A nice cup of tea with the AFCD

Calling all bikers

AFCD are realising the urgency of the over saturated bike trails, to try and move foward they would like to organise a special meeting with concerned bikers.

A date is still to be confirmed (as AFCD needs to work out which top officials and park wardens need to be present) but would most likely be on a saturday morning, i have suggested the meeting be held before a TMS ride at the route twisk AFCD offices

This is a great opportunity for bikers to have their say and show how the sport is growing and vioce our concerns.

it would be ideal if we could make a huge showing of bikers, and as the meeting would hopefully be held before a regular ride it shouldnt take up too much of peoples time.

Obviosly the more the merrier but i think it is important to have a unnified front and a few key (clean shaven, articulate and sensible bikers) as spokespersons to vioce our views, the rest of us there to support and heckle!

if you are interested in jioning the meeting and have comments list them below

So come on chaps and chappettes, tell your friends and lets make a huge day of it

We will keep you posted of time of meeting and any developments

cheers
bb

sounds very positive

Support & be there

happy to attend, just let us know the date.

My angle, more sensible trails on HK Island. legalise Lady Clementis. However I am not limited to that outlook only, basically more proper, sustainable trails that are easier to access and fun to ride.

hi jez

cooel

yes more trails are needed hk side but chances of getting them approved may be hard, another little birdy told me that the reason the likes of lady clementis and or hkl trail arent legalied is because they are very popular walks for top governtment officials and their little shitzu dogs, god forbid they wouldnt want BB to be mangled in a set of fox 36's would they!!!

anyways that what i heard! whose to say

Got your email, would be happy to attend a meeting. Of course there should be more legal mtb trails, and everyone should lobby for this.

There should also be steps taken to develop the following things:

Bike awareness of drivers on the roads around mountain biking areas,

Easier access for mountain bikers to get to trials,

Bikes should be allowed on the MTR and KCR,

Development of different types of trials, cross country, downhill, free ride, north shore, as essentially we are all just riding on trails developed for walking.

Reduction of pollution levels would also be good.

..... thats what I think anyway, enjoy the ride

It is about time for some formal talks with the government. I guess safety is the main issue, then next on the agenda should be having more ridable, sensible and legal trails.
I have taken two German MTB World Champions (4X and downhill) riding in some famous HK MTB trails including Chi Ma Wan and Tai Mo Shan. They sincerely think Tai Mo Shan is one of the best trails they have ever riden because it has all kinds of varieties of terrain and very fast and exciting. So there you go.
We should definitely prepare a list of demands/requests and submit it to the relevant department for their consideration before the meeting.
In addition, I think it will also be a good idea to write to The Hon Timothy Fuk, President, Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong. He is the major force behind promoting sports in HK and I am sure things will become much easier if we have his backing or blessing.
We also need to gather all local/expat, registered/non-registered cycling associations in HK to attend this meeting and must have a joint statement.
Oh well, just some ideas.
We are not going to get this chance very often.

I'm there.
If you could arrange a date and time with them soon then i think many of us could schedule around work and attend.
Many thanks.

Yes, happy to show my face and help if I can.

Let us know ASAP of date so that we can arrange our schedule accordingly. I appreciate the opporutnity to work constructively together with the AFCD to build a better envoronment for sporting activites for the country.

MTBing is becoming a national showcase for eco-tourism in many parts of the world and it will be great to show what great parks and trails we have here in HK.

China and Taiwan have recently invested significantly in MTB dedicated parks and trails, perhaps we can look at their example to see if anything can be applied here.

Hi shaun,

just let me know the data and I can be attend the meeting.

Just like last time I go with Julien to attend the CEDD meeting which is related of the Lantau island mountain bike issue.

if you have decide the mass ride data, I will ask for all of the biker as I know to join the ride and hope we will show them we need more trail.

cheers guys

will keep u posted on developments
Red hav ee you any more info on these new trails/infrasture in tiawan and china?

it would be great to know more

cheers bb

Great ideas, but we need to focus - AFCD manages country parks, not sports or public transport, although these are certainly areas we can push for on other fronts. On a side note, I went to a meeting with LegCo candidate Ho Loy this week and she's helping to organize a Critical Mass for November 18 [or the 24, still not confirmed, will let you know] to promote cycling in general as transport and liesure activity, with a focus on integrating a cycle path into the new waterfront design.

Anyhow, I propose that our AFCD meeting focus on sustainable mountain bike trails, as that's their exclusive domain. Let's not get all shovel-happy before we identify all the existing trails out there, which are more plentiful than I think most riders realize. I would recommend the order of business to first look at the 'legality' of our riding:

1. Ask if there are any concerns they have with what we do, such as environmental impact, conflict with hikers, etc., and ask earnestly what we can do to minimize these concerns [not riding on days after heavy rains is actually a good idea, for example, or on "bai san" ancestor-worship days; if we give a little, they may give a lot in exchange]

2. Ask AFCD if they will consider a consultation with the MTB community on which trails are most appropriate to open for mountain biking in the near future - and if so, how they would prefer we go about it, such as marking maps and submitting physical documents, or GPSing our preferred trails and posting via Google Earth, etc., and assigning someone to do all this ...

3. Ask if they will consider a "pay as you go" approach to the MTB permit, which is too slow and cumbersome for visitors from out of town, not to mention the majority of riders who don't want to bother with the post. I suggest we come up with a lift-ticket-like tag that the guy in the booth can sell for 20 bucks a day, or 100 for a season pass.

4. Finally, deciding who and how trail maintenance is carried out - I think that using the word "trail-building" is misleading, as we aren't looking to carve new paths out of nothing, but reclaim and improve existing paths that are environmentally and socially sustainable. See my previous post ...

brandon wrote:

I think "Trail Work Unit Supervisor" would fit - give each of them a copy of this book, which is official policy for most govt. departments:

http://www.imba.com/resources/trail_building/trail_solutions.html

And make sure every Supervisor has read and understood it [and know how to ride a mountain bike, otherwise it's pointless] before directing anyone to stick a shovel in the ground. No less will do.

Brandon

Great work by the way Shawn, let us know how it goes with the time.

Brandon

brandon

very good and clear ideas and all very sound

i reckon we -- all those who are interested have a meet over beers (naturally!) just to get everything in writing and to get everyone on the same page etc etc

those lawyering classes are payiong off my friend - sounding very official these days!

Brandon,
with you 100%.

I also feel Allens comments re attracting some support from a Politcal figure would add weight to the balance issues and possibly with the AFCD in temrs of trail opening?

To also have info on the type of work being done in China and Taiwan may add weight, if for no other reason than shaming the authorites in to trying to keep up with places deemed "behind" Hong Kong socially and in a developmental terms.

I am happy to read the book and get my shovel ready and apply for a post as a "trail work unit supervisor"

Jez

an additional thought, why is there not a regietered IMBA partner here in HK? the IMBA site says nothing is registered, who agree's having an accredited association would add weight to the trail building/ development voice.

interesting - hkmba used to have an affliation!

yes , united we stand and its time to talk to AFCD about some regulations.
I don't mind paying a certain amount ( around 100 HKD) a year to get a MTB license in order to ride so that the AFCD can use the money to groom the trails or to maintain the quality of it .
By the end of the day, the polluter pays, right ?

yes , united

I don't mind paying a certain license fee a year to be able to ride some hot but illegal trails. The AFCD can use the money to groom the trails or to maintain the quality of it .And I think many people will not mind as well, i mean what is 100 bucks for people like us who are willing to spend 25 HKD for a Ti screw ?

By the end of the day, the polluter pays, right ?

Pls keep me informed about time and place

Count me in for sure, i'm using the trails increasingly on a commercial basis as well as my own recreation and the lack of 'legal' circular routes around Tai Mo Shan/Tai Lam is frustratingly restrictive to say the least. An oppertunity to voice an opinion on opening several more would be of prime interest...

True the permit system is problematic when I take out an overseas clients, it's difficult to have it issued in a short space of time.

Steve

hey,

my friends and i would love to attend, but we are only 14... i would come to the meeting and ride if noone minds. i think we could prove a point with teenagers being at the meeting, the mountain bike scene is improvig and more people want to do it. with 14 year olds it just proves the point that mountain biking is expanding. we will definately ride the downhill afterwards!!

dan


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