State Trail Bike Strategy

The State Trail Bike Strategy is a land mark project that commenced in 2007 to address the issues of trail bike riding in WA.

RTRA with Motorcycling WA received government funding to develop the strategy which was released in 2008.  It proposes a framework for planning and managing recreational trail bike riding on public and private lands and for coordinating cooperation between the relevant State Government agencies, local communities, local government and recreational trail bike riders.

The main objectives are to:
• Develop a systems approach, rather than a series of disconnected strategies
• Align the interests of all stakeholders
• Reduce the levels of community concern and complaint
• Reduce the incidence of environmental impact attributable to ORV use
• Reduce injuries attributable to ORV use
• Foster behaviour change amongst trail bike riders
• Maximise economic, health and social benefits attributable to ORV use
• Provide for long term sustainability 

Extensive consultation and international and Australian research was undertaken.  98 recommendations have been formulated around six Key Focus Areas. 

1. Insurance, Liability and Risk Management - In order for facilities to be provided by land managers, the issues of insurance, liability and risk management must be addressed.
2. Trails Planning - Designated trails and venues must be planned, developed and maintained to attract trail bike riders and to ensure minimal environment and community impact.
3. Managing for Sustainability - In order to develop sustainability, the issues of governance, land and trail management, noise regulation and evaluation need to be addressed.
4. Changing Behaviours - Programs are proposed using community based social marketing techniques, education, self regulation and finally enforcement.
5. Registration and Licensing - Trail bike riding must be better managed which requires increased regulation with registration, licensing and enforcement.
6. Funding Models - To ensure implementation, sustainability and management a recurrent funding stream is required. 

Current Status
A Report and Budgets prepared by DSR with a 10 year implementation plan were submitted to the Minister for Sport and Recreation (Terry "Tuck" Waldron) in early December 2009. 

Letters have been sent by Minister Waldron to all Cabinet Ministers advising them of the Strategy and calling for a meeting to discuss the government's response.  We are waiting to hear when this meeting is likely to be.  It is unlikely that there will be any allocation to the Strategy in the May budget.

RTRA Position
The RTRA is responsible for the development of the Strategy and believes that it is world's best practice and if implemented fully and according to the recommendations will go a long way to resolving trail bike issues for riders, community and the environment.

RTRA would like to see the process move more quickly particularly in relation to re-developing the off-road vehicle areas and creating more riding opportunities.  RTRA also recognises that the whole trail bike riding community needs to take responsibility for the actions and behaviour of trail bike riders if we want our activity to be accepted by the community.

We continue to lobby hard across government to get the State Trail Bike Strategy endorsed by the State Government along with the provision of required funding and resources.

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