After a very long wait the Mitcham Mountain Bike Strategy has finally been made public. The area of Mitcham holds the majority of trails close to Adelaide and so it is of vital importance to the future direction of MTBing in the state of South Australia. The report is 120-odd pages long so it’s taken me a while to read and compile this abridged version for you.

READ THIS AND/OR THE REPORT AND MAKE SURE YOU FILL OUT THE FEEDBACK FORM, TRYING TO MAKE POSITIVE AS WELL AS NEGATIVE STATEMENTS.

The closing date to fill out the form is September the 9th and the feedback form can be found here

The Good:

It’s pretty much all good. Actually it’s darn good. The report actually delves right into the advantages of MTBing (on Page 12) expanding it into Social, Environmental, Physical and Mental Health and Ecconomic Benefits. Yeah, I know my MTB “improves quality of life”, but it’s great to see it finally in print. Time and time again I found myself nodding while reading it, good stuff!

• They differentiated between DH, FR and XC. This went against previous images portrayed as all MTBers wearing full face helmets and only interested in ripping down hills. (Page19 -21)

4 areas were recommended for management of MTB trails: (Page 71)

• Randells/ Anderson DH/XC (given Priority 1)
• Lynton / Sleeps Hill DH/XC (given Priority 1)
• Various reserves at the top of Shepherds XC (O’Dea, Ashby and Saddle Hill) (Priority 2)
• Blackwood Hill Reserve XC (at the top of Sturt Gorge)

• Establishment of Trails Signages (like Ski runs, Black Diamond, Blue, Green, Page 69).
• Adoption of IMBA trail design, (Page 70).
• No Parking allowed on left hand side of Burnell Drive, possible bicycle lane (Page 73).

Other Carrots given lower priority but tempting non the less:
 

• Developing Lynton Reserve (Commonly accessed off Windy Pt.) as a purpose built MTB park catering for all disciplines. (Page 76)

• Formalise the trail along National Park boundary down Sheoak Rd. (note with the legal trails opening up in the park an awesome legal route would be to climb up the park and descend along Sheoak Trail, Page 71)

• Looking into access into Waitaparinga and Pony Ridge.

• Proof of examples where positive action by councils has worked elsewhere internationally (Page 21) and Nationally (Page 23).

The Bad:

• Windy Point Access will have to be closed. Access too dangerous. (Page 76)

• Installing a Pedestrian Maze and Fence across Burnell Dr. entrance to Randells. Considering they are talking of establishing trails there, how does this help? (Page 73)

• Remembering that Council will vote on it, the likelihood of it all getting through is slim, but even if half of it got through it would still be a landmark decision. If there is going to be a sacrifical cow, can it be the $100,000 they have allocated for Shelters, seating, bike racks etc.? (Page 71)

Despite talk of all the grant money available to them if they are positive with MTBing (pg 58) there seems a persistent theme to try and figure out how to make cyclist pay for using the trails (Page 55) this is despite evidence from Brisbane, that enforcing the system is “an expensive way of achieving these goals. For this reason permit systems are rare in New Zealand and North America.” (Page 56).

Despite this the report states that “A revenue stream would be necessary to provide mountain bike trails and manage and maintain them to appropriate standards.” (Page 55) At least the report does point out that not endorsing the MTB plan will not make MTBers go away and that monetary resources would have to be committed by council to addressing and policing the issue. The sting in that for council is that they can’t apply for any of the government grants to police MTBing son unlike the MTB plan, policing would have to come out of their own pocket!

The Ugly:
You, If I catch up with you and find out you haven’t taken 2 minutes of your life to fill out the Feedback form! Find it here before I find you!