Mountain Biker Pushing Back on Bike Ban

# Australian mountain biker publicly vows to defy trail ban and poses for newspaper photo, demonstrating exactly how NOT to advocate for trail access.

By Jeff Barber
February 18, 2010 Last Updated: May 6, 2026

8 comments

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photo: ANNIKA ENDERBORG, Manly Daily.

Here’s an example of what not to do if you want increased mountain bike trail access: get quoted in the local paper saying you’ll continue to ride trails closed to bikes. As if that’s not enough, get a photo of yourself inserted in the article so officials can ID you on the trail. That’s just what Australian Aaron Dunford has done and we’re anxious to see the results.

I suppose things are a bit different down under but here in the US, Dunford would probably be attacked by hikers first then cited for trespassing by local law enforcement. IMBA would issue a press release saying Dunford doesn’t represent mountain bikers everywhere (if they haven’t already) while going into major damage control mode. And this guy appears to work for a bike company!

We’re all for trail advocacy and standing up for our rights as mountain bikers but honestly there are a million better ways to do so. Gandhi demonstrated the power of the “sit -in” so why not organize mountain bikers to suit up and take a seat on the trail one weekend? Demonstrating the number of mountain bikers who want trail access while playing by the rules works more often than you might think…

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8 Comments

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Suvacrew California // 2008
Feb 19, 2010

Down Under we call this being a "Tall Poppy" sometimes it works...other times......they get cut down.
Aussies (which I'm genetically coded to dislike being a Kiwi) are pretty quiet and low key until something like this occurs. Talk about a nation of outdoors lovers whom believe that it's all of ours to enjoy. Too bad they can't use the same tact for the stolen generation.

0 reply

TomG12 2009
Feb 18, 2010

I say F-THE MAN. Then I run like a girl in the other direction.

Greg Heil Colorado // 2008
Feb 22, 2010

Read the article, and wow, definitely a crazy whirlwind of trail controversy down under. If MTBers in the US could take stand and fight like that (in the right way), what could we accomplish? Much more than just 220 emails, that's for sure!

Greg Heil Colorado // 2008
Feb 18, 2010

This is ridiculous and plain embarrassing.

raintonr 2008
Mar 7, 2010

What all the judgmental writers have to remember here is that the authorities in Australia are very much behind the times. There is no consistency between regions in the same organisation (NPWS service for example) and no consistency between council areas (who also run some parks and other riding areas). Whether you have access to local single track very much depends on the mood of local management and not overall authority policies or plans. It's very annoying to say the least.

Before having a go, posters should familiarise themselves with the local situation.

I've been working hard on advocacy in that region (the Northern Beaches) for over 2 years and in that time have become incredibly frustrated with how things work (or don't!). Is it any wonder that some people cannot contain that feeling and go out to make a point.

For the record, this trail was re-opened to riders on Feb 26 (decision made Feb 23) after incredibly public pressure. If this rider's actions helped bring the issue to light then, although maybe ill-advised they helped get the job done.

There was much discussion on the NoBMoB website about this, see:

http://nobmob.com/node/13024

trek7k
Feb 19, 2010

Wow. I hesitate to post this but it appears the bike ban in Manly may be reversed:
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/council-backpedals-on-bush-ban/

Not only that, the mayor is pushing to ban hikers and make the trails "bike only." But wait, it gets even crazier. Local bikers are actually upset about the news because they feel like it's hypocritical to make a trail single use, even if it is open to bikes. Crazy Aussies!

Edit: I should note it appears it was the deluge of emails and letters the city council received that provoked the abrupt change of policy and NOT the guy who decided to ignore the ban.

Dustin Gaddis South Carolina // 2007
Feb 18, 2010

Yeah, what DBag.

I really like the sit-in idea by the way.

typedmillepede 2010
Feb 23, 2010

i'd agree this isn't the way to be going about getting the trail back, but the situation is similarly outrageous. from what i can work out, the trail has been used for the past 12 years or so without any major accident at all. it is also one of the only legal spots to ride single track in sydney, certainly the only circuit. i've ridden the trail on multiple occasions, and to date the only people i've seen on the trail are other bike riders. so to ban this trail on safety concerns seems a bit short sighted to me and a fairly typical knee jerk reaction of most levels of government in australia...
so the uproar is fairly justified considering its the only riding location within an hour of most people in sydney, the roar just needs to be channeled properly :P

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