Nparks + MBASG Meeting 3 Nov 12

In attendance:
MBASG: Jason Lim, Kenneth Tan, Alex Kim, Nurhakim Hudri, Hafizi Senen, Chris Goh, Nixon Tan, Cal Chin
Nparks: James Gan, Mishak
Dirtraction: Huimin Lim

Intro of  MBASG working committee, and our mission/ vision 
- Acknowledged by Nparks, and Nparks views the effort by MBASG to be a credible voice for mountain bikers favourably 
- discussion about recent incidents where mountain bikers have been mentioned in Forum letters- Nparks will not respond since they've not been asked to, and will continue to manage the situation with a 'light touch'
- Nparks does not seek to target mountain bikers in the illegal trails, and there was mention that there is new revised signage to that effect (can anyone confirm if the no cycling signs have been replaced by something else?). It was mentioned that the lost joggers reported in the illegal trails were issued summons
-NParks says that they support MTB but they also support other activities like hiking, photography, conservation etc. and they have to be fair to all groups. And NParks also has to engage residents/public on many issues, for example wild boars, monkey disturbances etc. around the nature reserve
-NParks stresses that "harmony, responsibility and respect" are important areas for the MTB community to keep in mind, even as we try to engage NParks to improve the MTB situation
-There will be new notice boards put up at trailheads at Bt Timah (visitor ctr carpark, and Dairy farm carpark trailhead)- MBASG will be allowed to put up notices to encourage proper trail etiquette. Content will be reviewed by Nparks prior. 


Dual-use trail pilot projects and other matters 
- Nparks has allowed MBASG to propose a pilot project on how to implement this at Kampong trail. Suggestions welcome.
- Night riding at MacRitchie will remain off limits for now due to possible concerns from conservationists and other stakeholders 
- we didn't have time to propose the East Coast trail parallel to Changi Coastal Road, KIV for next time 
- Chestnut Nature park - tender will go out in 2013. Nparks will convene another session with MBASG to discuss the upcoming MTB trails there. Dual use will likely be taken into account in trail design.
- If there are other trails we can do pilot dual use for, Nparks is open to suggestions


Bt Timah MTB trail revamp 
-Bt Timah will be soley for MTB use for safety reasons. Ambiguous signages will be removed and new ones will reinforce this point. Enforcement action will be progressively introduced once final trail works are complete
- MBASG had expressed that with education and time, user conflicts (example between bikers and hikers) can be managed but NParks is firm that BT should be for MTB only for safety reasons
-Tender (for Construction Contractor) will go out soon, in the next couple of weeks. Dirtraction will be trail 'auditor' to ensure scope of proposed work is done
-NParks says this BT renovation project is to make BT "safe" and "as fun as reasonably possible."
-Trail works schedeuled to start Q1 2013 
-Huimin at Dirtraction walked us through the proposed works to BT. It is very major work and for the most part, very positive. 
-Major works will be the removal of staircase, changes to downhill section after concrete slope, etc. 
-There is some scope of work yet to be finalized, e.g. downhill sections before echo valley 
-The trail will cater to both beginners, as well as advanced riders with option lines. For advanced riders, there will be step ups with 1-2 foot drops for example, which will allow some air time and whips, while beginner riders can safely take the blue option line
-Full details of the proposed work will be disclosed in the upcoming tender
-The trail might be closed for 2 months during the project (details tba) 
-Trail days may be called, for help on work at certain labour intensive sections 
-As a clarification, BT will not be renovated with the goal for it to hold UCI XC competitions, but more for recreational bikers


 
Overall, a very positive first meeting between MBASG and Nparks.