For heaven's sakes, almost all cyclists will be riding on

roads. To compare the two modes misses the mark. The only point I am
making is

that biking on trails is dangerous whereas hiking on trails is not.
The other

point is that biking on trails is stupid because of the nature of the
accidents.

Getting hit by a motorist on the road is not quite the same thing as
getting hit by

an obstacle in the trail and taking a tumble which can easily leave
you

paralyzed or dead.


No Ed, since YOU raised the point regarding which was safer it's
precisely on point. Firstly, hiking on trails is not safe as the
1.5million incidents attest. It is safer than mountainbiking in injuries
and fatalities per exposure but certainly not totally safe. Secondly, you
are quite right, getting hit by a motorist is very different to hitting an
obstacle ... and massively MORE dangerous. Overall, road cyclists suffer
less accidents and injuries than mountainbikers BUT many more fatalities.

Road cycling has certain inherent dangers from motorists which
have been around from day one. I have already told you that bike paths are the
answer to that particular problem. But getting hit by an obstacle in the trail
is so ****ing stupid as to boggle the rational mind. You like to do dangerous
things because you are a fool. Worse yet, you encourage others to do dangerous
things which makes you a criminal in my eyes.

The road is a dangerous place ... agreed ... so why cycle there for pleasure when there are better alternatives ?

Obstacles do not hit mountainbikers I think you'll find ... it's the other way around :-).

However, as the data shows, mountainbikers don't hit obstacles that often and the injury stats are relatively low (1.54 injuries per 1,000 exposures) as a result. And, those self same obstacles also cause hiker injuries too.

So, your characterisation of mountainbiking as extremely dangerous has no basis whatsoever in fact.

I think you have met me half way on this issue of safety. But
that is not my main objection to bikes on trails. If fools want to injure and
kill themselves, let them!

Perhaps ... I have never stated that mountainbiking is totally safe and have certainly fallen off my bike several times. However, as you say, adults are entitled to make their own decisions about the level of risk they are prepared to accept.

My main objection, as you should well know by now, is
the inherent conflict that is present between someone riding a trail and someone
walking a trail. That you can't' see it from my perspective means that we are at
permanent loggerheads. I want to walk a trail in order to enjoy what natural
beauty there is. You want to ride a trail for sport. Never the twain shall
meet!

I understand your perspective completely ... I simply disagree with it. We are comparing two recreational activities and you have the view that yours is inherently superior. I don't share that view so, no, we will never agree. I want to enjoy a sport and nature ... at the same time ... which mountainbiking allows me to do.

We've both just written down what we want ... and they conflict to some degree ... so the only solution is to find a compromise which gives both of us some, but not all, of what we want.

If you continue to simply dig your heels in and deny others' rights then, as I've said several times, you will simply get ignored. You accuse me of failing to understand your perspective yet I can assure you it's not the case. I understand your perspective completely; you want what you want and are not prepared to compromise one iota. Given that this is your position is it any wonder that we will never agree ?