NIMBYs, Horsey people, fundamentalist bushwalkers and just generally crusty old fuckwits. Could be a bunch of weed growers out that way also.
would help to explain the NIMBY, Khunt! sentiments. IMO
NIMBYS are everywhere unfortunately and I've had to deal with them with the Wild Mersey trail project here in Tassie plenty of times.
Yes, there are negatives to an increase in any activity in an area but this shouldn't be a show stopper.
It's the whole "I don't do (insert activity) therefore it must be bad, type of attitude that really gets my goat.
We had a couple of "citizen bushwalkers" that have been building a whole swath of illegal walking trails just to get in first to say the approved mountain bike trails weren't there first and claim that the MTB trails had not community consultation (which is untrue) when they were building walking trail with not only no community consultation but no landholder permission as well.
It also highlights why we as members of the mountain biking community must always set a good example, do the right thing and respect others, as riding designated walking only trails, building illegal trails, and just being a dick, doesn't help the cause. Actively calling out negative behavior from other mountain bikers is encouraged too, as it only takes one bad report to tar the whole community.