Motorbikes and cyclists allowed in reserve
2010-06-10
FOLLOWING letters in the Paarl Post referring to motor-cyclists on Paarl Mountain, the Municipality would like to point out that the Road Traffic Act currently determines that only roadworthy licensed vehicles are allowed on public roads. Jan Phillips Mountain Drive is a public road and the Road Traffic Act thus applies. However, no off-road motor bikes/scramblers or quad bikes are allowed on Jan Phillips Mountain Drive or in any area within Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve. Only roadworthy licensed motor bikes are currently allowed on Jan Phillips and in the reserve, as long as they remain within the confines of the Road Traffic Act and municipal bylaws, for example within the 30 km/h speed limit and on the same roads that are accessible to motor vehicles. No motor bike is allowed on hiking trails or off -roads. Entrance and exit is only permitted through the (manned) entrance at the booms near Pienaars Camp. Any entrance or exit via existing management roads, hiking trails or other illegal tracks is strictly prohibited and pu-nishable by a fine. Motor bikes pay similar fees for entrance as visitors per vehicles do. Currently a network of roads and tracks exist on the mountain. Cyclists are permitted on the reserve, on existing jeep tracks (also accessible by car). No bicycles are allowed on hiking trails, mainly because of possible erosion on single tracks, damage to trails and sensitive habitats and possible interference and safety risk to hikers. Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve currently only caters for leisure cycling. There are currently no facilities for adventure cycling such as downhill biking or BMX ramps. The Afrikaans Language Monument is currently looking at earmarking areas for these activities on the land managed by themselves (and in areas degraded or where fynbos is absent) and persons interested in either of these adventure cycling activities can enter into discussion with the Afrikaans Language Monument. Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve does host special mountain-biking events on existing road networks. The main objective remains the sustainable management of the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve to preserve it as a natural, cultural and historical heritage asset for the community of the Drakenstein area. Drakenstein is obliged by law to regulate all activities within the confines of the reservice and exclude activities which may cause degradation to the environment. May Carolissen, spokesperson Drakenstein Municipality
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