Riverbed cycle challenge in Kgalagadi

[annie]

Many of us would have preferred the cycle event to take place south of Twee Rivieren, outside the park, but I think we need to recognise that the move onto existing roads instead of the riverbed, and to the south rather than the far north, is at least a compromise. It's not perfect for many reasons, but I hope the fact that there's been such a public debate about it will work in favour of driving a more well thought-out and structured approach to the event as it is worked on further.

There are still lots of questions, of course. One is who this 'independent consultant' who is to work on the EMP will be. I had many questions about the event while it was still planned for the riverbed, and I sent those to David Mabunda and Glenn Phillips on 2 November. The move to existing roads in the south has thankfully made some of those questions redundant but certainly not all of them. So I've updated a piece I wrote to reflect those questions which have been solved and those that haven't. You can read it here: http://ow.ly/fiYFz

[Richprins]

Good points, annie! But to these guys "compromise" means defeat...

Back to dissecting the triumverate's response!...

[Richprins]

the SANParks Honorary Rangers (A SANParks recognized volunteer organization) were simply requested to assist with the event in question

Who cares? So What?

[Richprins]

The members of the SANParks Honorary Rangers receive no financial benefit from this event

One should think so! How decent of them!

[Richprins]

SANParks management recognized the concerns raised by many of our customers and stakeholders and therefore it was imperative that a number of options be looked at.

Imperative means urgent. This took over a month. Even the HR's responded faster!

[Richprins]

During the review process the option to move the event to another route was suggested.

No, that was demanded by outraged regular visitors, long before the "review process", whatever that is.

[Lisbeth]

Imperative also means necessary

[Richprins]

The new proposed route proved to be more feasible as it also provided more opportunities and offered even greater diversity for those participating in the event. The proposed new location is within the existing tourist route in the south of the park and is proving to be logistically easier when compared to the previous route.

Brilliant! Thanks for coming up with that! Who would have guessed that the original organisers had never considered these oportunities!

Now normal tourists can actually have the cyclists up close and personal...lovely after perhaps having travelled all the way from Europe at great expense and booking a year in advance. Or maybe the roads will be closed to said paying tourists on that day?

Translated: the "opportunities" means once the thing becomes a yearly event it will be a piece of cake to organise, and there is now no ecological problem, probably the intention all along...

[Richprins]

The other important thing to note is that this event is not a race, but a tour. There are no prizes to be won.

That is not important at all. Why is it important? Prizes cost you money anyway!

[Lisbeth]

Who is going to do this "tour"? On invitation or do they have to pay for the "experience"?