Environmental

• Building unauthorised trails can damage native plants, with vegetation often trampled during construction and riding.
• Digging or reshaping the ground can cause soil disturbance and lead to erosion.
• Moving through closed or sensitive areas with bikes and equipment can spread weeds and plant diseases like dieback.
• Moving through, riding, trampling, digging and reshaping the ground can destroys the habitats of burrowing animals and can kill aestivating animals (animals that are dormant in the soil to survive the hot dry summer).
• Over time the ongoing disturbance to local wildlife in their own habitat threatens the balance of the ecosystem they depend on.

Safety

• Official walking and cycling trails are planned to be safe and enjoyable for walkers, riders, dog owners and families. Unofficial trails can cut across these routes and create risky situations, especially when riders travel quickly.
• Unapproved jumps, ramps or dug‑out sections can be dangerous unexpected hazards for other trail users.
• Trails built in hard‑to‑reach or off‑limits areas can make it difficult for emergency help to reach someone if there’s an accident.

Wasted resources

• When the Shire or other agencies have to remove illegal trails and repair the damage, it takes time and funds away from creating new, safe and exciting bike facilities for the community to enjoy.