Greymouth Operations Manager Shane Hall said the man had spent the previous night at the Moonlight Tops Hut and admitted that he knew the track was shut. He said he wanted to complete it anyway, passing “Do not Proceed” signs along the way.
“It’s really disappointing that this person ignored the closure of this sectioning an active construction site, he put himself and our contractors at risk."
A law enforcement investigation into this breach is underway and could result in a prosecution. Entering a closed area on public conservation land is an offence under the
Conservation Act. Breaches of the Conservation Act can result in a fine of up to $100,000 and/or up to 1 year’s imprisonment.
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Mountain bikers' "Entitlement mentality" is universal. What makes them so special and deserving???
What were they thinking??? Mountain biking and trail-building destroy wildlife habitat! Mountain biking is environmentally, socially, and medically destructive! There is no good reason to allow bicycles on any unpaved trail!
Bicycles should not be allowed in any natural area. They are inanimate objects and have no rights. There is also no right to mountain bike. That was settled in federal court in 1996: https://mjvande.info/mtb10.htm . It's dishonest of mountain bikers to say that they don't have access to trails closed to bikes. They have EXACTLY the same access as everyone else -- ON FOOT! Why isn't that good enough for mountain bikers? They are all capable of walking....
A favorite myth of mountain bikers is that mountain biking is no more harmful to wildlife, people, and the environment than hiking, and that science supports that view. Of course, it's not true. To settle the matter once and for all, I read all of the research they cited, and wrote a review of the research on mountain biking impacts (see https://mjvande.info/scb7.htm ).