No good news for off-road lovers in Akamas...

[cyprusmax47]

Just have reading that in the local press, and specially Dominic won't like the fact that some of the nicest off-road routes will be gone...



A contract was signed between Mr. Charalambos Alexandros, Director of the Forestry Department as the Contracting Authority and Mr. Georgios Chrysochos, Director of the Cyfield Group Company as the Contractor, for the improvement of part of the existing main road network of the Akamas National Forest Park, with a total length of 13, 4 km. The project is the 1st phase of improvement, which includes the following roads:

a) Aspros Potamos-Toxeutra-Lara, with a total length of 6.6 km, starting from the homonymous area of ​​Aspros Potamos in the Municipality of Pegeia and reaching the area of ​​Lara in the municipality of Inia,

b) Circular Lara, with a total length of 2.7 km, which will circularly connect the infrastructure of the National Forest Park in the area of ​​Lara and in which traffic will only be carried out by the Park's transport vehicle and

c) Toxeutra – Avakas – Lipati, with a total length of 4.1 km..., which leads to the Avakas gorge and the Pano Arodes community.

The total duration of the project implementation is 14 months and the budget amounts to €6,295,000.00 plus VAT.

It is noted that the Forest Department, along with the improvement of part of the existing main road network, will regulate traffic within the park and take such measures as to end off-road traffic.

The study of the improvement of the main road network of the National Forest Park was carried out by the company Evpalinos Meletitiki EPE, within the framework of a contract with the Department of Forestry, and was primarily based on the principle of environmental protection. The main objectives during the preparation of the studies were to relieve the pressures that the sensitive ecosystems of the area receive from the high traffic and also to improve the safety of visitors during their movements.

source
PaphosLive.com.cy

[wantoosoon]

I'm happy for the traffic to be controlled. It really should be public transport only. Hiking, cycling and horse riding are impossible in some areas because of the endless stream of quads, buggies and 4x4 tours. In natural areas, priority should be given to quieter and less environmentally damaging ways of getting about.

Let's also get rid of motor-powered vehicles along the Akamas coast, including the music-blasting tour boats and reckless jetski riders! If Cyprus wants a higher quality of tourist, this is one way to go about it.

[Dominic]

In my opinion they should have banned quad bikes if they are going to ban anything.

But in all honesty, I rarely travel to the Akamas anyway. There are for more beautiful areas in the Paphos district that offer much more varied countryside. I guess one downside is that the quad bikes might head for the farm tracks now. That wouldn't end well.

Good luck to them policing this on Green Monday though.

[cyprusmax47]

In my opinion they should have banned quad bikes if they are going to ban anything.

But in all honesty, I rarely travel to the Akamas anyway. There are for more beautiful areas in the Paphos district that offer much more varied countryside. I guess one downside is that the quad bikes might head for the farm tracks now. That wouldn't end well.

Good luck to them policing this on Green Monday though.

It is also my opinion to ban quad bikes, but not only for Akamas region, the whole of Paphos district. There would be much less nasty accidents as well.
For Akamas I would only allow entrance for 4x4 cars which would reduce the traffic there a lot and also reduce the broken down normal cars there and leave the roads like they are, just some maintenance them after the winter rains.
Government wants always high quality tourism, why not start with the cheap bikes and cars and ban them there. Guided quality tours would be a good business instead.

Max

[Devil]

Of course, my opinion counts for nothing but the only vehicles that should be allowed in the Akamas region are wheelchairs, pushbikes and shoes, preferably strong hiking boots. Let's give nature a wee bitty chance to restore itself. For those who want something a little more mechanical, they have 9/10 of the country that they can play around in.

[Kili01]

I feel sorry for the poor turtles! The building of a new road leading to Lara can only increase the number of people going there. I also suspect that when Phase 2 works are announced a new cafe, shop and public toilets plus extensive car parking facilities may be built there as well. Similar to the ones built at Gereskipou beach. Followed in due course by hotels and private villas.

Awful, for all of us who like the Akamas wild and natural.

Dee

[Dominic]

And how will you be getting to the Akamas?

[Devil]

And how will you be getting to the Akamas?

As I said before, 'wheelchairs, pushbikes and shoes, preferably strong hiking boots'

[Ams]

And how will you be getting to the Akamas?

And there is the dilemma....

I want to protect the Akamas and leave it as natural . But I also want to be able to visit and enjoy that nature a couple of times a year. I don't have a 4x4 and am certainly not (and never will be) fit enough to cycle it, and my hiking ability would only allow me to see small parts of it (I have done the 3 nature trails near Aphrodite's Baths/Smygies).

So, I would appreciate better roads (not tarred roads, just smoother ones) for my personal use, but at the same time I don't want loads more vehicles in the area or risk the turtles at Lara. As I said, a dilemma.

Certainly, banning quad bikes and jeep safaris would be a good start. And I don't object to a entrance fee at all for vehicles, in fact that maybe a good idea to allow people who really want to go there to be able to, but while restricting numbers of vehicles.

[trevnhil]

I think the roads would be a little bit slippery today

[Kili01]

I thought that I read that there are plans to charge an entrance fee to the Akamas Country park, that in itself may help to restrict the numbers of people visiting the Akamas. But can they ban the hunters, I can imagine that there will be protests if they try!
I have been to Akamas and of course to Lara many times, so will not pine if I don't go there...
I would be happy if quad bikes were banned, but what about the individuals who hire them out many to tourists?
I wish that quad bikes and the people who hire them out could be banned from using them on ToTK road. It seems crazy to me to allow their use there on a very busy and fast road. There is a great risk of accidents involving other road users too.
Dee