Mountain Bike Use on Shared Tracks

Diplomarbeit von Claudia Kling

Abstract:

In the past years a lot of ‘new kinds of sport’ were discovered as a form of outdoor recreation. Today the traditional walker has to share the tracks with a lot of other user groups. At present shared tracks often lead to conflicts between the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ user groups. One of the ‘new’ groups is the Mountain Bike (MTB) group.

Mountain biking seems to be the new wave sport of the nineties, but it all started in the early to mid 1970’s with a few enthusiasts in the US. It became established internationally in the early 1980’s. Mountain bikes began to appear in New Zealand from the mid 1980’s, and since then are growing in popularity among all ages and genders.

The popularity of the MTB is now changing the recreational patterns of the traditional outdoor user groups. A discernible number of people who have traditionally been walkers/trampers have now often changed their outdoor recreation use from walking to biking. This new type of track use seems to create conflicts in a social and physical way, and it appears that there are some problems between walkers/trampers and mountain bikers.

To get all these information different questionnaires were designed, adequate for every user group.

Table of Contents:

	TABLE OF CONTENTS	I
	TABLE CONTENTS	III
	DIAGRAM CONTENTS	V
	PICTURE CONTENTS	V
	LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS	VI
	CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION	2
1.1	Introduction - Survey Background	3
1.2	Survey Objectives	4
1.3	The Scope Of This Paper	4
	CHAPTER TWO: NEW ZEALAND	6
2.1	Facts About The Country	7
2.1.1	Introduction	7
2.1.2	Geography And Geology	7
2.1.2.1	Position	7
2.1.2.2	Geology	8
2.1.3	Climate	10
2.2	Flora & Fauna	11
2.2.1	Introduction	11
2.2.2	Flora	11
2.2.3	Fauna	13
2.3	History And Politics	14
2.3.1	History	14
2.3.2	Modern New Zealand	15
2.3.2.1	Politics	15
2.3.2.2	Economy	16
2.3.2.3	Tourism	17
	CHAPTER THREE: THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS	18
3.1	Introduction	19
3.2	Geography And Geology	20
3.2.1	Position	20
3.2.2	Geology	20
3.3	Climate	21
3.4	Flora & Fauna	21
3.4.1	Flora	21
3.4.2	Fauna	23
3.5	History	24
	CHAPTER FOUR: BACKGROUND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION (DOC) AND MOUNTAIN BIKES (MTBS)	25
4.1	Department Of Conservation (DOC)	26
4.1.1	The Role Of DOC - History And Structure	26
4.1.2	Doc And MTBs	28
4.1.3	Statutes For The Management Of MTBs	29
4.2	An Introduction To Mountain Biking	31
4.2.1	History	31
4.2.2	MTB In New Zealand - A Growing Sport	31
4.2.3	Impacts And Conflicts	32
4.2.3.1	Physical Impacts	33
4.2.3.2	Disturbance Of Animals	38
4.2.3.3	Social Impacts And Safety Hazards	39
	CHAPTER FIVE: THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE TRACK (QCT)	41
5.1	Introduction	42
5.1.1	Position	42
5.1.2	Climate	42
5.1.3	Flora & Fauna	43
5.1.4	History	45
5.1.5	Classification Of The Track	47
5.1.6	Track Description	47
5.1.6.1	On The Move	47
5.1.6.2	Features Of The QCT	47
5.1.7	User Groups	49
5.1.8	Amount Of Use	49
5.2	MTBs On The Queen Charlotte Track	49
	CHAPTER SIX: SURVEY METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS	51
6.1	Survey Background And Visitor Statistics	52
6.1.1	Survey Objectives	52
6.1.2	Survey Design	53
6.1.3	Survey Procedure	53
6.2	A Comparison - Survey 1994/95 And 1998	54
6.3	Results Of The Walkers Overnight Questionnaire	56
6.3.1	Introduction	57
6.3.2	Demographic Information	57
6.3.3	Trip Satisfaction	58
6.3.4	Walker Perception And Opinion Towards MTB Use	60
6.3.5	Track Movement Patterns And Use	63
6.3.6	Comments	64
6.3.7	Summary	64
6.4	Results Of The Ship Cove To Punga Cove Section Questionnaires	66
6.4.1	Introduction	67
6.4.2	Demographic Information And Trip Description	67
6.4.3	Trip Satisfaction	70
6.4.4	Opinions About MTBs Using The Track	70
6.4.5	Common Opinions About Mountain Biking	72
6.4.6	Additional Comments Made Regarding MTBs	77
6.4.7	Summary	77
6.5	Results Of The MTB Questionnaire	80
6.5.1	Introduction	81
6.5.2	Demographic Information	81
6.5.3	Track Movement Patterns And Use	83
6.5.4	Trip Satisfaction	85
6.5.5	Rider Opinion About The Track	87
6.5.6	General Opinions Towards Track Use And Walker Conflicts	88
6.5.7	Comments	91
6.5.8	Summary	92
	Chapter Seven: Conclusions And Recommendations	94
7.1	Introduction	95
7.1.1	Management Examples From Other Areas	95
7.1.2	Perceived Needs Of Mountain Bikers	96
7.1.3	Social Conflicts In General	97
7.2	Summary Of The Results From The QCT Survey	97
7.2.1	Some General Conclusions	97
7.2.2	Demographic Summary	98
7.2.3	Summary Of Track Movement Patterns And Use	99
7.2.4	Summary Of Walker Perceptions And Opinions Towards MTB Use	99
7.2.5	Summary Of MTB Rider Preferences	100
7.2.6	Dissatisfaction With Facilities And Track Structures	100
7.3	Recommendations For The QCT Management	101
7.3.1	Track Management Improvements	101
7.3.2	Control Of Visitor Numbers	103
7.3.2.1	Monitoring Of Visitor Numbers	103
7.4	Recommendations For MTB Management	104
7.4.1	Social Impacts	104
7.4.1.1	Management Examples To Avoid Conflicts	106
7.4.2	Physical Impacts	107
7.4.2.1	Track Maintenance Examples	108
7.4.3	DOC And MTBs	112
7.4.4	The Use Of Information	113
7.5	Concluding Remark	114
	REFERENCES	115