NQ MTB Forum 26th April 2018 (debrief)

[My magical rainbow unicorn]

Flyer: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8855yya681ravrd/NQ_MTB_Forum.pdf?dl=0

This had some very good attendance from our gals and guys and great ideas and discussion. Many thanks all.

Refer summary of the discussion – attached below.

Sparkle, sparkle!

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[Bryan Wharton]

Let’s be clear about bikes with motors. They are all, and should be referred to as MOTOR CYCLES.

The industry push for acceptance of them on footpaths and trails by labeling them E Bikes or Pedal Assist or Battery Bikes or Energy Reactiation or whatever they choose is just something else they want us to spend our money on.

If it has a motor of ANY sort, it is a MOTOR CYCLE.

So the discussion that now needs to be had is quite simple. DO YOU WANT TO ALLOW MOTOR CYCLES ON OUR TRAILS? YES OR NO.

[Gazza]

I don’t agree Bryan. Pedal assist is just that, assistance pushing the pedals. It opens the sport to a range of people who could not otherwise become involved. They have been designed with the function limiter built in and I would suggest their impact is minimal on the trails.

Anyone who converts their pedal assist to motor operated bicycle has as you suggest created a motor cycle and by definition should not be on our trails.

The problem as I see it is how to police/persuade or otherwise deter self powered motor cycles from using the trails. If you go the whole hog and ban anything with a motor you are likely to fail, simply because of the current public attitude towards inclusion.

[havok011101]

I 100% agree with above and feel it should be addressed at Committee Level and possibly include updated signage.

There have been a few complaints/comments on Facebook regarding e-bikes that are clearly unrestricted causing problems on the trails.

The other issue that it seems to cause is a change in the “give way” dynamic. Slow climbing riders are easyer to spot, and make a call to give ways. It seems the prevalent e-bike rider is more content to speed up trails and not give way.

(Not painting them all with the same brush, of course).

[Author]

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