I am the Spokesperson for a newly formed mountainbike political action group called Underground Trailblazers (UTB).
UTB require that Auckland City meet its longstanding obligations to provide a variety of purpose built off-road urban recreation opportunities for the Mountainbiking Community. Until these alternatives are in place we undertake to continue building ad hoc trails in underutilised areas of urban open space.
Auckland City has the unenviable claim of having a Mountainbike Policy with zero purpose-built trails to their name. This is a longstanding grievance held by the Auckland Mountainbike Community from my perspective of having been personally involved in this campaign for urban trails since 1999. Some progress has been made, under the auspices of the Auckland Mountainbike Club, albeit mostly talk and very little action.
The Hobson Community Board even saw fit to bestow on me a ‘Good Citizen Community Service Award’ for my efforts. Unfortunately being a ‘good citizen’ and following proper process for seven years didn’t get us any trails. We believe it is now time to take direct protest action as Councils seem to work best in a reactive rather than proactive environment e.g. the skateboard community and its numerous facilities.
Do we have a mandate for 'direct political action', in Auckland, from the Mountainbike Community?
Peter Stoneham
Underground Trailblazers Spokesperson
“People are participating in an ever-expanding range of activities, usually in a casual, unstructured fashion. Requisitions from organised sports for grounds, courts and arenas will still be received, but they have been joined by the demands of those whose penchant is for easy going, spur-of-the-moment leisure.” (G Bush, Local Government and Politics in New Zealand, Auckland University Press, Auckland, 1995, p 156.)
P.S. We have vinyl bumper stickers of our logo (see attachment) to give away in exchange for your email address/ membership (free or koha). If you would like one fresh off the press - we havent even taken delivery of them yet - please send a stamped and addressed envelope to;
Underground Trailblazers
c/- Virtualight Ltd
Private Bag MBE M150, Auckland