Hiker Assaulted by a Mountain Biker Riding Illegally in Castle RockState Park!

Mountain bikers like to claim that these incidents are rare, but we
know better! This kind of thing is quite common! Mountain bikers are
as polite as can be, until you inform them that bikes aren't allowed
where they are riding. Then they become VERY belligerent, VERY fast!
This is caused partly by mountain biking organizations like IMBA,
which perpetuate the myth that mountain bikers are being discriminated
against.

Mike


Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:49:05 -0700
From: Ross Finlayson
Subject: Recent incident at Castle Rock State Park

Although Castle Rock State Park is currently closed to mountain bikes,
some of us are working hard to try to gain some access to appropriate
trails within the park (especially those that help form connections to
other open space). Unfortunately, at a Castle Rock Trails Planning
meeting last night, I learned of an incident on Sunday afternoon (Oct
11th) in which a local resident was assaulted by a mountain biker
riding (illegally) within the park. The victim managed to get a photo
of the cyclist; I've attached this below.

To put it mildly, incidents like this do nothing to help the cause of
the vast majority of mountain bikers who are looking for ways to
peacefully share the trails with other users, and who want to work
within the system to gain some access to areas that are currently
closed to our use.

Here's the report that I received about the incident:
----------
"The person in the attached photo was riding on trails closed to
bicycles in Castle Rock State Park and on posted private property on
Sunday, October 11 between 4 and 5 pm. When confronted he became
abusive and refused to provide identification. He physically attacked
the individual confronting him, knocking him to the ground and
damaging his cellphone. He then raced off on his bike.

If you have information about identity of the individual in the
photograph
please contact Castle Rock State Park at 408 867 2952."

On Oct 14, 9:32*am, Mike Vandeman wrote:
Mountain bikers like to claim that these incidents are rare, but we
know better! This kind of thing is quite common! Mountain bikers are
as polite as can be, until you inform them that bikes aren't allowed
where they are riding. Then they become VERY belligerent, VERY fast!
This is caused partly by mountain biking organizations like IMBA,
which perpetuate the myth that mountain bikers are being discriminated
against.

Mike

Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:49:05 -0700
From: Ross Finlayson
Subject: Recent incident at Castle Rock State Park

Although Castle Rock State Park is currently closed to mountain bikes,
some of us are working hard to try to gain some access to appropriate
trails within the park (especially those that help form connections to
other open space). *Unfortunately, at a Castle Rock Trails Planning
meeting last night, I learned of an incident on Sunday afternoon (Oct
11th) in which a local resident was assaulted by a mountain biker
riding (illegally) within the park. *The victim managed to get a photo
of the cyclist; I've attached this below.

To put it mildly, incidents like this do nothing to help the cause of
the vast majority of mountain bikers who are looking for ways to
peacefully share the trails with other users, and who want to work
within the system to gain some access to areas that are currently
closed to our use.

Here's the report that I received about the incident:
----------
"The person in the attached photo was riding on trails closed to
bicycles in Castle Rock State Park and on posted private property on
Sunday, October 11 between 4 and 5 pm. *When confronted he became
abusive and refused to provide identification. He physically attacked
the individual confronting him, knocking him to the ground and
damaging his cellphone. *He then raced off on his bike.

If you have information about identity of the individual in the
photograph
please contact Castle Rock State Park at 408 867 2952."