Hi Mike 
I would like to know why Bob Carr banned jetskis because they were too noisy and yet the jet boats are out in the harbour. I don't know which is worse.

It is questionable whether it is mounatin bikes causing the damage. You regulary come across TRAIL BIKE riders on the tracks and fire trails in Garigal. Why is there not more focus on these individuals who doing far mor edamage to the environment

For god sake I am sick to death of this over the top environment BS. I care about the environment but not to the extent that we cant use it or enjoy it. Environmentist are the modern day terrorists they will not be happy until every park and forest has 12' fence round it to keep everyone out. This full on attitude just turns people like me against the environment. Mark my words within the next 20 year swimming in the ocean will be banned.

Your article on this subject does not explain whether you mean motor bikes or bicyles. I would assume bicyles but I'd like this to be made clear. I believe passionately that we need to enjoy our beautiful environment, it is fundamental to our health to connect with nature. And it is possible to do with without damaging it. A big problem for many national parks, such as those I recently visited in Bellingen, is that motor bikes are causing damage to those beautiful environments. If you speak to the NSW government on this can you also highlight the issue that we need a plan for our national parks, to encourage sustainable enjoyment.

Hi Juliet, just to clarify, it is bicycles not motorbikes... cheers, Mike

One further comment I'd like to make on my opinion. Motor bikes should be banned from national parks. The noise is stressful for wildlife and people alike. Planes should avoid national parks by 5km. National parks should be places that are TRULY a natural experience and enjoyed by all those that wish to learn the beauty of nature and how fulfilling peace and beaty and when in unison. Mountain bikers can be a nuisance to walkers only if they happen to come face to face. Perhaps mountain bikers in mornings, walkers in afternoons, then everyone is happy. Electric bikes could also be allowed with mountain bikes as they are quiet and are relatively slow moving. Motor bikes are for roads, not national parks. The speed and noise makes them unsuitable for national parks! This is an area I am passionate about as I have seen first hand how eco tourism in areas such as Belligen are suffering due to noise polluters, and lack of things to do for everyone other that motor bikers. I stayed near the Promised Land national park and it was beautiful. AND VERY NOISY. Flight path from Sydney to Brisbane goes right over the top (has only happened in last 2 years and it appears it is due to the government turning a blind eye to pilots ignoring the flight paths which used to be out west). Also the motor bikers are very noisy, with the noise travelling for many kms. All in all control of our national parks will improve quality of life and tourism which is a win win. Motor bikers can also enjoy the parks by swopping to an electic bike (if they don't want to do any exercise). Right now it well and truly isn't working. If you are able to get the NSW government to put a plan together on this it will be well worth the effort.

I am a keen mountain biker and also love our natural environment. The people I ride with share the same passion and values and we ceratianly respect and marvel at the places we ride in.  
 
Mountain biking is a very natural, healthy sport, and the damage it does compared to most human activities quite minimal. 
 
Thanks Mike for applying some commonsense to this debate.

That Manly Council request as a matter of urgency the lack of legitimate facilities for Mountain biking on the Northern Beaches be discussed at SHOROC and a plan developed to defuse the increasing conflicts between mountain bikers and those opposing the construction of illegal bike trails in the National Parks on the Northern Beaches. 
It is requested that SHOROC; 
1. Acknowledge that Mountain biking is a legitimate sport and requires Government support to facilitate the provision of infrastructure and regulation for the sport. 
2. Identify appropriate areas or an area for the establishment of infrastructure for the sport of Mountain Biking on the Northern Beaches.  
3. Support the NP&WS to maintaining the integrity of the existing National Parks. 
4. Engage with the State Government to establish a mechanism to fund and manage the development of sustainable tracks and trails in appropriate areas and then fund the ongoing maintenance of the areas. 
 
Backgound 
Mountain Bike riding is a multi-million dollar industry, National and International, involving retail outlets, events, tourism, magazines, sponsorship. Mountain Biking is a legitimate sport and since being recognised as an Olympic sport in 1996 it popularity has increased dramatically.  
The Peak body MTBA represents only a small minority of mountain bikers and generally only those interested in racing and not recreation. However $5 of every full MTBA membership goes towards a trail access fund. This fund has helped to finance IMBA visits to Australia, attending Tracks & Trails Conference and lobbying Local and State Governments.  
MTBA has a stated policy on mountain bike access to natural areas policy and gives the MTBA’s position on environmental and land access issues with regard to off-road cycling in natural spaces, with particular reference to protected areas such as reserves, state forests, national parks, urban forests and wilderness areas. (on reading this document is sounds nice but in reality is completely impractical) 
The Northern Beaches Mountain Bike Club is one of many and does not represent all those who ride mountain bikes on the Northern Beaches 
There is limited legal infrastructure and the sport is unregulated – illegal jumps and steel structures are regularly being built in the National Parks

I agree Mike. A win-win is a realistic outome here. I am a Manly resident, property owner and mountain biker. Mountain BIking (as opposed to motorcross) should be allowed access to designated tracks wtihin the National Parks. It is one of the most natural and healthy sports on the planet. All forms of Motorbikes should be banned due to noise/air/environmental pollution. 
 
Matt Clarke

This is a great leap forward in allowing access to our parks for use by people other than bushwalkers. Cycling is on the increase and continuing to rise, increasing the number of places to ride, reduces the overall impact on the places that are currently being ridden. If the number of riders doubles for a certain track then the wear alos increases, if those same number can be split between two tracks then the wear is halved. 
 
Access is also not about creating new trails, it can be merely about access to walking trails, some of which do not get regularly used or have not been used for many years. Allowing access can open up the enviromnet for people that would not normally venture into these parts, opening them up to the flora and fauna.  
 
i look forward to riding these trails in the not too distant future. 
 
I am a willing participant to be involved in any works required to make these trails both walker/runner/ MTB rider friendly. 
 
Cheers 
Rob

I am a motorbike rider and mountain biker and agree wholeheartedly with the approach that is being put forward. I have spent a reasonable amount of time volunteering with many other cyclists to assist in maintaining the Manly Dam trails and know that with the approriate management, trails can work for all environmentally sensitive recreational users. In my own experience motorbikes are invasive and best restricted to suitable areas, most often private land where we can enjoy riding them in the manner they were designed for. They unfortunately do not fit the shared use or environmentally sensitive category. 
 
I therefore applaud your view that mountain biking and bush walking can exist alongside each other and encourage you to keep this common sense approach at the fore of future discussions around this topic.

Dear Mike, 
I thank you for speaking out for the good cause of mountain biking being allowed in National Parks. I am one of those many 40+ year olds passionate about my sport and concerned at how it is being gradually pushed out of the Northern beaches and National Parks. I am glad you see a solution in sharing the park's sustainable trails between different user groups. The Nat Parks could do with a few more visitors anyway.  
Regards 
Peter Ruszkowski

Hi Mike, 
Great to see you trying to find a win win solution to this issue. As others have pointed out, mountain biking is a large and growing industry. With the World Championships being held in Australia this year (down hill, cross country, trials) and next year (marathon - 24 hours), it will only get bigger. With limited trail access for Sydney residents and a large mtb community, it's vital that sustainable track development techniques are put into practice and that a suitable number of new tracks are also developed.  
 
It's important to remember that the majority of mountain bikers are caring of the environments that they ride in, and given enough access, they will be happy to assist in the sustainable management of those areas. Like others, I have seen the impact that trail bike riders have on trails. It's important that National parks understand that the majority of the damage being done to trails is a result of trail bikes tearing around, not the result of 11kg bikes running on human power.

Great work Mike, I have lived in Manly for the last 5 years and spend most weekends mountain biking. Like most mountain bikers I love and respect the bush, I have even volunteered at bush regeneration a few times, but I also love to mountain bike. I don't consider it to be as damaging as some may say, erosion is mainly caused by rain on poorly maintained trails and that erosion would occur whether bikes were there or not. Th t said, I do fully support any plan for purpose built trails being developed in the area. 
Thanks, James

I am a mountainbiker and love the ability to get out into the fresh air, do some great excercise and enjoy the beauty of Sydney\'s natural areas. I am always conscious of not harming the bush. Please don\'t close tracks off to us mountain bikers.

As a 40ish year old mountain biker, family man and Manly resident I am happy with the effort taken by you here Mike. We ride, walk and picnic in the Northern Beaches and would be very dissappointed if the continual attitude to biking (can you believe it) sees no opportunity for us to enjoy hitting the trails.

Big brother keeps closing in on our freedom to access the National Parks.  
1. Bob Carr overnight and without consultation closed Sydney harbour to jet skiis in 2002. Im not a jet skier but why close down the harbour to these craft. No consultation and no reason given. State Government Big Brother. 
2. Smiths Creek in the Hawkesbury was closed to waterskiiing in 2004. There was no reason given, no consultation - no one goes down Smiths Creek anymore! National Parks Big Brother. 
3. Mountain Bikers excluded from National Parks. We all want access to the National Parks and mountain biking is a fantatic low impact way to silently visit the Parks. National Parks ultimately want all National Parks as wilderness areas - I say what the point of them if you are not allowed access. I cant see the mouintain bikers not using the parks if they were denied access - the sport is too big and too popular - it will simply go underground.

It would be a shame to see the loss of access to the National Parks to mountain bikers. I have just purchased a mountain bike for my son's 10th Birthday. The reason I purchased a mountain bike for him was so we could go riding together and enjoy the outdoors. The National Park trails are saver then the roads on the Northern Beaches. Mountain Biking is a healthy sport and lesuire activity that we can do as a family. Better then sitting at home and letting them play playstation or x-box. We are becoming a Nation of fatties, I was under the assumption that State and Federal Governments were trying to encourage parents to have a healther lifestyle for their children. 
The National Parks offer a wide and exciting variety of trails/tracks for both the beginner and advanced riders. Its seems the National Parks only want people using the park if they are prepared to pay. Example of such activities that already pay are Boaties wanting to use the boat ramps under Roseville Bridge and Akuna Bay (Local activities). The Snowy Mountains is another example with the ski fields and people pay for access. I believe in the theory \'user pays\', I would be prepared to pay an annual fee for a pass to ride in the National Parks (as i already do for my car access).  
Lets use some common sense for once.