Doc warns motorcyclists, says Otago Daily Times

[Steam]

Typical adversarial journalism, disappointing. Motorcyclists Eat Babies!, screams headline! Nah, not really, but it's a pretty standard hassle the motorcyclist story.


Someone could get hurt if motorcyclists persist in using walking tracks as racing tracks, the Department of conservation warns.
The warning comes after three motorcyclists were seen on Sunday "hooning" around Outram Glen and at the nearby walking track to Lee stream which was getting an upgrade costing about $40,000.
Doc visitor assets program manager Bill Wheeler said given the recent good weather many people had been walking the track and it was just "luck that no one was mown over" by the dirt bike riders at the weekend.
While there were no signs warning against using motor bikes on the track due to the work being done, there were plenty up about the remedial work, he said
" it seems a bit ignorant, putting other people at risk"
the motorcyclists had also damaged the surface of the 2.5 kilometres track, which was being excavated in readiness for gravelling after Christmas.
" We are halfway through rebuilding it, they have put in hours and hours on it"
Any public place like a walking track was considered a highway so the motorcyclists, who were not wearing helmets and did not appear to be warranted or registered, were putting themselves at risk of prosecution by police and also Doc under the reserves act, he said.
People who see motorcyclists on walking tracks should ring the Doc phoneline-0800 362 468-and report the activity, Mr Wheeler said.


So is it a highway or a reserve? Are motorcyclists allowed on it or not? If there are no signs prohibiting motorcyclists, how can the Department of conservation complain? did the journalist, Rebecca Fox, contact any motorcyclists to get their opinion?

[Taz]

The more people we piss off the fewer riding area's we will have. If it's a walking track - go somewhere else.

[Steam]

Yes yes, we all know that, it's just disappointing to see a reporter being lazy and just talking to one guy from Doc, not even attempting to talk to any motorcyclists. I guess she had to fill her quota of stories for the day by deadline time and didn't bother.

[chris]

not even attempting to talk to any motorcyclists
I'm guessing they didn't hang around to give an interview and what good would it do to talk to other motorcyclists about the incident.

They shouldn't have been there whether it was highway or not. If their bikes had no warrant or rego and it's a highway, then no go. If it's a walking track then no go.

[Steam]

I'm guessing they didn't hang around to give an interview and what good would it do to talk to other motorcyclists about the incident.

They shouldn't have been there whether it was highway or not. If their bikes had no warrant or rego and it's a highway, then no go. If it's a walking track then no go.

I agree with you, but the reporter should talk to perhaps an offroading club or just any offroad biker to ask their perspective.
The story presents bikers as Evil evil idiots, and another offroader saying "Yeah, some idiots spoil it for everyone, we are sorry." would have made bikers seem not so bad.
It's just lazy press-release journalism, no attempt made to talk to anyone except Bill Wheeler.

[GaZBur]

...not even attempting to talk to any motorcyclists. ...

The more people we piss off the fewer riding area's we will have. If it's a walking track - go somewhere else.
These are not Motorcyclists as we know them - they are just Dick Heads that were on motorcycles. The mountain bikers, 4WD'ers and Sports Car guys all have the same problems. We get tarred with the same brush and over restricted because of them. Not a lot we can do about it really except try to appear squeeky clean and publicise the positive like the BRONZ toy run etc.

[chris]

These are not Motorcyclists as we know them - they are just Dick Heads that were on motorcycles. The mountain bikers, 4WD'ers and Sports Car guys all have the same problems. We get tarred with the same brush and over restricted because of them. Not a lot we can do about it really except try to appear squeeky clean and publicise the positive like the BRONZ toy run etc.

I was hoping somebody would be less subtle than me :)

[Daphilps]

The more people we piss off the fewer riding area's we will have. If it's a walking track - go somewhere else.
I agree, there are lots of areas open to bikers that aren't walking tracks. dickheads on bikes is right.

[sunhuntin]

if its doc property, then what they say goes. and, just a thought... dirt bikes dont have to be warrented/regoed do they? [im talking farm bikes, crusty demon style]

i say close doc reserves to anything but foot traffic. theres heaps of places specially for dirt bikes, and no excuse not to use them.

[McJim]

Yes yes, we all know that, it's just disappointing to see a reporter being lazy and just talking to one guy from Doc, not even attempting to talk to any motorcyclists. I guess she had to fill her quota of stories for the day by deadline time and didn't bother.

Chances are they're not motorcyclists. Just daft fuckers with big block cars and a couple of dirt bikes they fart around on at weekends.

And the ODT calls them 'Motorcyclists' - makes me want to steal their circulation....oh yeah....that's what I'm paid to do...as you were gentlemen.

[Usarka]

as an ex-mountain biker, and also someone who likes hiking, i get a bit fucked off with inconsiderate mother fucking scum sucking pus filled anal sore infected rectum felching homo licking dog humping shit arse horse gobbling honda riders who tear up tracks designated for other pursuits.

And as for doc, why were there no signs? do you take them down when you do "remedial work" or were there none in the first place? brains don't grow on trees so stop spending all day hugging them you dumb arse foliage fornicating mutter mutter mutter mutter.........

[HenryDorsetCase]

aw come on.... "honda riders" >? thats a bit rich innit.

there are limits after all.

[HTFU]

as an ex-mountain biker, and also someone who likes hiking, i get a bit fucked off with inconsiderate mother fucking scum sucking pus filled anal sore infected rectum felching homo licking dog humping shit arse horse gobbling honda riders who tear up tracks designated for other pursuits.

And as for doc, why were there no signs? do you take them down when you do "remedial work" or were there none in the first place? brains don't grow on trees so stop spending all day hugging them you dumb arse foliage fornicating mutter mutter mutter mutter.........

Took the words..........:clap:

[HenryDorsetCase]

Typical adversarial journalism, disappointing. Motorcyclists Eat Babies!, screams headline!

but they're tasty and delicious! Whats not to like?

[sunhuntin]

as an ex-mountain biker, and also someone who likes hiking, i get a bit fucked off with inconsiderate mother fucking scum sucking pus filled anal sore infected rectum felching homo licking dog humping shit arse horse gobbling honda riders who tear up tracks designated for other pursuits.

And as for doc, why were there no signs? do you take them down when you do "remedial work" or were there none in the first place? brains don't grow on trees so stop spending all day hugging them you dumb arse foliage fornicating mutter mutter mutter mutter.........

say what ya really feel!

that, sir, is the longest string of profanity ive ever read! *wipes tears from eyes* shit that was a funny read! hehehehe

[kerfufflez]

And as for doc, why were there no signs? do you take them down when you do "remedial work" or were there none in the first place?

It's a WALKING track. Why should Doc have to put signs up about motorbikes? What else should they put up? No greyhound racing? (Well, there was no sign, so I thought it must be okay...)

That only leads to further stupidity, with signs and warnings on everything to cater for the lowest common denominator, i.e morons. At the extreme end that's why coffee comes with cautions that it 'may be hot' and togs have 'do not iron' on the tags. Sorry, a bit of a tangent/rant, - nothing to do with motorbikes, but it annoys me no end.

[GaZBur]

...Why should Doc have to put signs up about motorbikes? What else should they put up? No greyhound racing? (Well, there was no sign, so I thought it must be okay...)
That only leads to further stupidity, with signs and warnings on everything to cater for the lowest common denominator, i.e morons. At the extreme end that's why coffee comes with cautions that it 'may be hot' and togs have 'do not iron' on the tags. Sorry, a bit of a tangent/rant, - nothing to do with motorbikes, but it annoys me no end.
Actually sign overload is one of my pet hates too! Most signs seem to need to point out the fecking obvious and a lot are put up to prevent court action. "You never said getting into the lion enclosure was dangerous - where was the sign?"

[Skyryder]

as an ex-mountain biker, and also someone who likes hiking, i get a bit fucked off with inconsiderate mother fucking scum sucking pus filled anal sore infected rectum felching homo licking dog humping shit arse horse gobbling honda riders who tear up tracks designated for other pursuits.

And as for doc, why were there no signs? do you take them down when you do "remedial work" or were there none in the first place? brains don't grow on trees so stop spending all day hugging them you dumb arse foliage fornicating mutter mutter mutter mutter.........

Love that first sentance. A man who know how to use the English language to its fullest.


Doc tends to show some common sense by reducing sign pollution. Nothing worse that top see signs plastered all over the place. Might be the reason.

Skyryder

[Winston001]

Nothing worse that top see signs plastered all over the place.

Skyryder

Say wha? Err..what are "top see signs"? Is this something new? :wacko:

[Winston001]

I agree with you, but the reporter should talk to perhaps an offroading club or just any offroad biker to ask their perspective.
The story presents bikers as Evil evil idiots, and another offroader saying "Yeah, some idiots spoil it for everyone, we are sorry." would have made bikers seem not so bad.
It's just lazy press-release journalism, no attempt made to talk to anyone except Bill Wheeler.

And for the reasons you give, responsible motorcyclists need to get alongside journalists and bring them into the fold. Journalists will only ring someone they know in this type of situation - otherwise it simply won't occur to them there is another point of view.

Mind you in this case there isn't another valid view. Idiots on trailbikes piss us all off when this sort of thing happens.