Enjoying the environment around Korsman Conservancy as a birder on a regular basis has opened my eyes to a few unsavoury facts.
People seem oblivious of how their actions might impact on others.
Seeing a dog walker disregarding the “dog on a leash” bylaw may encourage other dog walkers to do the same.
Irrespective of how well trained their dogs are, other road-users can’t predict what a loose dog may do at a moment’s notice and have to make adjustments to compensate for those eventualities; no impact to the oblivious dog walker.
Not compensating for such an event could result in injury to the other road-user and/or damage to their vehicle/bicycle.
The reason the cyclists are requesting that dogs to be on a leash is to prevent the above and reporting transgressors of the law to the authorities is every citizens right and obligation.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke
The real “Killjoys” at Korsman are those who litter all around the conservancy, even though many bins are provided; dog walkers who do not clean up after their dogs (Ekurhuleni Regulations of Parks and Open Spaces bylaw 7 point (2)); and vandals who are bent on destroying the environment by throwing whatever they can over the fence to pollute the conservancy.
I take my hat off to all those that do their bit to make Korsman a beautiful place to visit; especially the committee that has regular litter clean-ups and alien plant removals; those who mow the grass opposite their properties and the law-abiding citizens using the conservancy for recreation.
