IntroductIon The Mountain Biking Explosion The Current Situation

Transcription

1 the proposal

2 Introduction The Mountain Biking Explosion The exponential growth of recreational and sporting off road mountain bike riding is worldwide. Both cross country and Downhill Mountain Biking are established as Olympic events; the demand will continue to increase. Locally The Hong Kong Magazine for August carried an article on mountain biking in Hong Kong, which only further fuels demand. Companies recruiting expatriates cite mountain biking and refer candidates to the HKMBA website as evidence that Hong Kong is a cool city to live. And in the latest Action Asia magazine there are three separate articles about mountain biking. Mountain Biking is a growing sport across the world, the bicycle industry in 2008 in the USA is a $6 billion industry, including the retail value of bicycles, related parts, and accessories according to research funded by the USA National Sporting Goods Association. Ironically the majority of bicycles, components and accessories are manufactured in China, and in Taiwan and Japan. Hong Kong s bike shops are amongst the best in the world, when a new bike or component is manufactured it is usual to find it in a Hong Kong bike shop ahead of anywhere else. This is because most bikes and components are manufactured within the region and the Hong Kong bicycle enthusiast is one of the most discerning. Bicycle shops in other countries tend to carry minimum stock and will custom order depending on requests by individual customers; recently online retailers overseas have filled this void by offering huge catalogues and overnight delivery. The most famous and most well equipped of Hong Kong bike shops is Flying Ball. From their large premises in Cheung Sha Wan they sell over bikes per annum at about HK$15,000 average price with the top-end selling at over HK$60,000. Flying Ball s Mr Lee reports that approximately 10% are purchased by overseas visitors. There are at least 10 other substantial bicycle shops throughout Hong Kong with at least another 20 smaller retailers. It is estimated that each of the second tier bike shops sells half of the bikes as Flying Ball and the smaller shops selling perhaps 100 bikes each at the same average. That could make the total bicycle sales for Hong Kong at over HK$60 million per annum. When AFCD opened the current mountain bike trail network in 2002 there were half a dozen retail shops supplying mountain bikes and components; today we have 34 in Hong Kong, plus several more in Shenzhen and Macau. (see the list later) The Current Situation To meet this demand it is critical to expand the existing mountain bike trail network. The current designated mountain bike trails are insufficient and inadequate. They consist of old trails originally used by villages and animal tracks, which have been opened up in 2002 by the AFCD to meet the demand at the time for mountain biking trails. Since then the mountain biking community has grown from around 2,000 to over 12,000. Trails are overcrowded on weekend peak days, in places trails are too steep and consequently erode easily and are subject to frequent landslips, plus they are poorly maintained. In some cases they are extremely dangerous for beginners. With more and more riders hitting the trails each weekend there are increasing cases of riders going off on their own into the parks and creating new trails as they find innovative ways to have their sport. Unfortunately for mountain biking cycling in the country parks falls under the authority of the AFCD. Whilst AFCD is no doubt qualified to fulfil their other responsibilities in the area of recreational use of the country parks and providing a viable mountain biking network AFCD are not qualified and have fallen short of the standards set by other government departments. The concerns of the Hong Kong s mountain biking community are that AFCD fail to grasp the opportunity presented by mountain biking to expand recreational use of the country parks. AFCD appear to see their role through their own filters despite decades of lobbying and volunteer work by mountain bikers, AFCD give the impression of doing the minimum and hoping that mountain biking will go away. When AFCD do undertake a project they do it in their own vacuum of inexperience and create a wholly unworkable solution. Their recent work on the Ho Poi downhill course created a new section of the existing trail. The route of the new trail is far too steep and apart from the erosion this will facilitate the trail is dangerously fast and slippery. To combat this AFCD used nylon netting on the trail. This made the surface even more treacherous and resulted in several serious injuries, numerous complaints have been made. We understand they now intend to build a Beginners Course at the top of Route Twisk. AFCD are doing this in isolation, without consultation and have not taken advice from the HKMBA, who have qualified cycle instructors who run classes for children amongst their officers. AFCD s constant complaint is that hikers complain about Mountain Bikers, HKMBA would like to include these complaints in the education program we run with members; however AFCD refuse to provide details or numbers of complaints despite numerous requests from the HKMBA. Another concern AFCD express is that mountain biking damages the country side. On existing trails, which are not purpose built and too steep, this is true. However the damage created by biking is negligible compared to the damage inflicted by the heavy handed concreting of our country parks.

3 Concrete steps and railings, dumb-down the hiking trails and sanitise and urbanise Hong Kong s unique natural environment. There have been hundreds of complaints about this directly to AFCD and in the press from hikers and other park users and yet still the concreting continues. In other parts of the world mountain resorts cope maintain parks without using concrete. Many of these parks have to cope with massive water flows from the spring snow melting runoff. Correctly constructed trails using natural materials are re-built with topsoil that has washed down which is re-cycled from lower down where it runs off, to back up the mountain. AFCD s reliance on concrete actually exacerbates the soil erosion by channelling the water flow past the concrete like a river past bridge columns the running water is driven unnaturally along existing trails carving out the disturbed soil and leaving the concrete exposed and more prominent which in turn then channels the water runoff even more forcibly. This is particularly apparent on the Macelhose Trail near Eagles Nest, where the concrete steps stand a foot and half proud of the trail and the soil on each side is carved into huge gullies. Prior to the concreting this ancient trail existed for hundreds of years without the need for concrete. Though Hongkongers are not renowned for their adventurous spirit or for seeking extreme sports, the local mountain biking community is made up of a segment of the population who are attracted to the sport by its very nature of adventure and freedom. They are adventurous, risk seeking and not constrained by convention. This growing population of young adrenaline fuelled riders are justifiably frustrated by what they see as apathy by AFCD and a general lack of support from the government. They are flouting the existing regulations and riding all over the parks on unauthorised trails and carving out new trails on their own initiative. The Country Parks Authority responsible for enforcing the regulations are not equipped to police the parks, nor do they have the training not inclination to meet the demand. The AFCD wardens will occasionally respond to a senior directive to enforce the regulations in one specific area; and will place wardens on the trails in order to apprehend the mountain bikers. The AFCD wardens are the very antithesis of mountain bikers; they are civil servants, risk adverse, and conditioned to follow the rules. When confronted by AFCD wardens many riders will simply ignore the wardens and ride past them. There have been some confrontations, and these likely leave the AFCD wardens frustrated and probably traumatised. The wardens are not trained to handle such encounters and they are completely out of their depth. However, this serves as merely a momentary inconvenience for the mountain bikers and for some a source of much amusement. Increased patrols would only see the mountain bikers alerting each other by SMS and moving their riding that day to elsewhere in the huge parks. The parks authorities simply do not have the resources to maintain an effective enforcement of existing regulations. Evidence is seen in the recent illegal agricultural cultivation of several acres of forest in the Tai Lam Country Park adjacent to the Macelhose Trail. This incident has been well reported and although the site of this illegal activity on in a well patrolled concrete road, only a few kilometres from the AFCD centre, AFCD have failed to prevent this massive vandalism of the country park. It is no wonder they have even less impact on isolated groups of nimble mountain bikers riding on remote single track trails. Hong Kong s Unique Opportunity Hong Kong has the opportunity to promote and foster this cool outdoor activity and position Hong Kong with a competitive advantage that its neighbouring cities cannot match. Unique amongst other Asian gateway cities, Hong Kong has mountains within a few minutes of the central business district. Hong Kong has the potential to have the best mountain biking in the region, hosting World Cup events and positioning the city as the coolest place in Asia To meet the demand for more trails and to avoid the growing confrontation between the Country Park authority and the bikers the HKMBA proposed utilising trails that are currently overgrown or abandoned which are currently under utilised or completely inaccessible for hikers and other trail users. The Tourism Commission requested details of these trails and these are included in this report this request has inspired this visionary and ambitious report. Following the aforementioned meeting the HKMBA carried out a detailed reconnaissance of all the rideable areas in Hong Kong including the Tai Mo Shan area and the area between Shatin and Sai Kung. Several routes have been identified as potential mountain bike trails and these are detailed in this report and in the attached maps. A CROSS-COUNTRY MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL NETWORK PROPOSAL FOR TAI MO SHAN Project Aims - problems and solutions The need for mountain bike trails Trail Network Design Framework Intended purposes for trail network use TAI MO SHAN MARATHON TRAIL LIN FA SHAN OLYMPIC RACE CIRCUIT Comparative Models LOCAL MODELS INTERNATIONAL MODELS The recommendations of this report is in two sections: To Develop, in the short term, a network of cross country trails. To Develop Tai Mo Shan Mountain Resort Village

4 Project Aims problems and solutions Recommend the opening of alternative trails for the use of mountain bikes Alleviate the overcrowding of bikes on the currently limited number of legal bike trails Increase safety for hikers & bikers by improving and expanding the current trail network Increase the appeal of Hong Kong as a premier outdoor Asian tourist destination Despite optimal topography and an outstanding natural environment suited for the activity rivaling any other developed place in Asia - riders choosing to obey the law are limited to a handful of mostly-concrete routes that are among the least likely choices for designated mountain bike trails. Mountain bikers from foreign countries who have spent time here often compare the situation to what a skier might experience while living in Switzerland, and not being allowed to ski. The trail network that we are proposing aims to provide a healthy and environmentally-friendly activity for Hong Kong residents and visitors alike, including both leisure and business tourists, and would also be a major step towards the goal of producing top-level athletes to represent Hong Kong in the Olympics, the Asian Games, and other international events. Currently, the majority of trails frequently used by mountain bikers are not recognized by AFCD or the Lands Department. As a result, the majority of mountain bikers end up riding illegal trails and face fines, court appearances, and the disappointment of seeing trail fixtures - bridges, armored surfaces, and other trail improvements used for avoiding mud and preventing erosion - dismantled by officials. At the same time, these same trails are regularly converted into three-foot-wide concrete pavements by villagers and sometimes even park officials seeking to make the parks more accessible for people not accustomed to walking in the outdoors. The ruining of perfectly usable natural paths seems to extend from the fact that the majority of casual hikers in Hong Kong tend not to be interested in the same trails as mountain bikers, who much prefer flowing, undulating contour trails. Unfortunately, most hiking trails are constructed on steep terrain at unsustainable grades, usually leading directly to the top of a hill on what is called a fall line trail one that directly follows the movement of water during heavy rains. There do exist, however, many abandoned trails that do not fit this description, that for the most part have been ignored by hikers they are ancient game trails and grown-over contour paths that used to be the most direct links between villages in Hong Kong s agrarian past that have long since been deserted. Some of these trails have been kept clear by feral cows, while others have been discovered, cleared of undergrowth, and made us of in recent years by mountain bikers looking for new routes. With only a handful of official trails available [most of which are actually roads for government vehicles], opening a currently under-utilized network of trails would provide the much-needed places to ride that local mountain bikers, racers, and tourists alike have been asking for over the years. The proposed trail network as detailed below makes use of under-utilized and abandoned trails, as well as existing tracks designated for mountain biking, to fulfill the public demand for sustainable mountain bike trails. Such a solution, though, will need to have the support of high-level government officials, who can lead the effort and engage key departments. Trail Network Design Framework Intended purposes for trail network use A mountain bike is a bicycle with flat handlebars [as opposed to drop bars found on road bikes], wide tires for traction and stability, and often has some form of suspension for absorbing impacts from the trail. There are many variations of mountain bikes suited to different types of terrain, any of which can be ridden on these trails. This network having a designation of cross-country means that riders are meant to ride their bikes both up and down the trails, rather than shuttling to the top of a hill in a vehicle. A separate proposal for downhill-specific trails in the area is also available from the HKMBA; please inquire for further details. Official mountain bike trails and those in the immediate vicinity are currently the most common place for conflict between bikers and pedestrians. The addition of longer trails should ease this problem considerably, as mountain bikers will no longer be concentrated along short sections of legal trail that they tend to ride repeatedly in order to extend their riding time. While respecting the idea of multiuse trails, hikers should be warned and discouraged to, but not prohibited from, hiking or walking dogs on trails heavily used by mountain bikers. An HKMBA Share the Trails campaign is already in effect - please see the relevant flyer for details. As such, signs with messages such as look out for mountain bikers that are currently in use should be added to trails where mountain biking is the prevalent activity of choice.

5 THE TAI MO SHAN MARATHON TRAIL NETWORK KEY Numbers indicate stages, while yellow arrows show intended flow direction. Access Road South Route North Route Riders on a disused, abandoned trail, left, and on an official trail, right. Both types of trail are incorporated into the proposed Marathon Trail Network. 5 Lin Fa Shan Olympic Race Circuit THE TAI MO SHAN MARATHON TRAIL NETWORK In addition to being an attractive ecotourism destination, this trail network, connecting over 50 kilometers of quality mountain bike trails, aims to be an IMBA-designated Epic Ride. This designation is similar to that of World Heritage Site made by UNESCO, and would bring international recognition to the area among the global mountain biking community. Other cities which host such trails have seen tremendous economic growth from tourism revenue since mountain biking was made popular in the last couple of decades. IMBA Epic Ride trails are nominated by mountain bikers on an annual basis several will be selected by the IMBA, and treated to an official celebration. Please visit for details. This map of the proposed network shows a network of loops forming one large, continuous master loop that is approximately 50km in total length. While extending to over 50 kilometers, the trail can be broken down into 10 sections which can also be linked together to form smaller circuits. Crossover points at villages and across access roads allow for shortcuts, giving riders and tour operators the ability to tailor their trips to suit time frames, abilities and fitness levels. In addition to trail signs and posted maps, water stations providing filtered tap water would ideally be placed at the start of each stage. Such a station already exists in Tai Po Waterfront Park, as a local example. Along with a printable map like the one above, trail descriptions and difficulty ratings for each stage should also be given, such as: Stage 1 Route Twisk Trailhead The trail begins just past the AFCD gate on the left, over a stone bridge. It follows a flowing natural contour past the turnoff down to lower Route Twisk, until a series of tight switchbacks. Stage 2 The Southern Passage After climbing several steep turns, the trail again traces the southern mountainside through the forest, crossing several small streams along the way. Stage 3 Lin Fa Shan Olympic Race Circuit Here the trail opens up to reveal exhilarating views of the harbour, from Tsing Ma bridge in the West to Central and Wanchai in the East. A broken concrete path along an ancient trail takes you to Tin Fu Tsi village the first rest stop. Stage 4 The Wonton Trail to Yuen Tun After a cold drink and perhaps a bowl of noodles for energy, get ready for the most thrilling, twisting singletrack in all of Hong Kong winding up, down and around dense groves of evergreens and bamboo forests like a dirt roller-coaster. Stage 5 Yuen Tun Trailhead to Tai Lam Dam A tough climb is rewarded by more stunning views, this time including green valleys flowing down to Tai Lam Reservoir. Stage 6 Tai Lam Reservoir Speed demons will love zipping around this trail s tight corners, and nature-lovers can appreciate roaring waterfalls and atmospheric pine forests while winding through this relatively flat section. Key: Extremely steep and/or rough Steep and difficult Challenging Relatively Easy

6 THE LIN FA SHAN OLYMPIC RACE CIRUIT Integrated into the larger Marathon Trail Network, with the greatest level of accessibility and spectator accommodation, this compact, stacked-loop trail offers fast, rolling terrain set amongst breathtaking views of Hong Kong s harbour. The open, green plateau and hills with dense surrounding forests provide an ideal location for hosting world-class cross-country races. Existing trails and open areas at Lin Fa Shan are such that preparing the area for competition would require less work than any of the existing courses used for racing, which are frequently overgrown with tough weeds, thorns, and nettles. While several course options already exist and could be used almost immediately, the best circuit - one allowing for perfect flow, video coverage, and accommodation of spectators may require small-scale landscaping efforts. Trailbuilding should be conducted in a way that changes the landscape as little as possible, and otherwise in accordance with IMBA trail construction guidelines. In case of emergency, or for a more convenient exit, the Yuen Tun Ancient Trail can provide an all-downhill, stair-free route to a catchment road leading to Route Twisk, just above Tsuen Wan. Riders wanting a serious fitness challenge may also choose to climb this route, providing car-free access from urban areas. The western edge of the Lin Fa Shan course from a rider s perspective at the top of a hill climb, with views of Ting Kau Bridge, Tsing Ma Bridge, and beyond. Access to the Lin Fa Shan race venue is already far superior to any existing track, with a limited-access road bringing organizers and competitors [15 minutes by bike] within a few hundred meters of the course the rest of the way, a concrete footpath makes moving equipment on trolley-carts easy. An overview of the central race course area, looking south to southeast. Stage 7 Tai Lam to Tsing Fai Tong Riders make their way through punishing terrain into the cooler, wetter forests of the north side of the mountain range Stage 8 Cow Pastures to Tai Mo Shan contour trail The trail runs through an open plain where wild cattle often graze among reeds and wildflowers, then climbs over the main ridge and descends onto the rocky northern side of Tai Mo Shan. Stage 9 The Inca Trail The best full-on descent in Hong Kong begins as a gently downward-sloping rock-strewn contour, accelerating through a maze of boulders, fallen trees, and chute-like passages among dense foliage and trickling streams. Stage 10 Kap Lung Ancient Trail Riders climb the long and steep, semi-paved tree-covered path back to the Tai Mo Shan trailhead to finish off their epic journey. Suggested Itineraries: Intermediate: Stages 4, 5 and 6 [half-day] from Yuen Tun Southern Trailhead Advanced: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and back to Twisk Trailhead [half-day] Expert: Stages 1-10 [half to full-day] leaving from and returning to Twisk Trailhead

7 Map showing Hong Kong Trail is a good example of a hiking trail and example of attractive signage INTERNATIONAL MODELS Japan There are a number of popular cross-country courses across Japan, and as in Australia and other countries, mountain biking introduced to youth as a school sport. One such course is Hitachi Oka in Ibaraki prefecture, where the Ukari Hachibe cross-country endurance race is held twice a year, while the course itself remains open year-round. Mountain biking is also popular in most National Parks in Japan there are apparently no limitations on where one can ride a bicycle, as there are in Hong Kong. Exceptions exist though for example, mountain bikers are not allowed to ride down Mt. Fuji in July and August when throngs of hikers make their way to the top, understandably similar to what the MacLehose trail would be like during Oxfam s Trailwalker event. In the private sphere, Takamine MTB World, just 30 minutes away from central Tokyo, incorporates both cross-country and downhill riding within a park that offers basic accommodation, rental bikes and equipment, and shuttle rides. They employ similar vans to those used by Tai Mo Shan riders here in Hong Kong. Riding in Niseko Comparative Models LOCAL MODELS Locally, the closest model for the Marathon Trail could be found in the way that the Maclehose and Wilson Trails are designated and marked. This includes posted maps and clear, attractive signage in English and Chinese that is easy enough for visitors to make their way by. However, unlike these popular hiking trails which start and finish at opposite ends of Hong Kong, the Marathon Trail is intended to be a series of concentric or stacked loops to allow riders to cross over and make their ride as long or as short as they like. Since public transport is limited, having more options to return to a trailhead when exhaustion sets in is critical for such a trail. Currently, no such mountain bike trails with multiple loop options exist in Hong Kong, although it is the standard for trail design worldwide. A rider races at Project X on Lamma Island, currently the best course in Hong Kong. The closest local example of a cross-country race circuit is Project X on Lamma Island. Designed, cleared and constructed by HKMBA members on unused village land in the hills above Yung Shui Wan, the volunteer-built trail has hosted multiple mountain bike races held by Action Asia events as well as the Hong Kong Cycling Association, member of the Union Cycliste International [UCI] from which athletes are chosen to represent Hong Kong in the Olympic Games. It is widely regarded as the best course in Hong Kong by far. The Lin Fa Shan Circuit, however, with better accessibility and space for spectators, would be a significant upgrade. Map of Takamine MTB World

8 Event poster for the Singapore Mountain Bike Carnival, Riding into the sunset, a course map of the Tampines MTB trail in Singapore. A map of Acha-san, left, and various trails around urban Seoul, right. Seoul, Korea The city of Seoul has almost ten off-road riding areas, again with no limitations on bicycles. Nearly all of them are connected by dedicated bike paths, connecting public transport interchanges. One of the better and most technically challenging courses is Acha-San, a park-like cemetery accessible via the Han River Bikeway past the Olympic Bridge in the East side of the city. Singapore While most places in Asia allow or passively encourage riding, Singapore has clearly been the most progressive in harnessing the potential for Mountain Biking to attract tourism. Despite having far less space and elevation to work with than Hong Kong, Singapore has managed not only to put together a remarkable 10 km cross-country race course, but in 2008 held the Great Singapore Mountain Bike Carnival, which brought professional riders from all over the world to the Tampines race circuit. The event, which saw top regional riders as well as special guests like US Olympian and World Champion Tinker Juarez, was supported by the Singapore Sports Council, the Singapore Tourism Board, and National Parks Singapore. A private firm was contracted DirTraction LLP both for the event and the development of the course. It is now an annual event, run in conjunction with Bike Asia. Such a coordinated effort would be most welcome by local and visiting riders in Hong Kong. DirTraction has in fact expressed interest to the HKMBA of putting on a similar event in Hong Kong but so far, a suitable venue does not

9 With topography similar to Wales. Hong Kong could become the leading destination for biking in Asia A map showing the exist many on trail trails networks allowed in Wales by the AFCD. Wales, UK Considered to be the world s premiere cross-country mountain biking destination, and built under supervision of the UK Forestry Commission, the trail networks of Wales are also the standard after which all other trail systems are modeled. Purpose-built visitor centres, complete with hot food, toilets, parking, camping, and bike-washing facilities, are found at all of the major trail areas, serving well-marked trails graded by degrees of difficulty, much like trails at a ski resort. Public transport is also available, via bus service. According to the UK Forestry Commission: Forestry Commission Wales s five world-class mountain bike centres were opened on March 12, Since then their reputation has grown, transforming Wales into a mecca for mountain bike enthusiasts from far and wide, who bring millions of pounds into the Welsh economy every year. Our trails include purpose-built, waymarked single tracks, gentle family routes and white-knuckle downhill rides not for the faint-hearted! Each trail is subtly different and has been designed to reflect its surrounding landscape and terrain, providing a varied and incomparable riding experience through some of the most beautiful high-country you ll find anywhere. Similar terrain, trails, facilities and trail markings already exist in Hong Kong, and if mountain biking in our Country Parks is allowed and promoted rather than banned and prosecuted, our trail networks could be just as successful as a tourism destination as the trail networks in Wales.

10 Mountain biking at Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong The Way Foward A reputation as the Wales of Asia would undoubtedly be cast upon Hong Kong if the opening of trails was coupled with proper trail care and maintenance, making it the premiere destination for mountain bike travelers in the Asia-Pacific region. But riders will want to ride quality trails the best that Hong Kong has to offer. Opening of more stair-filled village paths and concrete park roads as mountain bike trails has not and will not attract anyone to ride in our Country Parks. Getting to grips with the loose rocks on Tia Mo San Trail Environmental protection and sustainability The majority of the proposed trail network is heavily forested, making it perfect for visitors to get a taste of nature. While the environmental impact of encouraging mountain bikers to visit the trails would be greater than not, it has been shown in numerous studies that impacts such as soil displacement by mountain bikers are similar to or even less than those from hikers. Currently, very few people venture onto these trails, and many bikers who have been riding them for years report never having seen a hiker on the trail. Lin Fa Shan Olympic Circuit environmental sustainability As the course is situated on abandoned farmland, the only disturbance of the natural landscape would be the occasional interruption of migrating feral cows during competitions. The animals are very tame, being already accustomed to seeing both hikers and bikers using the paths they have made through the forests. At the same time, continued aforestation [a corporate scheme exists in the area] plus native landscape restoration, where appropriate, would more than mitigate the environmental impacts of this human-influenced landscape. Erosion can easily be controlled by re-routing courses on a seasonal basis, since there are nearly unlimited options for new routes. Structures, fencing, and course markings should be non-permanent and easy to transport, install, and remove by hand. Armoring of certain natural surfaces in high-traffic locations, such as staging areas, is also advisable, to avoid erosion of sensitive soil types. Marathon Trail Network environmental sustainability Most of the proposed Marathon Trail is existing trail built with sustainable grades of less than 10 percent, following the half rule whereby trail grade is no greater than half the grade of the slope on which it is located. In most areas where this is not the case, natural armoring is already in place in the form of rock outcroppings and stonework. The remaining problem areas are where concrete has been laid down and concrete steps have been built, which not only ruin the atmosphere and enjoyment of the natural environment for visitors, but speed erosion by creating gullies on either side from water runoff, as rainfall cannot be absorbed directly into the ground. This should be mitigated by the removal of such structures, the restoration of natural surfaces and planting of native vegetation, and re-routing with switchbacks where grades are not sustainable. The Trail Network in Use - Current and Future Scope The trail network as detailed above represents the readily-attainable goal of having a world-famous adventure sport destination that would be a source of pride for the people of Hong Kong, whether they consider themselves Mountain Bikers or not. Costs for building mountain bike trails are much lower than those for concrete paths of similar length

11 Tai Mo San Mountain Bike resort village and width, but the maintenance required is more frequent. Clearing of overgrown vegetation is the most persistent need, typically twice a season, with surfacing and repairing of bridges and stream crossings needing to be done once a year. Appointing regular intervals to such work will help to avoid letting trails fall into a state of disrepair, which is currently the case in many places. Typhoon damage is also a major concern during typhoon season - typically, official mountain bike trails will remain littered with debris and fallen trees until riders themselves remove them. Although it is assumed to be the responsibility of park officials to address trail damage, in practice, trees have remained strewn across trails for months, blocking riders and ruining an otherwise smooth flow of the trail. Having a volunteer task force on hand for post-typhoon clean up would solve this problem. Although little in the way of investment or planning is required, compared with other infrastructure projects, there are a few roadblocks presented by the current methods and policies of managing mountain biking in Hong Kong. The directors of the HKMBA, representing some 12,000-plus users of the Country Parks, do not feel that the current system of limited trail use is adequate, acceptable, or advisable, either for residents or visitors. Hikers and backpackers are given far greater access to trails in proportion to their numbers, although their impact on the environment is equal to that of bikers. Introduction why do it problems and solutions Geographic background conclusion The following are recommended steps to take in order to realize the goals of the trail network: 1. Open select trails within Country Parks to mountain biking, letting users rely on fellow riders, professional guides, contour maps, and trail guides for selecting which trails to ride, with the exception of protected wildlife areas. 2. Officially recognize and promote the Tai Mo Shan Trail Network as a world-class mountain biking destination with some of the best trails in all of Asia. See the attached trail map for details. 3. Solicit funding from LCSD, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and other departments with the stated objectives of improving public health, mental well-being and physical fitness, sustainable development, and tourism, for the purpose of trail improvement, to be spent on signage, trail tools, armoring, fixtures, and other materials. 4. Establish Trail Work Days in which AFCD and HKMBA volunteers meet on a regular basis in accordance with seasonal maintenance requirements to extend and maintain the trails - this includes clearing overgrown trails, armoring and repairing stream-crossings, building and repairing of bridges made from natural materials, addressing typhoon damage, and re-routing trails ruined by erosion. If such steps are taken, the Tai Mo Shan Marathon Trail Network and Lin Fa Shan Olympic Race Circuit will surely be a success, both among local mountain bikers and internationally. This will provide the people of Hong Kong with a healthy form of recreation, and will also give tourists and business travelers yet another reason to visit Hong Kong, providing public health and economic benefits for all.

12 The Tai Mo Shan Mountain Resort Village The growth of Mountain biking has spawned an increase in Mountain bike parks and resorts worldwide, this is Hong Kong opportunity to become the hub for Asian Mountain biking During this reconnaissance it became apparent that Hong Kong has the opportunity and natural resources to create a mountain resort on Tai Mo Shan, that would equal the summer resorts of Whistler in British Columbia, Mammoth Mountain, Lake Tahoe in the USA and the many mountain biking resorts in the Italian and French Alps. The potential of this ambitious development is enormous. It foresees trails spiralling down from the summit of Tai Mo Shan and the development of a fully equipped mountain resort village at Shek Kong with a mountain tramway, hotels and all the supporting facilities. The project would utilize the natural terrain and topography of the area and initial inquiries indicate that investment capital is available to fund the majority of the hospitality infrastructure require. Thus for a relatively minor investment we have the opportunity to develop Tai Mo Shan and the neighbouring area of Shek Kong into a major mountain recreation centre, just 30 minutes from Hong Kong s central business district. Creating thousands of jobs in a forgotten and depressed corner of Hong Kong and generating billions of dollars in revenue whilst positioning Hong Kong as the coolest gateway city in Asia. We have created the possibility to have a world class mountain resort village on Tai Mo Shan, and transform the sleepy village of Shek Kong into a Whistler style resort village. This will be achieved by utilizing selected abandoned trails and paths, plus creating new routes in unused and inaccessible areas to create a variety of trails. The project will feature World Cup level Cross country and Downhill Mountain Bike trails, real concrete free hiking trails, heritage trails, a mountain biking academy, and a variety of recreational activities all in the context of pushing the envelope of mountain/countryside recreation. This is a huge step forward for Hong Kong. The Tai Mo Shan/Shek Kong resort will appeal to beginners, advanced enthusiasts, spectators plus other visitors, mountain bikers, hikers and nature lovers. The authenticity of the offerings will be a lure for even the most nervous hiker, we will see new generations of users taking a more adventurous path because of the professional design and safety considerations. Once approved the project will attract investors, hotel developers and eventually thousands of visitors, as in Whistler and other resorts; these visitors will spend money, purchase bikes and a host of other products and services, plus create thousands of jobs and invigorate an otherwise depressed area of the New Territories. The benefits of this project are vast, if handled appropriately this project could turn Hong Kong into the Asian destination for World Cup Mountain Biking events as well as other related activities and further reinforce Hong Kong s image as THE city in Asia. With such a project there will be multiple obstacles to be overcome and this is not a project for the faint hearted. It will require leadership, vision and will power to make it a reality; listed below are suggestions as to what is required to complete this project: 1. Appoint a Master Planner who will oversee the life of the project and develop the ongoing leadership and resources to maintain the resort. 2. A detailed survey by a professional and experienced mountain bike park operator such as Gravity Logic (the operators of the Whistler Bike Park) needs to be commissioned, which will survey the topography of the area in order to map out the exact trail routes for downhill, freeride and cross-country mountain biking and other activities. Entry and Exit points will be located. 3. Agreement by the PLA to re-locate their units from the Route Twisk Barracks to the Shek Kong airfield barracks 2 kilometers away. There appears to be adequate space and facilities for this to be achieved with minimum disruption to their operations and may even streamline their operation. 4. A survey and plan for the re-development of the existing PLA barracks straddling Route Twisk into the resort of Shek Kong, with sites for hotels, apartments and other accommodations and all the facilities required for a bustling tourism community. 5. A survey for the creating of a tram or cable car travelling from Shek Kong, from the heart of the resort to the summit of Tai Mop Shan. It is envisaged that this project might utilise Hong Kong s existing expertise in tram design and recreate a Peak Tram on Tai Mo Shan. This would be an obvious solution rather than import expertise from overseas as was done on the Lantua Cable Car. The Peak Tram has, for over a century, provided safe and convenient access from central to the Peak, up similar inclines as Tai Mo Shan.

13 6. The existing road access Route Twisk and Tai Mo Shan Road will need to be improved, initially until tram or cable car access is established, bus and van shuttles can utilise existing roads to ferry bikes and riders to the summit. (This is the practice as various resorts around the world.) 7. Various other parties will need to be enrolled into supporting the project, including: the communications facility at the summit of Tai Mo Shan, Kadoorie Farm, (although the project would not encroach on their territory) Residents of Shek Kong, Kap Lung and other neighbouring villages. 8. Once the necessary support and approval is obtained and the accountability for the overall project established, investors, developers and specialists can be invited to tender for the various components and facilities of the project. Here are the arguments for this project to create a resort 30 minutes from the business district which would be like having Davos in Zurich, Aspen in New York City, or Hokkaido in Tokyo. 1. Create flourishing tourism and recreation facility that would equal Ocean Park and Disney, for a fraction of the costs. 2. Contribute to the overall economy and revive a forgotten corner of the New Territories. 3. Create thousands of jobs in a depressed area of Hong Kong which currently houses scrap yards for old vehicles. 4. Through systematic planning and development ensure that the flora and fauna of the area are preserved and maintained, by building sustainable facilities and preventative services to counter and prevent hill fires. 5. Develop local talent and prepare Hong Kong to once again win Gold Medals at major sporting events. 6. Draw in visitors from the region and beyond to spend several days enjoying the facility. 7. Increase the retail sales of bicycles, accessories and components. 7. Encourage visitors to extend their stay for a few more days. 8. Attract investors and tourism developers to create support facilities including: Hotels, Service apartments, holiday homes, time share accommodation, restaurants, retailers and cable car operators. 9. Position Hong Kong with a competitive advantage over all its regional rivals. There is not one gateway city in the region that could copy this advantage. Neither Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Manila, Delhi, Mumbai or Tokyo have mountains that are in such close proximity to the city centre. Geographic Background The mountain of Tai Mo Shan is located to the north of Tai Lam Country Park and is the highest peak in Hong Kong, with an altitude of 957 meters. It is located approximately at the geographical centre of the New Territories. Even in the height of summer the weather at the summit can be cool and breezy and very different to the climate from that at the base. The upper half of Tai Mo Shan is often shrouded in low cloud or mist, this makes it inaccessible and deters all but the hardiest types. Tai Mo Shan has traditionally housed military and communications facilities at its peak. The Macelhose Trail is a well established hiking trail which straddles the summit of Tai Mo Shan from east to west. The summit and surrounding plateau area are crisscrossed with old abandoned and overgrown trails, plus there are animal tracks and left over trails from past military activities. To the north of the summit is the extensive Kadoorie Farm development. Hikers tend to stay within the established trails, the Macelhose Trail and a few other crumbling paths. There is also a youth Hostel to the south east of the summit. At the base of Tai Mo Shan is Shek Kong, which houses a military base. Prior to 1997 this was a major base for the British Army and the village in those days thrived by supporting the base. The base is now occupied by a handful of PLA Troops, who are largely confined to barracks and the village is a sleepy ghost of its former glory. Conclusion This section briefly describes the vision for an ambitious project which could greatly add to Hong Kong Tourism, Recreational and Sporting offerings and with relatively minor investment. This overview is not a detailed business plan and thus it avoids getting snagged in all the details and challenges that will exist in making this vision a reality. That is not to discount nor diminish the enormous effort that will be required in transforming the image of Hong Kong from business centre and shopping paradise into THE destination in Asia Pacific. In the meantime to meet the immediate demand and relieve the current frustration of the growing number of bikers additional mountain bike trails can be developed on Tai Mo Shan to take advantage of the current momentum which has been the catalyst for this exciting vision. The attached maps highlight trails in blue that can be developed with minimum resources and which could eventually be incorporated into the Tai Mo Shan Mountain village. The red marked trails require more resources including a professional trail building expertise and resources.

14 summary of just a few of the potential trails, which are marked on the attached map: Trail 1 Tai Mo Shan to Shek Kong. Start on the northern part of the summit just after the wireless station on the Macelhose Trail. The trail is difficult to find and meanders along the ridge line heading roughly north for about 300 meters then it starts to descend still on the ridge with spectacular views. This section would be easy to work on, just trimming the grass and clearing some wheel grabbing rocks. Another 300 meters heading north west. This section descends more and would require some sweeping berms to take off the speed and could have some fine table tops. Before it hits the Kadoorie Farm would turn due west and follow a spur all the way down towards the bottom section of Route Twisk. The first 500 meters is steep open grassland few shrubs, some nice terracing which could be incorporated. This area is actually a fire break due to ineffective tree planting, the wind and altitude leave stunted 2 foot high saplings after three years of planting. The trail would have sweeping berms to reduce the speed and these could zig zag all the way down on the south face of the spur. Towards the bottom the last 300 meters is heavily overgrown, this is an old trail shown on old maps, but has not been traversed by humans for some time. Some serious work is needed here. Or it could be avoided by turning from westerly direction towards north near the bottom and then following the natural contour and an old trail path through to near Shek Kong. From the top the distance is about 2-3 kilometers and it would be one fast downhill race course. Probably only taking about 4-5 minutes to descend. This would be the King of Trails Hong Kong like the A Line at Whistler. Trail 2 Tai Mo Shan to Route Twisk. From the top the trail would run parallel with the concrete road. Perhaps crossing the road towards the bottom and coming out opposite the Official Bike trail entrance to Hoi Poi, This would allow it to link with any of the trails from route Twisk. Trail 3 Tai Mo Shan to Shing Mun. There are several existing trails to choose from for this descent, therefore two routes are indicated. There are few trees and large vehicle size rocks, the proposal here would be to create a parallel trail, and use the rocks to create North Shore style ladders, wooden ramps, platforms and jumps. At the bottom it can link up with existing access roads for exit and along the water catchment road back to Route Twisk. Trail 4 Route Twisk Parallel trail. Start at the regular Hoi Poi entrance, at the bottom of the steps there is a closed trail to the right. This follows the line of Route Twisk down to Shek Kong the first half requires very little work, the second half is seriously overgrown, but with close proximity to Route Twisk access is easy. This would make a fine downhill race course. Trail 5 Macelhose Trail Parallel. This starts at Route Twisk and would follow the Macelhose Trail to Tai Lam Chung Reservoir. There is room on either side of the road to create a completely new trail about 10 to 20 metres in, it could cross the road in places and there may be some sections to incorporate the existing road trail. It would also venture further south away from the road through an old abandoned village and an abandoned school, it requires very little work to make this part an amazing XC course descending for much of the route and then climbing back up again for those with the energy; great for intermediate riders to advance their skills and easy access from the road. Trail 6 Tai Mo Shan to Ping Long. There are several existing hiking trails and those that are abandoned and overgrown could be utilized, there is an amazing altitude loss and this will require major work. It has the potential to be the best of all trails. Trail 7 Shatin to Saikung. Not shown on the map; this is a short trail, starting about midway between Shatin and Ma On Shan and starts with a gentle 2 kilometer climb on an existing paved road, through a village and then up an ancient trail through abandoned villages, it crosses the Macelhose trail and then descends down into Saikung via Po Lo Che. Not too much work is needed, it could be a nice XC course for those wishing to reach Sai Kung and avoid the Sai Sha Road.

15 Growth in the bike business in HK When AFCD opened the current mountain bike trail network in 2002 there were half a dozen retail shops supplying mountain bikes and components; today we have 34 in Hong Kong, plus several more in Shenzhen and Macau. The Bicycle World 15 Wood Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Mong Kok Pro Bicycle Shop Ltd. G/F., 180 Tung Choi St., MongKok, Kowloon Flying Ball Bicycle Co., Ltd G/F, 478 Castle Peak Road, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon Bull Bike Co. G/F, 250 Ferry St., Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon Wing Kee Bicycle Co. G/F, 21 Yiu Tung Street, Shek Kip Mei, Kowloon Sun Tin Day Bicycle Co. G/F, 61Carpenter Road, Kowloon City Bike Stop Bicycle G/F.,7-B Hang Hau Resite Village, Tseung Kwan O, Kowloon Beverly Cycle Co. Shop 10, G/F., Beverly Garden, 1 Tong Ming St., Tseung Kwan O, Sun Ping Bicycle Co. No.21A, G/F, Tak Lung Back St., Sai Kung Century Bike NO.62, G/F, Fo Tan Village, ShaTin YY Bike Co., Ltd. Unit B1B, G/F., Unison Ind. Centre, Au Pui Wan St., Fo Tan, Shun Lee Bicycle Co., Ltd. NO.2A, Lucky Plaza Coml. Complex, ShaTin, N.T. Tokyo City Bicycle Co. Tai Wai, ShaTin Extreme Bike Tai Wai Universal Bike - Ma On Shan Ma On Shan Kam Po Cycle Co. G/F.,139 Kwong Fuk Road., TaiPo, N.T. Chap Shing Bicycle G/F, 39 Yan Hing Street, Tai Po MT Biker G/F., Kwong Fuk Squarte, TaiPo, N.T. Bike Town Luen Wo Market, Fanling Universal Bike - Fanling Fanling The TREK Store G/F, 27 San Fung Ave., Sheung Shui, N.T. Tin Fung Bicycle Co. Shop 8A, G/F. Kam Lung Mansion, Fung Kam St., Yuen Long, N.T Shun Lee Bicycle Co. Shop 32 G/F Fu Loy Garden, No.7 Ma Wang Road, Yuen Long Cheong Wai Cycle Co. G/F, 43 Fuk Cheong Bldg., Ma Wang Rd., Yuen Long, N.T. Hop Shing Bicycle Co. Shop 29, G/F, Top Court, Tak Ching Court, Tuen Mun, N.T. BikeCity Shop A, G/F, 118 Sha Tsui Road, Tsuen Wan, N.T. Kent Shing Company G/F., 21, Tso Kung Square, Tsuen Wan, N.T. Bike City Shop A12, G/F., Goodrich Garden, 9, Leung Tak St., Tuen Mun, Friendly Bicycle Shop G/F, Shop B, 13 Mui Wo Ferry Pier Rd., Lantau Island Mountain Bike Shop No110,G/F,Ma Wan Chung Village, Tung Chung, Lantau Island Tung Chung Pro-Sport Goods Cycle Shop 28, Yat Tung Est Shopping Ctr., Tung Chung, Lantau Riders Pro Bike Shop Shop 35, Yat Tung Est Shopping Ctr., Tung Chung, Lantau Island Bikers feedback Who rides in Hong Kong and what they have to say Attracting international riders USEFUL WEBSITES