Hunters must be made aware of the presence of bikers. A specific route should be marked out at Umupuia to reduce the chance of riders spooking livestock. The lambing months need to be well publicised. Gates should be sprung or weighted to close automatically. Mountain bikers accept the hazards posed by the natural environment and the track as part of the sport.
Falls are common but serious accidents are extremely rare.
I saw no natural hazards severe enough to require signage. When queried recently, OSH staff in Wellington stated that the Health and Safety in Employment Act does not apply to recreation. In Wellington's Town Belt, where deviant behaviour is relatively common, a few women walkers have commented that they feel safer with the occasional cyclist passing by. Social Impacts Social conflict is partly the result of exaggerated perceptions of mountain bikers' physical impacts and the safety hazard they pose. Since conflict generates conflict, the earlier these steps are taken the better.