The bike of beyond

OPINION: The displeased mountainbikers who publicly protested when their attempts to buy a hard-earned beer at Walter Peak were met by the tourist operator first sticking out a hand for $20 (beer extra) have done a service to the community and to the tourism industry, writes The Southland Times in an editorial.

. Because we can't have that.

Granted, this is private property, run as a tourist attraction by Real Journeys as an operation essentially set up to serve passengers arriving on the Earnslaw. But the national cycleway will mean people will be arriving, in increasing numbers, having come the hard way from Mavora, most likely with something other than tea on their minds.

Real Journeys has been entitled to charge what it will for its service, just as the cyclists were entitled to be mightily and publicly unhappy about being stung so hard. Like it or not, this is one of the benefits of having this exclusive position.

Happily, there's nothing like the hot breath of competition to help a company recalibrate its views on what constitutes reasonable service. It might be that Real Journeys, which even as we speak is rethinking its place in the scheme of things, finds a way to become more hospitable to the wider range of tourists.

Cycle Tour Operators New Zealand chairman Tim de Jong is quite right to point out the other scenario that presents itself – another operator could set up in competition. The skies would not fall should this happen.

The Otago Rail Trail provides a useful example. As Mr de Jong says, there's now a much higher number of quality food outlets on the trail than was the case even a few years ago.

The length and breadth of the national cycleway, facilities will be needed to serve the pedalling public. These riders should not be portrayed as impoverished travellers whose exertions are due to a lack of funds for alternative means of getting about. They value the benefits of exertion and the particular connections with the environment that result. And though they retain an awareness of what might constitute a ripoff, they are fully prepared to pay reasonably for rest-stop rewards en route.

Existing operators on the cycleway will need to be on their mettle, because competition is to be expected. Local authorities will need to play their part, too, requiring appropriate standards of newcomers, but giving them a fair shot nonetheless.

Southland district Mayor Frana Cardno hits on another need; this one for the wider community to satisfy. Though the southern weather is not as balmy as in Central Otago, she says, people will still come because we have not only the scenery, but also the stories to tell.

Exactly. The attractiveness of the scenery should not be underestimated; even the hardened competitors from the Tour of Southland, who have many other things on their mind, are routinely and reliably struck by the beauty of the Tour's finest sections. But on top of that, the natural and cultural history of the land the cycleway will wend its way through is full of fascinations. The task, collectively and for each community, is to ensure that the natural and cultural context – the yarns – are made available in a way that enhances the travellers' experience. That's do-able. If we get it right, more than a few southerners might feel the urge to get out there and give the trip a go themselves.

And when we head up Walter Peak way, or thereabouts, a better welcome will surely await than was encountered by the two mountainbikers last weekend.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Newest First

Oldest First