Bicycles in our Parks
Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 2:15 pm
A recent post on the ... Forum, and I quote:
Dear All,
I have read some of the inputs and would like to reflect my personal views on this, which are not necessarily those of SANParks. All the years there have been the rules and regulations trying to manage peoples behaviour in the parks and camps - no balls, no bicycles, no playing, no games, etc. I believe we have moved on and need to a more tolerant service provider, especially for children, who are future decision-makers and park visitors. What do we currently offer children? Nothing, at all, just all these rules! I believe we should relook the rules and provide better facilities for people to be able ti cycle, for example a cycling route in or adjacent to camps. I agree there should be control and bicycles should not be on the busier routes in camps where there is a safety risk and neither should kids be allowed to irritate guests in campsites, etc. As with everything there is a responsibility on cyclists (and parents of young cyclists) to behave responsibly. We need dedicated areas for kids to play, to be able to skateboard and be able to cycle. Any views on my suggestion?
Thank you.
JOEP (joep.stevens@sanparks.org)
_________________
General Manager: Tourism Operations'
I realise that this has been composed as Mr Stevens' personal view, but please note his designation at the bottom of his post.
My concerns are as follows:
'which are not necessarily those of SANParks.'
This in itself worries me. If this was not on the table somehow, somewhere, the correct sentence structure would have been 'which are not those of SANParks'.
Is this another 'tenderising' process of what is to follow, i.e. a Tour de Fence for all in camps/around all hotels? Is this a manner of paving the way, so to speak? Spoiling it for all those who seek out our National Parks as holiday destinations for the sake of serenity, tranquillity, peace, and to become 'one with nature'? Again, seemingly the tourists and their selfish enjoyment are the primary objective, and "Custos Naturae" secondary, as was originally and should be intended?
Am I perhaps wrong to think that it is clear which way Mr Stevens' vote will go if this issue is raised in a decisive meeting of some sort?
Am I perhaps wrong to think that Mr Stevens' wants to do away with the rule book (without which not one society can prevail. And further, after all we have witnessed in the Parks re unruly behaviour or visitors, does Mr Stevens really think that ultimately the responsibility can lie with tourists to behave responsibly?), and perhaps in more than one respect.
Am I perhaps wrong to think that there will be some sort of Disneyland development in camps/around hotels in the near future? Seeing that the 'poor children' of this generation need/require/demand alternative entertainment to become the custodians of the future?
Is our human footprint not big enough already? Have we not turned our backs on conservation enough already? Do we need to leave bicycle footprints in our parks too? Pave more, develop more, commercialise more, preserve and conserve less? What would the effect be on the unseen insects etc if bicycles become the trend in camps/around the hotels. What are the scientific views of ornithologists, entomologists and other scientists re constant bicycle and skateboard traffic and what else coupled with the existing footprint and traffic?
Dear All,
I have read some of the inputs and would like to reflect my personal views on this, which are not necessarily those of SANParks. All the years there have been the rules and regulations trying to manage peoples behaviour in the parks and camps - no balls, no bicycles, no playing, no games, etc. I believe we have moved on and need to a more tolerant service provider, especially for children, who are future decision-makers and park visitors. What do we currently offer children? Nothing, at all, just all these rules! I believe we should relook the rules and provide better facilities for people to be able ti cycle, for example a cycling route in or adjacent to camps. I agree there should be control and bicycles should not be on the busier routes in camps where there is a safety risk and neither should kids be allowed to irritate guests in campsites, etc. As with everything there is a responsibility on cyclists (and parents of young cyclists) to behave responsibly. We need dedicated areas for kids to play, to be able to skateboard and be able to cycle. Any views on my suggestion?
Thank you.
JOEP (joep.stevens@sanparks.org)
_________________
General Manager: Tourism Operations'
I realise that this has been composed as Mr Stevens' personal view, but please note his designation at the bottom of his post.
My concerns are as follows:
'which are not necessarily those of SANParks.'
This in itself worries me. If this was not on the table somehow, somewhere, the correct sentence structure would have been 'which are not those of SANParks'.
Is this another 'tenderising' process of what is to follow, i.e. a Tour de Fence for all in camps/around all hotels? Is this a manner of paving the way, so to speak? Spoiling it for all those who seek out our National Parks as holiday destinations for the sake of serenity, tranquillity, peace, and to become 'one with nature'? Again, seemingly the tourists and their selfish enjoyment are the primary objective, and "Custos Naturae" secondary, as was originally and should be intended?
Am I perhaps wrong to think that it is clear which way Mr Stevens' vote will go if this issue is raised in a decisive meeting of some sort?
Am I perhaps wrong to think that Mr Stevens' wants to do away with the rule book (without which not one society can prevail. And further, after all we have witnessed in the Parks re unruly behaviour or visitors, does Mr Stevens really think that ultimately the responsibility can lie with tourists to behave responsibly?), and perhaps in more than one respect.
Am I perhaps wrong to think that there will be some sort of Disneyland development in camps/around hotels in the near future? Seeing that the 'poor children' of this generation need/require/demand alternative entertainment to become the custodians of the future?
Is our human footprint not big enough already? Have we not turned our backs on conservation enough already? Do we need to leave bicycle footprints in our parks too? Pave more, develop more, commercialise more, preserve and conserve less? What would the effect be on the unseen insects etc if bicycles become the trend in camps/around the hotels. What are the scientific views of ornithologists, entomologists and other scientists re constant bicycle and skateboard traffic and what else coupled with the existing footprint and traffic?