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Abstract:
In the past years a lot of 'new kinds of sport' were discovered as a form of outdoor recreation. Today the traditional walker has to share the tracks with a lot of other user groups. At present shared tracks often lead to conflicts between the 'old' and the 'new' user groups. One of the 'new' groups is the Mountain Bike (MTB) group.
Mountain biking seems to be the new wave sport of the nineties, but it all started in the early to mid 1970's with a few enthusiasts in the US. It became established internationally in the early 1980's. Mountain bikes began to appear in New Zealand from the mid 1980's, and since then are growing in popularity among all ages and genders.
The popularity of the MTB is now changing the recreational patterns of the traditional outdoor user groups. A discernible number of people who have traditionally been walkers/trampers have now often changed their outdoor recreation use from walking to biking. This new type of track use seems to create conflicts in a social and physical way, and it appears that there are some problems between walkers/trampers and mountain bikers.
To get all these information different questionnaires were designed, adequate for every user group.
Table of Contents:
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TABLE OF CONTENTS |
I
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TABLE CONTENTS |
III
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DIAGRAM CONTENTS |
V
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PICTURE CONTENTS |
V
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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS |
VI
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CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION |
2
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| 1.1 |
Introduction - Survey Background |
3
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| 1.2 |
Survey Objectives |
4
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| 1.3 |
The Scope Of This Paper |
4
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CHAPTER TWO: NEW ZEALAND |
6
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| 2.1 |
Facts About The Country |
7
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| 2.1.1 |
Introduction |
7
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| 2.1.2 |
Geography And Geology |
7
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| 2.1.2.1 |
Position |
7
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| 2.1.2.2 |
Geology |
8
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| 2.1.3 |
Climate |
10
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| 2.2 |
Flora & Fauna |
11
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| 2.2.1 |
Introduction |
11
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| 2.2.2 |
Flora |
11
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| 2.2.3 |
Fauna |
13
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| 2.3 |
History And Politics |
14
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| 2.3.1 |
History |
14
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| 2.3.2 |
Modern New Zealand |
15
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| 2.3.2.1 |
Politics |
15
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| 2.3.2.2 |
Economy |
16
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| 2.3.2.3 |
Tourism |
17
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CHAPTER THREE: THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS |
18
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| 3.1 |
Introduction |
19
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| 3.2 |
Geography And Geology |
20
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| 3.2.1 |
Position |
20
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| 3.2.2 |
Geology |
20
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| 3.3 |
Climate |
21
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| 3.4 |
Flora & Fauna |
21
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| 3.4.1 |
Flora |
21
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| 3.4.2 |
Fauna |
23
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| 3.5 |
History |
24
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CHAPTER FOUR: BACKGROUND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION (DOC) AND MOUNTAIN BIKES (MTBS) |
25
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| 4.1 |
Department Of Conservation (DOC) |
26
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| 4.1.1 |
The Role Of DOC - History And Structure |
26
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| 4.1.2 |
Doc And MTBs |
28
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| 4.1.3 |
Statutes For The Management Of MTBs |
29
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| 4.2 |
An Introduction To Mountain Biking |
31
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| 4.2.1 |
History |
31
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| 4.2.2 |
MTB In New Zealand - A Growing Sport |
31
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| 4.2.3 |
Impacts And Conflicts |
32
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| 4.2.3.1 |
Physical Impacts |
33
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| 4.2.3.2 |
Disturbance Of Animals |
38
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| 4.2.3.3 |
Social Impacts And Safety Hazards |
39
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CHAPTER FIVE: THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE TRACK (QCT) |
41
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| 5.1 |
Introduction |
42
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| 5.1.1 |
Position |
42
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| 5.1.2 |
Climate |
42
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| 5.1.3 |
Flora & Fauna |
43
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| 5.1.4 |
History |
45
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| 5.1.5 |
Classification Of The Track |
47
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| 5.1.6 |
Track Description |
47
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| 5.1.6.1 |
On The Move |
47
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| 5.1.6.2 |
Features Of The QCT |
47
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| 5.1.7 |
User Groups |
49
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| 5.1.8 |
Amount Of Use |
49
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| 5.2 |
MTBs On The Queen Charlotte Track |
49
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CHAPTER SIX: SURVEY METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS |
51
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| 6.1 |
Survey Background And Visitor Statistics |
52
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| 6.1.1 |
Survey Objectives |
52
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| 6.1.2 |
Survey Design |
53
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| 6.1.3 |
Survey Procedure |
53
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| 6.2 |
A Comparison - Survey 1994/95 And 1998 |
54
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| 6.3 |
Results Of The Walkers Overnight Questionnaire |
56
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| 6.3.1 |
Introduction |
57
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| 6.3.2 |
Demographic Information |
57
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| 6.3.3 |
Trip Satisfaction |
58
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| 6.3.4 |
Walker Perception And Opinion Towards MTB Use |
60
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| 6.3.5 |
Track Movement Patterns And Use |
63
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| 6.3.6 |
Comments |
64
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| 6.3.7 |
Summary |
64
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| 6.4 |
Results Of The Ship Cove To Punga Cove Section Questionnaires |
66
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| 6.4.1 |
Introduction |
67
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| 6.4.2 |
Demographic Information And Trip Description |
67
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| 6.4.3 |
Trip Satisfaction |
70
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| 6.4.4 |
Opinions About MTBs Using The Track |
70
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| 6.4.5 |
Common Opinions About Mountain Biking |
72
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| 6.4.6 |
Additional Comments Made Regarding MTBs |
77
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| 6.4.7 |
Summary |
77
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| 6.5 |
Results Of The MTB Questionnaire |
80
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| 6.5.1 |
Introduction |
81
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| 6.5.2 |
Demographic Information |
81
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| 6.5.3 |
Track Movement Patterns And Use |
83
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| 6.5.4 |
Trip Satisfaction |
85
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| 6.5.5 |
Rider Opinion About The Track |
87
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| 6.5.6 |
General Opinions Towards Track Use And Walker Conflicts |
88
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| 6.5.7 |
Comments |
91
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| 6.5.8 |
Summary |
92
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Chapter Seven: Conclusions And Recommendations |
94
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| 7.1 |
Introduction |
95
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| 7.1.1 |
Management Examples From Other Areas |
95
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| 7.1.2 |
Perceived Needs Of Mountain Bikers |
96
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| 7.1.3 |
Social Conflicts In General |
97
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| 7.2 |
Summary Of The Results From The QCT Survey |
97
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| 7.2.1 |
Some General Conclusions |
97
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| 7.2.2 |
Demographic Summary |
98
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| 7.2.3 |
Summary Of Track Movement Patterns And Use |
99
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| 7.2.4 |
Summary Of Walker Perceptions And Opinions Towards MTB Use |
99
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| 7.2.5 |
Summary Of MTB Rider Preferences |
100
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| 7.2.6 |
Dissatisfaction With Facilities And Track Structures |
100
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| 7.3 |
Recommendations For The QCT Management |
101
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| 7.3.1 |
Track Management Improvements |
101
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| 7.3.2 |
Control Of Visitor Numbers |
103
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| 7.3.2.1 |
Monitoring Of Visitor Numbers |
103
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| 7.4 |
Recommendations For MTB Management |
104
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| 7.4.1 |
Social Impacts |
104
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| 7.4.1.1 |
Management Examples To Avoid Conflicts |
106
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| 7.4.2 |
Physical Impacts |
107
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| 7.4.2.1 |
Track Maintenance Examples |
108
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| 7.4.3 |
DOC And MTBs |
112
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| 7.4.4 |
The Use Of Information |
113
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| 7.5 |
Concluding Remark |
114
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REFERENCES |
115 |
