I remember you saying this and this weekend has just proven you're point. I know the majority of walkers aren't like this and have friends who bike or just see it as another great activity just one they don't wish to pursue.
In fairness I think Mountain Bikers get a harsh deal sometimes. As a Hiker myself I notice hikers can be kind of anti-mountain biking: giving off about erosion and the like: despite the fact the biggest blight on the hillsides is definately inconsiderate hikers, usually in the form of yee-ha's who drop litter everywhere, break down half the forest to set fires and leave their tents because they can't be bothered packing up. Just my two cents 
The Redbull Foxhunt which happened at the weekend was highly protested by Cavehill Conservation Group. Redbull brought in their own Environmental Scientists to find out what the issues where. There wasn’t any issues with plants or trees the issue was "They just didn’t want Mountain biking on their hill" The council FULLY backed the event and the organisers had upgraded many of the trails with gravel and stone crossings at rivers, Piped under the crossings. Strimmed the grass around the paths (Something the council don’t do on this particular trail) There was bike washes set up to clean all bikes before leaving the park. No one was allowed to start or leave without washing the bikes. Prevent any cross contamination from other forests etc reduce the risk of tree disease spreading. This was all in the contract. Also they had promised to fix up any issues after the event. Turning mats where laid on the grass for the tractors to eradicate any mess. All of this was improving the already eroded trail from many years of walkers and bikers. Some of the walkers I spoke to said it was about time someone done something about the mess of the trails. They were glad to see the improvements. I don’t see why the Conservation Group had issues when things were being improved and upgraded.
During the event some members of the group hung about all day (Which they had every right to do) What they didn’t have to do was pester the marshals, walk on the track to try to disrupt the event. The event was professionally run with a world class sponsor, World Champion Rider and the eyes of the world on the Pictures and Videos that followed.
The most ALARMING thing that did happen was on Saturday night. When the marshals finished and where leaving the Mountain someone decided to sabotage the track. A witness seen a member of the public rip up a small bridge that was in place for the event and throw it into the trees. Rocks and logs where pulled across the track. Gee Atherton Former world Champion was doing a bit of filming and was on his way back down the track. The actions of this/these mindless idiots could have seriously injured or worse. I cannot imagine the thoughts behind someone that would do such a thing. For the sake of two days out of the year. The Cavehill area was still open to walkers and only one trail out of a multitude of trails was effected for part of the two days.
BBC Newsline had a story about how this event had come here to cause disruption and effect the area. A member of the group spoke about how they where going to the council to complain about it. Almost implying that the event had not been sanctioned by the council. The Council FULLY backed the event and it had to go through two meetings and a final vote to be passed. BBC Newsline didn’t mention the fact that it had been sanctioned or that a major sponsor and a world champion had come to the area for this event, Tourism and revenue boosted for a weekend. The report painted the event and mountain bikers in general in a terrible light. Something positive comes here and the videos, stories and pictures are showing the world what a great place we have here. Yet one group who want the hill to themselves get the Local Headlines.
I just wanted to share the full story and its not because I was in the event and a Mountain Biker. This probably seems trivial to most but it's just some of the negitives we face doing a sport we love.
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Topic: Biking effects- Research (Read 10964 times)