"Mountain bikes in national parks a bad trend", by biologist Brian Horejsi
http://www.codyenterprise.com/articl...a204560581.txt
The threat of expanded mountain biking in national parks is staring down on the fraying edges and core of our parks. Through the years, mostly years in which mountain biking was not so popular, the vast majority of Americans came to believe that national parks could be enjoyed by walking the trails or driving the paved roads, whether on your mountain bike or in your Chevy. It seemed intuitive that such a exceptional idea, and the exceptional places that brought that idea to life, should be free of mechanized access. It was a given that excluded motorized access. With snow machines already prying the door open, an avalanche of mechanization, pollution and conflict is surging forward. Yes, the industrial recreation world is drooling over access to national parks and the Bush administration has been there with their legislative and rule making pry bar, trying to force even more commercialization. And now we have the threat of mountain bikes. Let’s go through the list of problems this represents. First, this is another retreat from the notion of what a national park represents, and what role it has to play in the psyche of a free America. Along with wilderness, no human construct represents freedom of the masses like national parks. And many hikers are negatively impacted by the even occasional flow of bikers on trails. Bikes and bikers kick up dust and make noise. Other times they seem to sneak up and surprise hikers, and for a species like us that is visually oriented, mountain bikes are an intrusion of mechanization and urbanization. Bikers, it’s claimed, only want some front country routes ??“ you know, the ones that receive concentrated routine use from day hikers, the ones that older hikers use almost exclusively, and those that people with children use almost exclusively. No conflict there, right? The claim that people are going to use bikes more as they age ??“ just when their balance, eyesight and hearing is in decline ??“ is nonsense. The front country routes are going to be increasingly important for older walkers and families, so conflict will increase. This seems like forcing conflict on your most intense use areas. I’m tired of the excuse that bikes are less of a physical and psychological impact than other kinds of park use. Get it through your head; some kinds of park use involve natural means of travel ??“ and yes, they have to be tightly regulated, as in horse use ??“ and some, as in the bike proposals, involve artificial, man made means of off road travel. A bike on a ridge top provokes a different physiological, psychological and behavioral response from a person than a horse or someone on foot. Some people that have slipped into indifference want to throw the bikers a bone. And promoters of mechanization of parks are driven by the same behind-the-scenes agitators driving the off road vehicle set ??“ mostly manufacturers, dealers and other people who promote commercialization. Let’s see how that’s been going. First, renewed snowmobile use in Yellowstone, continuing widespread slaughter of bison, then guns in all national parks, and recently a call for widely extended cell phone use/coverage, towers included, in Yellowstone. Now, another step; mountain bike mechanization of the park. Anyone see a trend here ??“ or maybe an avalanche? It’s a common ploy by promoters and the indifferent to call for activists and citizens and scientists to look the other way ??“ this is not worth our time and effort, they proclaim. And it works. Mountain bikers killing wilderness bills in California are a perfect example of what happens when you keep throwing pork chops to the hounds. Wilderness activists and citizen supporters dropped the ball there. They thought they didn’t have to defend every inch of public rights, every public principle and every vision of public ownership. And the hounds leaped up and bit them. Americans are again faced with the same kind of threat, but this time it’s mountain biking in national parks. Seems like it’s time to bite back. (Brian Horejsi lives near Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and is a wildlife scientist, public process advocate and frequent user of Yellowstone Park. He earned a degree in forestry from the University of Montana and spends about a month every year in the Yellowstone and Livingston areas.) (EDITOR’S NOTE: Mountain biking opportunities are limited in Yellowstone Park. Because much of the park is managed as “wilderness” most of Yellowstone is off limits to mountain bikes, Chief Deputy Ranger Tim Reid says. Nearly all paved roads in the park are open to bicycling and several gravel roads are open to bikes, including the Old Gardiner Road and Blacktail Plateau Drive. There also are about a dozen trails open to mountain bikers throughout the park. Reid says a potential rule change that could open other national parks to additional mountain biking should not have much impact on Yellowstone. “I don’t see it really changing things here,” Reid added. “Biking opportunities are inherently limited in Yellowstone because most of the park is managed as wilderness.” A map of trails open to bikes and more information about riding in Yellowstone is available at www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/bicycling.htm.) -- I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8 years fighting auto dependence and road construction.) Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of! http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande |
Finally bought a mountain-bike thanks to Michael J. Vandeman.
On Jan 8, 12:30*am, Mike Vandeman wrote:
http://www.codyenterprise.com/articl...on/doc496517f8... I can't wait to get started on my new hobby. Kudos to Michael J. Vandeman for getting me interested in mountain-biking. |
Finally bought a mountain-bike thanks to Michael J. Vandeman.
Siskuwihane wrote:
On Jan 8, 12:30 am, Mike Vandeman wrote: http://www.codyenterprise.com/articl...on/doc496517f8... I can't wait to get started on my new hobby. Kudos to Michael J. Vandeman for getting me interested in mountain-biking. Please post your ride experiences to alt.mountain-bike. -- Tom Sherman - 42.435731,-83.985007 LOCAL CACTUS EATS CYCLIST - datakoll |
Finally bought a mountain-bike thanks to Michael J. Vandeman.
On Jan 9, 7:34*pm, Tom Sherman
wrote: Siskuwihane wrote: On Jan 8, 12:30 am, Mike Vandeman wrote: http://www.codyenterprise.com/articl...on/doc496517f8.... I can't *wait to get started on my new hobby. Kudos to Michael J. Vandeman for getting me interested in mountain-biking. Please post your ride experiences to alt.mountain-bike. I'll do that, after all this snow melts. |
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