CAN I gently remind everyone that mountain bikers aren’t environmental terrorists. We care about nature too. We enjoy being in it more than most.
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There is an image of mountain bikers as red bull-chugging, hooligan racers flinging dust and mud in our wake. We aren’t.
I also caution generalising others as ‘greenies’. We all care about nature and we are, rightly, afraid of the unknown. We should let the experts do the research and make an informed decision.
I am a mountain biker and a conservationist at heart – these positions aren’t mutually exclusive.
- Will Ferguson
Now, I am a grey-haired mountain biker with some bias for the two-wheelers, but I do bring some experience having built a sustainable eight-kilometre private track in Mullion Creek.
I was born in Orange and I love the mountain. I love the town. I want the best for both. I’m not an authority or an expert. I am a mountain biker and a conservationist at heart – these positions aren’t mutually exclusive.
I don’t think we should belittle or shout down any reasoned voice in this discussion.
POLL: Have your say …
Building a track on the mountain comes with some risks. Are they manageable? Are they acceptable? I wonder if doing nothing at all is, in itself, harmful.
Mountain biking could help save the mountain. We could integrate landcare activities into the area such as blackberry and introduced predator control. The Orange mountain bike community already regularly devotes time and energy to maintenance and landcare.
They show how the sport comes with responsibility and community spirit.
Will Ferguson
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