Mountain bikes problem for national park

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 241, 3 May 1988, Page 46 (Supplement)

Mountain bikes problem for national park

By Susannah Walker Riding of mountain bikes in Tongariro National Park may need to be banned or restricted. A National Park interpreter based at Whakapapa, Mr Simon Noble, says the Department of Conservation may have to take such measures because of the increased popularity of the bikes since they became readily available in New Zealand about two years ago. The mountain bike is a robust version of the 10-

speed and is suited to riding on rugged terrain. Mr Noble says there is no one group who regularly use mountain bikes in the national park. But people touring New Zealand on the bikes often stop-off in the vicinity of Mangatepopo Hut, which is at the foot of Mt Ngauruhoe. A few of these ride along tracks and he says this can cause erosion, plant damage and an infringement on the enjoyment of others using the park. At present, only one or two people a month are

riding along the tracks as far as he knows. The National Parks Act makes the use of enginedriven vehicles illegal in such parks but push-bikes are not banned. However, Mr Noble says this need not prevent the Department of Conservation imposing a ban if the problem gets bigger. There are tracks in the Tongariro State Forest which mountain bike enthusiasts could use instead, he says. "But a national park is supposed to be a place where you visit on nature's terms."