Cyclists may get access to Kepler

I am still holding on to the hope that the Kepler track will become a reality. There can never be enough places to cycle, and new routes to explore, for hardcore cyclists like me.

It would be a shame if riders were forbidden to ride in the parks. I think there would be a lot of adventurous cyclists who would love to navigate the various paths while enjoying the fresh air. 

As previously stated I got involved to correct your assertion that you were somehow excluded when that was not the case.

I further commented because I thought of my parents who do tramp being bowled by some speed freak cyclist.

I have read the article you have referred to and found it quite interesting especially where it says bikes, including motorbikes damage the tracks on the downhills less than walkers. I now look forward to riding my motorbike in the National Parks or am I to be excluded and if so why?

I did not say I was not a walker, I said I was not a tramper (ie inferring bush type walking), I have had a number of bad experiences on walking tracks around the city with cyclists (not necessarily true mountain bikers) travelling at speed and I believe the principle would be the same in the bush.

So as neither a walker or a cyclist why are you getting involved? If it is not going to affect you then why do you feel the need to rain on others' parade? You also have no experience (as you don't walk or bike) to comment on the dangers of bikes on narrow tracks. Bikers' speed can be controlled by track design, for example, have the downhills sections short with good line of sight and then have an uphill to slow riders down before tight turns. DoC have done studies on user conflict and it turned out be a myth. Check it out. How often do you hear of bikers taking out walkers?

As you ride  a motorbike I thought you would have more sympathy. I walk, bike and ride a motorbike and notice that there is almost nowhere to ride a motorbike legally. I agree that it is a loud, dangerous sport but does that mean that they should be outlawed? It's people like Andy who fight for users rights so that there hobby can be enjoyed legally. Let him help people.

Come on guys, give bikers a break. If you look at the amount of quality walking tracks compared to quality biking tracks you will realise that walkers have it pretty good. Especially considering that bikers are the ones lobbying to build tracks (that are not usually off limits to bikers) and getting their hands dirty to create assets for the community. You don't hear of too many walkers getting the picks and shovels out....that's probably because there are millions of dollars being spent to build and maintain tracks (and huts) for them.

I have ridden dual use tracks all over the world and have never come accross conflict with walkers. Quite the opposite, we usually stop and have a quick chat, we are all lovers of the great outdoors and share many of the same traits after all.

What Andy is doing here is commendable, he is giving up his spare time to help others which is going to provide a new recreational asset and boost Te Anau's struggling economy.  

It has been my experience that many cyclists don't 'share' tracks in any meaningful expression of the term, since, on encountering trampers, 'they' have the greater momentum and least control, they are more inclined to 'threaten' them. This is reminiscent of a problem Otago Tramping Club members had, years ago, on the 'Green-Peaks' track to the Silverpeaks, when some of them had to dive off the tracks into nearby scrub, because trail-bike riders continued to 'come at them'.

On tracks, rather than 'sharing', walkers will be seen as an impediment to the instant gratification and enjoyment of cyclists. It may work, in theory, but human nature will see to it otherwise, in practice. [abridged]

I was not against bikes in parks when I made my comment what I was against is the incorrect statement about exclusion.

You have however made me think some more on this issue and I am now dead against the use of bikes on tracks used by walkers.

My reasoning is that, I see it the same as allowing cars to drive on the footpath or pedestrians walk on the motorway. Neither of these are practicle because of the speed differentials involved.

I have just pictured you barreling down a narrow track around a blind corner to meet a group of walkers coming the other way. What's your stopping distance? Theirs is zero metres.

Won't work unless you alone have some tracks and walkers have others. Good luck with that one. As an aside I am neither a tramper or a mountain biker but I ride a motorbike will you share the love with me.

I believe you are missing the point here. As cycling is NZ's fastest growing sport, particularly mountain biking (Sparc website), there are hundreds of thousands of people who'd like to ride their bikes in the backcountry in some of the beautiful areas around NZ. It is in fact vehicles that are banned from NP's. I hardly think it's fair that bicycles that make no noise, are low impact and do not pollute are in the same category as 4 wheel drives and motorbikes.

Just because walkers have been spoilt with thousands of kms of tracks built for them by someone else until now doesn't mean they are the only legitimate NP user group. There are so many walking only tracks that surely it can't be that hard to share 1 or 2? 

Sorry qt the no bikes in National Park rule does not exclude one let alone thousands of Kiwis from enjoying their own country.

What it excludes are inanimate objects in the form of bikes.

I am picking if you can ride a mountain bike you can walk and thus have access to these areas and you therefore are not excluded.

This is great news! Hopefully DoC realise they can't ignore MTB's forever and this takes a lot less than 5 years to happen. The no bikes in National Parks rule excludes thousands of kiwis from enjoying their own country and needs to be changed.

Make it happen DoC!