Brisbane, Australia — With local council elections imminent, the Brisbane Off-Road Riders Alliance (BORRA) has brought to light the community's call for enhanced mountain biking infrastructure. The narrative weaving through decades of conversation around Brisbane's trails is one of missed opportunities and the need for collaborative, informed approaches to off-road cycling.
Read MoreOn Monday 29 January, we sent a letter to each of Lord Mayoral candidates in Brisbane - Adrian Schrinner LNP, Tracy Price ALP, Jonathan Sriranganathan Greens, asking them how they will progress mountain biking in Brisbane. When we’ve got responses from all three, we’ll share with you.
Read MoreWe asked Councillor Tracy Davis, Chair of council's EPS committee to detail the investment in mountain biking in previous years and what we can expect in the future. The response was predictably dodgy.
Read MoreIn 2021, BCC’s Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said, ‘we are not locking up our natural areas’ but actions since then show that they are doing exactly that. By restricting the formal growth of the trails and allowing an anti-bike culture to grow inside, BCC is snoozing the life out of mountain biking in Brisbane
Read MoreA member of the anti-bike group MCPA asked me how encouraging mountain biking in a city like Brisbane could lead to positive environmental outcomes. This is my answer…
Read MoreMassive kudos to the team at Brisbane City Council who have worked so hard over the past 15 months to take the Mt Coot-tha Trailcare program from zero to the point where we see a well attended Ladies-only dig day and the culmination of a 2 day training course - on the hottest weekend we've seen in a very long time!
Read MoreLed by concerned locals from Chapel Hill and supported by Kenmore Cycle Club, RATS Cycling Club, Brookfield Riders, BUG West and BORRA., the Frogmouth Rally saw 38 riders braving the heat on Saturday morning. The riders were joined by trail runners from Brisbane Trail Runners (BTR). All members of the community raising awareness of how different user groups can get along in harmony on the trails in Area C of Mt Coot-tha.
Read MoreCycling enthusiasts from all walks of life and community interest groups including Brisbane Off-Road Riders Alliance (BORRA), Brisbane West BUG, Kenmore Cycle Club, RATS Cycling Club, Brookfield Riders, and others will come together for a community bike ride through Brisbane's iconic Mt Coot-tha reserve on Saturday 26th November.
Read MoreBORRA has finalised our submission to Council. We like the idea of linking Gap Creek and Gold Creek with a BLUE rated trail via Gillian’s Circuit. We also like the scope for improving the diversity of trails to encompass higher skilled riders. Converting more trails to one way also helps with higher use. We do not support the wholesale closure of Area C to mountain biking, and many elements of Area B in the draft are similarly not supported. There has been a reversal of the 2019 commitment to retain most of the unsanctioned trails – this is highly disappointing and we hope that the feedback council gets on this topic will lead to a reconsideration. The plan entirely misses the mark on Access Trails. There are many important reasons that Brisbane residents need to be able to Ride to the Ride, rather than drive and park. It is good to see some plans for trails on the Eastern side of Area A in the plan. However, the arbitrary line marking the South East border of Area A excludes a more gentle slope further east which would be perfect for an easy (GREEN) beginner descent and a more moderate climb to the trail head.
Read MoreBORRA has released a PDF and a video with guidelines on completing Council’s Mt Coot-tha MTB Concept Plan Feedback Survey, along with some pre-loved input for the survey if you are short on time. Have your say before the deadline (11:59 AM) this Sunday 30 October 2022!
Read MoreFeedback is due in two weeks, and we think that there are major opportunities to improve this concept. In this one page diagram, we see some good ideas in the west, but it shows removal of access to over 60% of the reserve by bike for most suburbs and closure of 75% of the informal trails we campaigned to save in 2019. Overall this is a huge backwards step after three years of waiting. Through our hard work in the recovery, the community has shown it's eagerness to work constructively with council, but this draft concept plan seems like a step in the wrong direction.
Read MoreGreat to see off-road cycling getting some air time in BCC's latest 'Living in Brisbane' newsletter (Page 6). Let's hope council stick to their action plan and fund implementation this year. BORRA calls on BCC to expedite planning so building can deliver for the community in the 22/23 financial year.
Read MoreTrailcare at Mt Coot-tha is back! A lot of eager volunteers have been asking for this for a long time, so let's get behind BCC and make it a huge success! Register now and be part of the solution.
Read MoreSeven weeks after the closure of the MTB trail network at Mt Coot-tha, the land manager, Brisbane City Council, has announced that they have assessed the damage caused by recent weather and are prioritising repair works. One trail has been identified for works today. The council advised today that “remediation works on Rocket Frog Trail will commence from 26 April 2022, weather and site conditions permitting. “
Read MoreFive weeks after the floods, there is finally some movement towards re-opening the trail network at Mt Coot-tha/Gap Creek. Council will open expressions of interest soon (not sure when), with the aim to have a volunteer workforce stood up and working on trail remediation after the school holidays.
Read MoreThe only single track network available to mountain bikers in the City of Brisbane has now been closed for a month. Brisbane City Council closed the network on 25 February citing heavy rainfall, and noting the ‘single track network will remain closed until weather has allowed the trails to dry out sufficiently. Walking tracks are not impacted by this temporarily closure’.
Read MoreGet along to the Flood Repair Working Bee by Northside Trail Care
Read MoreBORRA is excited to announce an off-road riding advocacy alliance with Bicycle Queensland (BQ). Our visions are strongly aligned with ‘more people riding more often’. We are looking forward to making Brisbane a better place to ride a bike off road!
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