The Far North District Council is considering a specific bylaw for the Pou Herenga Tai - Twin Coast Cycle Trail and could ban dogs and horses as a public safety measure.
When completed, the 84km trail will join Opua in the Bay of Islands and Horeke on the Hokianga Harbour.
According to the council under current legislation there is no single instrument for the management of the use of the trail which is on private land, Crown land, road reserve and land vested to the control of council and is why a specific health and safety bylaw is deemed necessary.
However, two of the proposed provisions in the draft bylaw have upset some dog lovers, horse owners and even cyclists.
It is planned to ban dogs and horses altogether, except where horses need to cross the trail.