Comments on: Is the Rimutaka Rail trail under threat?

By: Wellington Region Updates « Wellington Region Cycleways

Wellington Region Updates « Wellington Region Cycleways — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:19:50 +0000

[...] Rimutaka Rail Trail is no longer under threat. The group behind it have withdrawn their submission to the GWRC. It’s back to the drawing [...]

By: There is still time to make a submission against the proposal to destroy the Rimutaka Rail Trail « Wellington Region Cycleways

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 20:52:43 +0000

[...] Rimutaka Rail Trail is under threat. The group behind it is worthy of our [...]

By: Marco

Marco — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:37:19 +0000

Wellington is a very hilly region with very few opportunties for first time Mountain Bikers on flat land. The Rimutaka Incline is the perfect place to start on your first bike. We need to preserve all the flat riding opportunities that we have. Families and Recreation riders love the road and riding through the tunnels is exciting. Experienced riders use it too, and the adjacent tracks off the main road. Marco Renalli

By: Rimutaka Incline Railway Group proposes reinstating steam train to Manhattan’s High Line « Wellington Region Cycleways

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:32:51 +0000

[...] upcoming proposal to the GWRC Cultural and Social Wellbeing Committee. I’ve written about their proposal before. Here is what the Cycling Advocates Network thinks. For the Dom Post’s coverage, and for [...]

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:12:12 +0000

I guess you would support putting a railway back onto the alignment of the award-winning Little River Rail Trail. As bad as that would be for the general public, a railway on the Rimutaka Rail Trail would be much worse because of the mountainous terrain there. The steep terrain would make it virtually impossible to create a trail of the same standard in the vicinity. The Wellington region has an abundance of steep, narrow mountain bike trails – we have very, very few family-friendly trails (and our most treasured is the Rimutaka Rail Trail).

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:26:10 +0000

Brian was speaking metaphorically I am sure.

I haven’t just used the argument that the cycleway was there first. (In fact I didn’t use it) I have used lots of arguments on why it is a completely rubbish proposal. Financially it doesn’t make sense. It would stuff it up for existing users. There is no need for another steam group in the region. The route needs to be preserved for cyclists as part of the future ambitions of the National Cycleway. It already is a tourist and recreational asset. Etc. etc.

And all this “the railway was there first” is a real rubbish argument. Before that it was stalked by moas.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:15:13 +0000

For starters I was meaning your comment saying lynching someone is not a violent act, it is plain and simple, so it theatening it as Brian did.

They are a public non-profit group made up of members of the public and wish to use part of the park for their group activities. The same way that cycle groups are made up of members of the public and use the park for recreation.

I am not nor have I ever been a member of the Rimutaka Rail group. I actually live in Christchurch but have riden the trail several times during visits to the Wellington region. I see no reason why you assume that I was a member.

Going by your logic on the conservation of history I take it liev TV sport is now redundant as reading it in the newspaper the next day is just the same apparently.

I’m not asking for anything drastic I wouldn’t have thought for everyone to be granted the same rights to apply for use and access public parks. You can’t just use the argument that the cycleway was got there first as the railway was there before that.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:40:42 +0000

Where the hell did I say I’d lynch someone?

Ryan, the proposal is rubbish.
Yes I looked at the maps on their website.

And no a private organisation, even a non-profit one, wishing to use a public park for their own crazy schemes doesn’t have the same rights of access to the public park as the general public. The GWRC should and indeed will tell your group to go jump.

I believe you, and your friends proposing it, are fantasists making impractical suggestions that are of not of much benefit (and definitely less benefit than you claim) and it has some really bad downsides for existing users.

Next you lot will be proposing to rebuild the Dun Mountain railway, or the Foxton-Palmerston North wooden rail line.

It’s history. It’s not worth recreating. Why not just visit the Fell Locomotive museum and then walk the track and read the signs? Surely that is enough of the history preservation needed.

That grant money sure ain’t getting wasted. I sure hope that wasn’t from public funds.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:26:25 +0000

Mathew theatening to lync someone if definately a violent response. As for the group not having any credibility the group of volunteers have been working hard for several years and have raised quite a bit of money from grants and donations and they are building themselves a good workshop and depot at Maymorn. I would say they have earnt enough credibility for there plans to be assesed by the council as to wether they are in everyones best interests or not as they are fully free and allowed to do. They are just as entitled to propose something as cyclists are to use the park which is fully entitled.
How do you know it will be narrower and much steeper? Have you seen the exact drawings of the proposed track composition? This is why as I said in my last post that us cyclists should work with them to improve and adapt the plans to something that is suitable for both cyclist and the rail group.
Also as I mentioned it will probably increase park and track usage by bringing more people into the area and people can take the train up and ride down if they dont want to ride up the hill.
Everyone needs to take a step back and try to work together to find a solution that works for everyone.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:47:35 +0000

Ryan it’s not at all a “violent reaction”. Their idea is completely dumb because it is unfeasible. What they are proposing to those pesky cyclists who get in the way of their grandiose plans, with their replacement paths aren’t any good. It won’t be “exactly the same” – the paths would be narrower, steeper, have rougher surfaces and not go through the tunnels which is the highlight of any ride.

Why I should I have to work with a group that has no credibility? They should not be proposing their scheme for a public park. The park is for recreational users. Many, many thousands of recreational users each year. They could play trains leading up to the boundaries of the park and the start of the Rail Trail, without stuffing up what is already there, but they want to stuff it up for everyone else and for what ? An uneconomic, white elephant of a tourist “attraction”. We would lose way more than we gain.