My email
I am excited to have my say and support the report. I have been mountain biking in Canberra for more than 20 years. I have lived OS and in other parts of Australia, and chose to live in Canberra partly because of the accessibility and quality of mountain bike trails.
I have seen the ACT become the leader in mountain biking in Australia, and then gradually slip down the leaderboard compared to other national destinations. I appreciate the effort that has gone into the report and look forward to the implementation. I realise that COVID an elections have slowed down the process and it would be great to get these good ideas and plans implemented as a priority.
Trail plans in the region are moving with real investments by state governments and regions. Interstate the bar has also been raised quite a lot, and many of my interstate riding friends have started travelling to the newer destinations instead of the ACT. I have many friends who have travelled to Canberra to ride at Stromlo or at events held on nearby riding areas. eg Kowan. However, in recent years this has slowed down quite a lot and I hear more about friends and mates travelling interstate to experience the new trail networks.
I believe ACT needs new aspirational trail experiences like the ones discussed below. I note that much of the existing trail network has strong network volunteer trail builders and maintenance. I have participated in these and have also organised 3 seperate trail building days using volunteer labour provided by my workplace volunteer program. (10 people x 2 different days working with Kowalski Brothers to build trails and to close down inappropriate trails.) I do think that
we can come up with better ways of working with volunteers and professional trail builders. It would be great to have more clarity on the role or trail maintainers and the ability to influence priorities and see updates on work done. Some feedback into the social networking sites would be handy too.
If we get some more focus on implementing the plan, then I think it will reinvigorate and uplift our market share and position Canberra as Australia’s mountain bike capital. While planning and talking can generate a buzz, it will be even more useful when the new experiences are ready.
In my view, the areas that offer the best potential for the development of new trails are:
- a new long term trail network at Blue Range in the Uriarra Forest area
- a new ‘flow trail’ from Stromlo Forest Park to Cotter Recreation Reserve (Stoney Creek Nature Reserve) with a return climb that can be ridden by riders as a loop (and not just a shuttle track), noting this was an election commitment;
- better connecting trails between Arboretum and Stromlo Forest Park;
- a recreation trail network at Cotter Recreation Area; and
- a new shared-use trail along the Murrumbidgee Discovery Track
Personally, I would also like more flexibility to create simple local suburban loops in the Canberra urban parks in the green space that intersect places like Campbell but also many other suburbs, and to join up a network of mountain bike trails with some of the bike paths.
Thanks for doing the report. The trails in Canberra are overflowing with mountain bikers as COVID encourages outdoor well spaced out sport and the next generation of mountain bikers are riding with their parents and family members. This is a timely report that plans out the next major trail areas and initiatives
- particularly as other plantation based areas have been decimated or reduced;
- as Stromlo struggles to cope with increased local crowds and
- the appeal of interstate destinations increases.
I can't wait for it to be implemented!
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