they could put aside 2% of this money for our use and get kids off the footpaths, lane ways, roads. Sto spending our money on illegal immagrants and spend it on your tax payers.

I think you should be the spokesperson for all trailbike riders in the ACT. Your homophobia, xenophobia, simplistic ideas, and belief that the government should provide you with facilities, makes you the perfect candidate.

well they bloke has had 4 years and a whole department on the case and nothing is happening. He seems to be all over his self interest of gay marriage, so he and the A.C.T. labour will have to put up with my criticism. and you Tooks don’t even care for dirt bikes so stop being a troll

EvanJames said :

I’d love to see these “possible sites”. Trail bikes are bloody loud, and frankly it’s unfair to inflict that on people who haven’t signed up for it.

And how is a special trail bike park “safe”? I love all the mentions of ‘safe’. Maybe the special trail bike park will be completely padded with foam, and have absolutely no obstacles or undulations.

Well do you think they would put it in the middle of your suburb or something? Noise concerns are a load of crap most people just take offence to hearing a bike no matter how loud it is. Too many precious people around these days. How about tolerance for others instead of expecting everyone to fit your views on life. Make noise and have fun I say or else ride a bloody horse, oh wait it seems they are extremely dangerous too maybe we should give up on enjoying ourselves alltogether before we all die.

This has been a big issue for dirt bike riders in this region and it is good to give the kids an alternative to the MX crowd that have a dedicated track that you have to pay to use. It does nothing to address the problem of adults having nowhere to ride, sure there are plenty of forests around the ACT but the roads have the same speed limit as school zones and you are limited to fire trails which is pretty boring. I don’t expect anyone that does not ride on the dirt to understand properly but there is a large enduro bike riding community in Canberra with no facilities to use. We are not environmental bandits and the bikes do far less damage than people think, the greatest cause degradation I see when out riding is caused by 4WD yahoos.

I bet you this kids facility gets up and running because it is the easiest dirt bike issue to deal with.

I’d love to see these “possible sites”. Trail bikes are bloody loud, and frankly it’s unfair to inflict that on people who haven’t signed up for it.

And how is a special trail bike park “safe”? I love all the mentions of ‘safe’. Maybe the special trail bike park will be completely padded with foam, and have absolutely no obstacles or undulations.

gazket said :

Andrew Bar said he was looking into a trail bike park in 2008. Still sitting at his desk with his thumb up his @rse .( he probably likes that ) 4 years later still nothing. They just spent over $2 million on two skate parks , a trailbike park park would cost 20% of that. For those saying insurance is a problem is bullshit. how does the gov deal with the skate parks in the A.C.T. I haven’t seen anyone sue the gov for any broken wrists or ankles there.

The A.C.T. gov have to stop this motorsport discrimination . I hear now the Molonglo river is closed to water skiers now and reopening is not going to happen. Too many fags and party poopers in government . The gov like taking fuel tax, rego tax, take the money from GST mechanical bills. I think they could put aside 2% of this money for our use and get kids off the footpaths, lane ways, roads. Sto spending our money on illegal immagrants and spend it on your tax payers.

I think you should be the spokesperson for all trailbike riders in the ACT. Your homophobia, xenophobia, simplistic ideas, and belief that the government should provide you with facilities, makes you the perfect candidate.

Maybe he is starting a family and sees dinky motor bikes as a fun thing for junior?

Andrew Bar said he was looking into a trail bike park in 2008. Still sitting at his desk with his thumb up his @rse .( he probably likes that ) 4 years later still nothing. They just spent over $2 million on two skate parks , a trailbike park park would cost 20% of that. For those saying insurance is a problem is bullshit. how does the gov deal with the skate parks in the A.C.T. I haven’t seen anyone sue the gov for any broken wrists or ankles there.

The A.C.T. gov have to stop this motorsport discrimination . I hear now the Molonglo river is closed to water skiers now and reopening is not going to happen. Too many fags and party poopers in government . The gov like taking fuel tax, rego tax, take the money from GST mechanical bills. I think they could put aside 2% of this money for our use and get kids off the footpaths, lane ways, roads. Sto spending our money on illegal immagrants and spend it on your tax payers.

The public liability is still a big hurdle. The really nasty stuff on the downhill course at Stromlo remains blocked by gates, except during races when all riders are covered by insurance. This is why Stromlo has yet to see any freeride and dirt jump section built (fun & dangerous), which would no doubt add to the waiting times at TCH.

The public liability issue seems to have been solved for mountain biking. And Cross country mountain bike parks and trail bike parks seem to be very similar.

Won’t happen. Election year.

And most importantly, public liability.

Great! The police on their new orange trail bikes (which spend the majority of their time locked in the compound in Civic doing nothing along with all the other police motorcycles and traffic branch cars) can write the kiddies tickets catching them riding illegally to the track!

We used to have a few good trail bike parks around Canberra in the 70’s to early 90’s anyway. There was a great one under what is now Florey that me and my mates used to push our bikes to. There also used to be a very popular one in Narrabundah under what is now the driving range at the golf shop. Actually, I was there the day the Mig 15 plowed in a few people were running around trying to account for their kids/mates who, after the crash, simply buggered off home on their trail bikes.

I’ll be amazed if this gets up. The Stanhope govt shut down the Kiddie bmx park that was built by Downer residents association, as they said it was too dangerous. So how come now bikes with motors are suddenly safer.

It will be good if they can make this work somehow.

It’s not just children that are going to benefit from this though…

I didn’t know that kiddie trail bike riders could vote.

I originally posted this in the police wrap up 22nd July which stated about the blitz the police were going to have on trailbikes.

The statement from Minister Barr is as follows

ACT trail and mini bike riders need a safe place to ride
The campaign launched by ACT Policing today which targets unsafe and illegal trail bike riding in
suburban and rural areas shows there is a need for a safe place for Canberra’s riders.
The ACT Government has been investigating the options for a safe riding park for unlicensed and
unregistered motor bike riders in and around the ACT. This is particularly needed for kids who can’t
ride anywhere in the ACT except on private property.
“Currently there is no facility where kids can learn to trail ride safely and legally in the ACT,” Minister for
Sport and Recreation Andrew Barr said today. “The ACT Government is concerned that this is
contributing to a growing problem of unsafe riding around Canberra’s suburbs and parks.
“I have asked my department to investigate the options and to meet with organsiations and interested
parties over the last few months to ascertain the demand and options for a possible trail bike park. The
ACT Government identified funds in this year’s Budget for this type of motorsport-related
infrastructure.”
Senator Kate Lundy, who is a member of the Dual Sport Motorcycle Riders’ Association, is a keen
supporter of a trail bike park for Canberra.
“Canberra kids have nowhere to ride unless they are lucky enough to know someone with some private
land where they can ride with permission. Mini-bike riding and trail bike riding for kids requires a safe
place where they can learn safe riding skills and provide a range of experiences on trails and tracks,”
Senator Lundy said.
“I congratulate the Stanhope Labor Government and Minister Barr for pursuing such a facility for
Canberra because, as the ACT Policing campaign shows, the problems will get worse unless there is
somewhere safe and legal for parents to take their kids to ride.”
Another report released today by the Health and Welfare Institute found men are more than twice as
likely to be injured because many more have taken up motorbike riding over the last three years.
“This is further evidence of the urgent need to teach safe riding habits and to provide motor bike
enthusiasts with safe places to ride and learn,” Mr Barr said.

//Statement Ends

Media Contact: Paul Kindermann 6205 1690 0403 600 955 paul.kindermann@act.gov.au
For comment contact Senator Lundy 02 6230 0411

The project plan should be finalised by the end of August.

Hopefully with a little push from the Canberra’s Motorcycle Riders Association and Dual Sport Motorcycle Riders Association – this will actually get going.

I have also heard there are already 3 sites for consideration.

I am astounded at the man’s audaciousness.

He would know full well that the day after the election it would be discovered the bike park would have to comply with the same noise rules as the dragway – ie, virtually zero noise emmissions.

This proposal will never get up under a Sonic government.

maybe they could build them side-by-side?

A trail bike parks a bit easier than a dragway isn’t it – just a few signs setting aside a bit of one of the pine forests, right?

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.