Trouble on the Trails

Complaints of poor behaviour have specifically highlighted riders’ failure to use their bells to warn pedestrians of their approach. It has further been alleged that some riders go so far as to remove the bells from their bikes which is illegal in NSW.

“Our shared paths and trails allow residents and visitors alike to enjoy the natural beauty of our region,” said Mayor Peter Beer, Snowy Monaro Regional Council. “We all need to be aware of our responsibilities and treat the trail, and each other, with respect.”

As numbers of both riders and pedestrians increase substantially during the busy summer period, especially around Jindabyne and the region’s many hiking and biking trails, it is crucially important that riders and walkers are aware of their responsibilities.

Transport for NSW shared trail rules are simple and reflect common sense, but complaints about rider behaviour are still quite common. Cyclists must:

•keep to the left •give way to pedestrians •slow down and stop if necessary •use their bell to alert people on foot to their presence.

“It’s a shame that some riders are doing the wrong thing so we encourage everyone to be considerate of others and reacquaint themselves with the rules,” said Mayor Beer.

Council advises that links to both the state government rules and the International Mountain Bike Foundation’s trail etiquette guidelines will be available through their social media pages.

Obeying the state government rules about shared paths is a legal requirement in New South Wales.