THE FREEDOM CHALLENGE is an initiative undertaken in conjunction with the Wilderness Foundation and National and Provincial Conservation and Tourism agencies to establish a mountain bike trail running across South Africa that is focused on REMOTENESS, engendering a sense of WILDERNESS, and is interesting to ride, is fully serviced and can be ridden UNSUPPORTED, that delivers tangible economic benefits to rural communities in a RESPONSIBLE and SUSTAINABLE manner.

Mountain biking and wilderness -- In some countries and instances around the world, mountain biking has been at odds with the objectives of managing designated wilderness areas.  The speed and wheeled technology of mountain bikes, and the aggressive exuberance of some riders, can combine to create ecological and social impacts that need careful monitoring.  The sport itself can be incompatible with solitude-seeking wilderness hikers. As a result, mountain biking is not allowed in some designated wilderness areas round the world.

The Freedom Challenge recognizes the validity of concerns about the impact of and appropriateness of mountain biking in wilderness areas.  However, it also recognizes the significant benefits that mountain biking can bring to poor, rural communities including those living in close proximity to wilderness areas.  The Freedom Challenge is accordingly based on a conservation ethic and practice that adheres to strong ecological standards whilst also meeting the needs of those poor, rural communities.  The initiative has been structured to achieve this.

Some key aspects to this program are:

·         Apart from 10 kms (6 miles) the entire 2300 kms (1450 miles) of the trail is on existing tracks. The trail also uses existing accommodation (with preference being given to accommodation owned and run by local communities and conservation agencies).  The development of the trail has therefore not resulted in the development of additional infrastructure within conservation areas.

·        Of the existing tracks about 90% are vehicle tracks, including public roads (some of which have fallen into disuse) and management tracks, as opposed to footpaths.  Of the footpaths the majority are located outside conservation areas.  Where they are in conservation areas they tend to be on uphills where bikes need to either be pushed or carried.  The only off-trail sections (ie sections with no well established footpath) are portages. The nature of the route is such that potential conflict with hikers is limited.

·        The vast majority of the trail runs through remote areas.  However, only about 10% runs through formally proclaimed conservation and wilderness areas.  The main use therefore happens outside of protected areas.

·        The route of the trail is fixed and is being specifically demarcated.  Riders are only given a permit to ride the demarcated route.  As a result of its linear nature and the fact that it follows historical desire lines, our experience is that riders stay on the demarcated route.   

·        The trail is structured to give the greatest possible sense of isolation.  It is set up to be ridden in one direction only. We would not support a conservation area being generally declared open to mountain biking.  It not only creates management problems but would also impact negatively on those riding the trail and their sense of isolation which we see to be an integral part of their experience.

·        The trail is not structured around day riders – our experience is that riders who are on a multi-day point to point tour are far more inclined to take the time to engage with their surroundings and are far more considerate in their trail use than a person out for 3 hours of aerobic exercise;

·        The Freedom Challenge is developing codes of practice for riders that guide interaction with local communities and conduct along the trail, including in conservation areas

·        Some sections of the trail may only be ridden with a guide.  Not only does this ensure that benefits accrue to the local community but the guides are able to regulate rider behaivour.

·        The entire route will be assessed periodically for increasing ecological and social impacts.

·        The sections of the off-trail routes will subject to an ecological monitoring process, results of which will be peer reviewed and reported, and corrective action taken if so recommended by the peer review group

·         A land planning assessment will be undertaken with special emphasis on those parts of the Freedom Challenge route that are not within existing protected areas, the goal of which will be to enhance conservation management and legal protection of these areas in conjunction with the local communities and landowners.

Whilst we recognize that mountain biking can bring many benefits to the communities living in and near conservation areas, it is these conservation areas provide the very foundation on which the Freedom Challenge is built. By bringing benefits to these communities we are hopefully helping to secure that foundation.  However, in doing so it is important to ensure that we don’t then undermine our efforts through ill-considered or poorly managed use. From the outset our approach has therefore been conservative.  

FIND OUT MORE about the HISTORY AND GOALS of the Freedom Challenge.

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