No more relaxed bushwalking in Tidbinbilla

dr.evil said :

You are allowed to walk Mt. Stromlo bikes give way to walkers and horse riders, walkers give way to horses. Share is the word.

Yeah, well dream on. I have been passed by bikes at high speed on “shared” paths. They don’t even ring their bell! “I a bicyclist, get out of my way” applies when they’re not up against something bigger, like a car.

dr.evil said :

You are allowed to walk Mt. Stromlo bikes give way to walkers and horse riders, walkers give way to horses. Share is the word.

And what happens in practice?

You are allowed to walk Mt. Stromlo bikes give way to walkers and horse riders, walkers give way to horses. Share is the word.

Read all about it here http://www.tidbinbilla.com.au/

I am not anti bikes as I own two of my own. I am anti hoon bikers taking over everything.

I agree with the comment below that is the problem both in the nature reserve and on shared foot/bike paths.

birder said :

Look, we love hanging out on the trails in Tidbinbilla with our 5 year old. She is all over the trail, spotting a bug here and a flower there. The idea of having cyclists racing down the paths at high speeds is more than a bit of a turn off. I am not anti-cycling by any means but find that a small but meaningful percentage of cyclists behave recklessly around pedestrians. I don’t know what the plans are, but I do hope some trails are left to hikers only.

Forget seeing any wildlife then, bikes do a great job scaring them off compared to people on foot.

And I wonder how much this is costing taxpayers? No doubt the public liability insurance will take bio riders into account, just as they’ve had to with hunters: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/conservation/walkers-pay-price-for-hunters-20130105-2c9xh.html

A bunch of tracks will be open riding? Cool.

Bugger the bicycles – when do the shooters arrive?

Zan, you are making a mountain out of a molehill. AFAIK only sixty seven walkers have been killed in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve by lunatic cyclists riding without bells on their bikes.

I personally have not killed any but I have certainly explored many of the firetrail-quality tracks in the nature reserve by MTB. I can particularly recommend the ride into the nature reserve via Laurel Camp Road and then Tidbinbilla Range Road from the north. A little steep in places but spectacular views, far from the maddening crowds, with only the sounds of bushwalkers ringing their bells as they overtake.

Look, we love hanging out on the trails in Tidbinbilla with our 5 year old. She is all over the trail, spotting a bug here and a flower there. The idea of having cyclists racing down the paths at high speeds is more than a bit of a turn off. I am not anti-cycling by any means but find that a small but meaningful percentage of cyclists behave recklessly around pedestrians. I don’t know what the plans are, but I do hope some trails are left to hikers only.

it’s so scary and horrifying. you should see a counsellor so you sren’t scared for life

I also loved the way the article wound up by recommending the Roo on the menu.
Awesome.

If there is some award for consistency in trolling, Zan should get it. With bells on.

I can only echo what Deckard says; thanks for bringing the trails to our attention. I’ll check them out next week.

What? Tim’s column was in the CT yesterday? But the previous week he said he’d be taking a break down the coast and his column would not appear this week.

Excellent! Thanks Zan for bringing these new tracks to my attention. Will have to head out there on the bike and check a few of them out. *ding ding*

Why can’t you share?

The Cycle Nazis, there’s no escaping them, they have right of way.

I think I might be missing the message here, Zan. Tim did not talk about changing any trails, but he did talk about establishing/exploring them?