Jersey ‘is missing out’ on mountain-biking tourism

Aaron Lappage, who owns Aaron’s Bikes in Gloucester Street and has been mountain-biking in Jersey for nearly 30 years, believes Jersey should learn from success stories in the UK, where bike-lead tourism has become an integral part of economies.

Dafydd Davies, a world-renowned mountain bike trail builder, said the industry was worth in excess of £30 million to his native Wales every year. He added that bike-led tourism was particularly lucrative in the shoulder months.

Recently John Pinel, assistant director for the Environment Department, said bikers were breaking the law by cycling on cliff paths. Mr Pinel said he was keen to work with all users of paths in Jersey and believed the problem could be solved by providing specific areas for bikers in Jersey.

Jersey's James Patterson competing during the Island Games 2015 in People's Park

But Mr Lappage claims he has been using the paths for nearly three decades and cannot understand why he is being asked to stop now.

‘How can they now say we can’t do this? It improves the health of people,’ he said.

‘I have been involved in consultations on the use of parks and gardens in Jersey and all that I have heard is that very little needs to be done – there is no real problem between user groups.’

The Islander is now calling on senior figures to consider opening up the Island to mountain-bikers to help attract more tourists.

‘If you look at places like Wales and Scotland, they quote mountain-biking as a sustainable income for their economy.

‘They are trying to attract more people here and one way would be mountain-biking. It would be great for the Island and massive in the shoulder months.’

Mr Davies, who created the Welsh biking resort Coed-y-Brenin, said blanket bans on mountain biking were not enforceable. He believed a more effective way of managing dual usage of paths between walkers and bikers was to create ‘quality, prescribed trail opportunities’.

Jersey youngsters on mountain bikes

‘Very high-value shared-use trails can be found in areas as diverse as Australia, the Rocky Mountains, the Alps and Ireland, and in these areas mountain-biking is very often a key plank in local tourism economies, with mountain-bikers travelling from around the world to make use of high-quality trails,’ he said.

Mr Pinel added that he was not ‘anti-bike’ and some paths were suitable for all users.

‘We want to create a code of practice for everyone,’ he added.

Building work on the Island’s first pump track – a looping trail system of bumps and slopes designed for bike sports – at Les Creux Country Park in St Brelade is due to begin soon.

And Mr Lappage and fellow backers of the scheme are trying to raise more funds for a second track at La Perruque in St John.

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