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This Dirt Bike section of the MCC website forms part of the FUEL (Forest Users Education Liaison) project funded by a grant from the NSW Environmental Trust
Increasing development and the exclusion of dirt bike riders from areas around the state's major population centres has left riders with very few areas to ride. This is resulting in increasing illegal, irresponsible and inconsiderate use of dirt bikes in semi-rural and urban areas and riders venturing into more rugged and remote terrain.
This leads to:
- greater disturbance to the wider community
- increased conflict with other land users and enforcement agencies
- danger to riders, others land users and those who treat and evacuate them
- conflict between neighbours in semi-rural communities
- environmental damage
- a poor public perception of all dirt bike riders
Enforcement as a sole means of managing the above issues is doomed to failure and only exacerbates the problems. Riders, government, land managers and the dirt bike industry need to work cooperatively to overcome the problems.
What riders can do:
- be considerate of other land users, neighbours, etc
- understand and obey the laws governing riding dirt bikes on public and private land
- act and ride in ways that minimise disturbance to others
- ride in areas and ways that minimise impact on the environment
- wash bikes, gear, trailers etc after each ride/trip to minimise transfer of weeds and disease
- wear appropriate clothing and protective gear
- participate in government planning processes via public submissions
What Government agencies and land managers can/are obliged to do:
- accept that their policy decisions have helped create the problems
- provide adequate areas for the legal and legitimate use of dirt bikes
- maintain sustainable tracks, trails and riding areas for both registerable and non-registerable bikes
- consult with rider groups
- develop consistent signposting for tracks and trails on public lands
- install signs warning against illegal dirt bike use where appropriate
- put education ahead of stringent enforcement
- provide safe environments for children to ride mini-bikes
What the dirt bike industry (importers, dealers, magazines, etc) can do:
- educate riders regarding where bikes can and cannot be ridden legally
- encourage responsible riding and consideration of others
- educate riders regarding protective riding gear
- discourage the use of poor quality 'toy' mini-bikes