CYCLISTS draw all the attention but there is now a new tool to put mountain biking font and centre.
Mountain Biking WA (MTBWA), a new dedicated brand launched in January, will be used to show off the State’s diversity to cycle tourists around the world.
West Cycle’s mountain bike development manager Peta Demidenko said MTBWA would be a hub of mountain biking information.
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READ NOW“The WA Mountain Bike Strategy’s key objective is to raise the profile of mountain biking in WA,” she said.
“To do that, we required a brand that could be promoted and advertised to cycle tourists and riders from across the globe.
“If we look locally, new riders now have a place to start their mountain biking journey.”
Cycling bodies point to the 120,000 mountain bikes purchased in WA each year as proof of its popularity, while the extra money cycle visitors spend is something tourism groups are keen to cash in on.
A plan to transform the state into a destination for mountain bikers took a step forward when a master plan to guide the development of trails in Perth and Peel was released in mid-2017.
The Perth and Peel Mountain Bike Master Plan proposes expanding the current network of trails from 125 kilometres across nine sites to 575 kilometres across 24 locations.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions said the department had provided funding to begin planning for three high priority locations identified in the master plan – Perth Hills, Wungong and Dwellingup – and is investing about $450,000 in the Perth-Peel area in 2017-18.
The spokeswoman said the DBCA was also contributing to a number of trail developments in the metropolitan area.
“Several local governments, including the cities of Nedlands and Wanneroo, have successfully constructed mountain bike pump tracks, which have proven popular with local communities,” she said.Three sites within the City of Melville – Point Walter Reserve, the Swan Estuary Marine Park foreshore and Len Shearer Reserve – were identified in the 116-page master plan.
City of Melville acting chief executive Marten Tieleman said the City’s Healthy Melville team were aware of the Perth and Peel Mountain Bike Master Plan prepared by West Cycle.
“While the City has not as yet responded to the master plan, mountain biking is certainly a sport that is growing in popularity and one the City will consider in its future planning for sport and recreation,” he said.
For information, visit mtbwa.com.au.
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