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Last Child in the Woods -- Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder



 
 
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  #51  
Old November 23rd 06, 07:22 AM posted to alt.mountain-bike,rec.bicycles.soc,rec.backcountry,ca.environment,sci.environment
Mike Vandeman
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4,798
Default Last Child in the Woods -- Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

On Wed, 22 Nov 2006 14:19:09 -0500, "S Curtiss"
wrote:


"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 11:15:25 -0500, "S Curtiss"
wrote:


When humans pass by on a Saturday excursion into the wilderness then go
home, wildlife is not impacted as Mike repeatedly purports,

The research proves otherwise: http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/scb7.

Referencing your own writings with references only to materials carefully
chosen to support your opinions


That's a LIE.

No. It isn't. Provide INDEPENDANT review of your statements and opinions to
show validity.


Every conference mentioned on my website is an independent
confirmation.

hardly counts as a reference. Provide
INDEPENDANT review of YOUR statements and opinions. Until you do, you are
only making a "because I say so" statement.

Try having some integrity and respond to the ENTIRE context.

===
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
Ads
  #52  
Old November 23rd 06, 07:46 AM posted to alt.mountain-bike,rec.bicycles.soc,rec.backcountry,ca.environment,sci.environment
S Curtiss
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 459
Default Last Child in the Woods -- Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder


"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 22 Nov 2006 14:19:09 -0500, "S Curtiss"
wrote:
When humans pass by on a Saturday excursion into the wilderness then
go
home, wildlife is not impacted as Mike repeatedly purports,

The research proves otherwise: http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/scb7.

Referencing your own writings with references only to materials
carefully
chosen to support your opinions

That's a LIE.

No. It isn't. Provide INDEPENDANT review of your statements and opinions
to
show validity.


Every conference mentioned on my website is an independent
confirmation.

No - It is not. There is no comment or review of your comments. Only a
statement of attendance and presentation. Where is the review of your
comments from other presenters, organizers and attendees?


  #53  
Old November 23rd 06, 08:01 AM posted to alt.mountain-bike,rec.bicycles.soc,rec.backcountry,ca.environment,sci.environment
Roberto Baggio
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 173
Default Last Child in the Woods -- Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

Can you explain how a conference is considered an independent confirmation?

"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message
...
Every conference mentioned on my website is an independent
confirmation.



  #54  
Old November 23rd 06, 08:10 AM posted to alt.mountain-bike,rec.bicycles.soc,rec.backcountry,ca.environment,sci.environment
Roberto Baggio
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 173
Default Last Child in the Woods -- Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

Stop posting facts - they go over his head.

"S Curtiss" wrote in message
...

"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message
...
On 21 Nov 2006 15:11:47 -0800, "Ed Pirrero"
wrote:


S Curtiss wrote:
"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message
...
On 19 Nov 2006 11:16:06 -0800, "Ed Pirrero"
wrote:


S Curtiss wrote:
"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message

WHY? I have yet to hear even ONE good reason for allowing bikes
off of
pavement.

You have yet to ACKNOWLEDGE good reasons.

Ding! We have a winner.

Really, only one reason need be espoused: because I want to, and am
able to.

You didn't read the question. I was asking for " ONE good reason for
allowing bikes off of pavement." NOT why YOU should ride. Why someone
else should LET you ride off-road. NOW answer the question. "Because
YOU like it" is not a good reason for a LAND MANAGER to allow you to
do it. Otherwise. that same reason would allow people to grow
marijuana on public lands.

Your failure to grasp reality is at the center of the issue. As long as
you
continue to insist your views and definitions are the only acceptable
options, you will continue to be looked at as on a fool's errand.

And he fails to grasp that the reality is that the good reasons are
that MTBers, by real, verifiable research, don't leave any bigger
footprint in nature than hikers.


That's a LIE. That's why you didn't cite any such "research": there
isn't any!

Your choice to be ignorant of information contrary to your opinion does
not make the statement in any way a "lie".

"A study published in the summer 2006 Journal of Park and Recreation
Administration (Volume 24, Number 12) takes a close look at the
environmental impacts of mountain biking. Researchers measured trail
erosion and other impacts on 31 trails used for mountain biking in the
southwestern U.S. The study concludes that, "certain impacts to mountain
bike trails, especially width, are comparable or less than hiking or
multiple-use trails, and significantly less than impacts to equestrian or
off-highway vehicle trails."
Recreational ecologists Dave White from Arizona State University and Pam
Foti from Northern Arizona University led the three-year research project
titled "A Comparative Study of Impacts to Mountain Bike Trails in Five
Common Ecological Regions of the Southwestern U.S." The researchers used
"Common Ecological Regions" (CERs) to provide consistency in comparing the
ecological effects of mountain biking with those of other recreational
activities."

Even the most recent research shows your opinions constitute the bulk of
the lies being presented.



And since the reality is that nobody
is going to ban hikers, bikers (and their bikes) will continue to have
access. The activity is growing, and reality matches that growth -
more access to more places. Including National Parks!

I don't think MJV would allow any sort of recreation in any area, if it
were up to him. On foot, on bike, on horseback - none of it. So his
opinion of what constitutes a "good reason" for allowing any of these
things is essentially singular, and of no importance.

E.P.

===
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





  #55  
Old November 23rd 06, 03:36 PM posted to alt.mountain-bike,rec.bicycles.soc,rec.backcountry,ca.environment,sci.environment
S Curtiss
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 459
Default Last Child in the Woods -- Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder


"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:48:52 -0500, "S Curtiss"
wrote:


"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message
. ..
On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 15:12:23 -0500, "S Curtiss"
wrote:
Your choice not to acknowledge the several valid answers to this
question
over the years

Show me even ONE valid answer. Since you CAN'T and DON'T, that proves
my point.

Your choice to split context and ignore the complete text (below) proves
my
point to everyone except you. That is all the proof I need as off-road
cycling makes progress within the entire community and your voice has been
dropped by the wayside.

continues to leave you in a corner of your own making. Beyond
that, you have NO power to make the request as you have NO power to
wield
in
making decisions. Fortunately, your own lack of substance in dealing
with
the reality of the benefits put forth has left your credibility in a
shambles and your voice empty in the actual discussions that continue to
move forward.
The expansion of access, the actual rules of access and the growth of
cooperation between all groups continues to leave you and your phony
"research" behind.


Posted exactly one year ago (11/22/05):
"Cycling off-road is an excellent physical and mental exercise, allows the
rider to enjoy this exercise without the constraints and dangers of being
in
auto traffic, allows the rider to enjoy the natural environment, and
develop
an appreciation for the natural environment.


NONE of that is a reason to allow BIKES off-road. Show me where a BIKE
is necessary for off-road exercizing! Idiot. Try again....

Show where there is a reason to NOT allow them. You haven't.

Your spliiting of context is tiresome and beneath the intelligence you
claim, (as is your use of name calling)
"with your opinion firmly in place, you perceive anything you dislike or
disagree with as being senseless, wasteful or hazardous in some way. You say
"give me one good reason to bike off-road" in the same manner in which one
would ask "give me one good reason to put your hand in a fire".

Your opinion of the FACTS does not undermine their validity.


The appreciation of any
activity is highly subjective. If your PhD was worth the tissue paper it
is
written on, you would grasp that as fundamental. However, with your
opinion
firmly in place, you perceive anything you dislike or disagree with as
being
senseless, wasteful or hazardous in some way. You say "give me one good
reason to bike off-road" in the same manner in which one would ask "give
me
one good reason to put your hand in a fire".

Progress has been made while your distorted views show only more holes.



  #56  
Old November 23rd 06, 04:01 PM posted to alt.mountain-bike,rec.bicycles.soc,rec.backcountry,ca.environment,sci.environment
S Curtiss
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 459
Default Last Child in the Woods -- Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder


"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 23:56:37 GMT, "Roberto Baggio"
wrote:

Because the public allows it,


That's not a reason to allow it. You just restated the fact that it's
allowed. WHY should it be allowed? OBVIOUSLY, you can't come up with a
single good reason to allow bikes off-road.

The simple reason they ARE allowed and continued access on public lands is
expanding proves the reasons (as stated so many times) are valid. Your
choice to ignore these reasons is unimportant as cooperation, understanding
and real progress continues. Your demand for a "reason" is merely your game
of words and also unimportant. Your own choices to ignore information
counter to your opinions and your own tactics of discussion in the face of
this information has left you unimportant.
The FACTS are that the groups involved in making regulations and the diverse
groups of "outdoor visitors" and their policy makers ARE recognizing the
validity of the "reasons" and the similarities of impacts to recognize the
benefits of cooperative efforts.




  #57  
Old November 23rd 06, 04:05 PM posted to alt.mountain-bike,rec.bicycles.soc,rec.backcountry,ca.environment,sci.environment
S Curtiss
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 459
Default Last Child in the Woods -- Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder


"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 22 Nov 2006 14:34:43 -0500, "S Curtiss"
wrote:


"JP" wrote in message
newsx%8h.970$ki3.866@trndny01...
See what I mean Steve?

Did you really want to make him feel better?

I don't think for a minute he is smart enough to look at it in the way you
present. Even so, I like to believe at some point one of the people that
organize these "conferences" he invites himself to through a "call for
papers" will do a background check on him and reject his submissions.


Very funny. My papers speak for themselves.


Without INDEPENDANT review or comment from attendees, organizers or "peers"
at these conferences, I believe you mean your papers speak TO themselves.


  #58  
Old November 23rd 06, 04:23 PM posted to alt.mountain-bike,rec.bicycles.soc,rec.backcountry,ca.environment,sci.environment
S Curtiss
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 459
Default Last Child in the Woods -- Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder


"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 22 Nov 2006 14:06:27 -0500, "S Curtiss"
wrote:


And he fails to grasp that the reality is that the good reasons are
that MTBers, by real, verifiable research, don't leave any bigger
footprint in nature than hikers.

That's a LIE. That's why you didn't cite any such "research": there
isn't any!

Your choice to be ignorant of information contrary to your opinion does
not
make the statement in any way a "lie".

"A study published in the summer 2006 Journal of Park and Recreation
Administration (Volume 24, Number 12) takes a close look at the
environmental impacts of mountain biking. Researchers measured trail
erosion
and other impacts on 31 trails used for mountain biking in the
southwestern
U.S. The study concludes that, "certain impacts to mountain bike trails,
especially width, are comparable or less than hiking or multiple-use
trails,
and significantly less than impacts to equestrian or off-highway vehicle
trails."
Recreational ecologists Dave White from Arizona State University and Pam
Foti from Northern Arizona University led the three-year research project
titled "A Comparative Study of Impacts to Mountain Bike Trails in Five
Common Ecological Regions of the Southwestern U.S." The researchers used
"Common Ecological Regions" (CERs) to provide consistency in comparing the
ecological effects of mountain biking with those of other recreational
activities."

Even the most recent research shows your opinions constitute the bulk of
the
lies being presented.



"A Comparative Study of Impacts to Mountain Bike Trails in Five
Common Ecological Regions of the Southwestern U.S." (White et al 2006)

1. Are the authors mountain bikers? They seem to be promoting mountain
biking -- trying to make it seem environmentally acceptable.


Yawn.... Did you say something?
Your credibility has been rendered suspect (by your own actions) to the
point that your questions of this paper and your opinions of the research
contained are unimportant. You do nothing to counter the information but
ridicule the findings.


  #59  
Old November 23rd 06, 05:03 PM posted to alt.mountain-bike,rec.bicycles.soc,rec.backcountry,ca.environment,sci.environment
Mike
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 48
Default Last Child in the Woods -- Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder


"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 22 Nov 2006 14:06:27 -0500, "S Curtiss"
wrote:


"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message
. ..
On 21 Nov 2006 15:11:47 -0800, "Ed Pirrero"
wrote:


S Curtiss wrote:
"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message
...
On 19 Nov 2006 11:16:06 -0800, "Ed Pirrero"
wrote:


S Curtiss wrote:
"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message

WHY? I have yet to hear even ONE good reason for allowing bikes
off of
pavement.

You have yet to ACKNOWLEDGE good reasons.

Ding! We have a winner.

Really, only one reason need be espoused: because I want to, and am
able to.

You didn't read the question. I was asking for " ONE good reason for
allowing bikes off of pavement." NOT why YOU should ride. Why
someone
else should LET you ride off-road. NOW answer the question. "Because
YOU like it" is not a good reason for a LAND MANAGER to allow you to
do it. Otherwise. that same reason would allow people to grow
marijuana on public lands.

Your failure to grasp reality is at the center of the issue. As long
as
you
continue to insist your views and definitions are the only acceptable
options, you will continue to be looked at as on a fool's errand.

And he fails to grasp that the reality is that the good reasons are
that MTBers, by real, verifiable research, don't leave any bigger
footprint in nature than hikers.

That's a LIE. That's why you didn't cite any such "research": there
isn't any!

Your choice to be ignorant of information contrary to your opinion does
not
make the statement in any way a "lie".

"A study published in the summer 2006 Journal of Park and Recreation
Administration (Volume 24, Number 12) takes a close look at the
environmental impacts of mountain biking. Researchers measured trail
erosion
and other impacts on 31 trails used for mountain biking in the
southwestern
U.S. The study concludes that, "certain impacts to mountain bike trails,
especially width, are comparable or less than hiking or multiple-use
trails,
and significantly less than impacts to equestrian or off-highway vehicle
trails."
Recreational ecologists Dave White from Arizona State University and Pam
Foti from Northern Arizona University led the three-year research project
titled "A Comparative Study of Impacts to Mountain Bike Trails in Five
Common Ecological Regions of the Southwestern U.S." The researchers used
"Common Ecological Regions" (CERs) to provide consistency in comparing the
ecological effects of mountain biking with those of other recreational
activities."

Even the most recent research shows your opinions constitute the bulk of
the
lies being presented.



And since the reality is that nobody
is going to ban hikers, bikers (and their bikes) will continue to have
access. The activity is growing, and reality matches that growth -
more access to more places. Including National Parks!

I don't think MJV would allow any sort of recreation in any area, if it
were up to him. On foot, on bike, on horseback - none of it. So his
opinion of what constitutes a "good reason" for allowing any of these
things is essentially singular, and of no importance.

E.P.
===
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


"A Comparative Study of Impacts to Mountain Bike Trails in Five
Common Ecological Regions of the Southwestern U.S." (White et al 2006)

1. Are the authors mountain bikers? They seem to be promoting mountain
biking -- trying to make it seem environmentally acceptable.
2. Why does the abstract and paper make comparisons between hiking and
mountain biking impacts? They apparently didn't collect any data that
would allow them to make such a comparison. In fact, the only way to
make such a comparison is with an experimental design, not a survey,
as they have done.


It is logically impossible to draw any useful
conclusions from a design that includes measurements taken at only a
single point in time. The data (trail width and depth) provide no way
to distinguish between mountain biking impacts and the effects of
trail construction, trail maintenance, wind, rain, hiking, animals, or
any other factors.



But if mountain bikes caused as much damage as you claim wouldn't it be
obvious? You state "The data (trail width and depth) provide no way
to distinguish between mountain biking impacts and the effects of
trail construction, trail maintenance, wind, rain, hiking, animals, or
any other factors." So you are finally admitting that it is impossible to
tell, from trail conditions, who is damaging the trail ? So your method of
dertermining that mountain bikers cause all the damage could br classified
as science fiction.



3. The comparison of mountain biking vs. hiking impacts seems to rest
on three bits of information: Wilson and Seney (1994), Thurston and
Reader (2001), and a vague, non-statistical judgment about their
measurements being "similar" to those of hiking trails.


Maybe that's because it is similar between the two.


The Wilson and
Seney study was discredited by Vandeman (2004), because they didn't
measure erosion accurately: they dripped water on the trail and
collected and weighed the solids carried into the collecting pan. This
only takes into account very fine particles able to be transported by
such "artificial rain"; it ignores all of the larger particles
dislodged by feet or tires.


That would also leave out erossion cuased by heavy rains. In areas with
heavy rains the erossion would cause more damage than hiking and biking
combined.


The Wilson and Seney study thus provides
no useful comparison between hiking and mountain biking impacts.


No. The information is useful, not just useful to you.


4. They also misrepresented Thurston and Reader's results. Actually,
Thurston and Reader found that after 500 passes, mountain biking had
greater impacts on plants than hiking. It doesn't take long to
accumulate 500 passes. Some trails will receive that amount of traffic
(250 visitors) in a day or two.


Some trails, not all trails. Some trails may not see 500 passes in six
months. But it's no different for hiking trails. Some hiking trails in,
popular areas, may see 500 people a day.


So this study actually provides no
support for White et al's claim that hiking and mountain biking
impacts are "comparable"


Sure it does, see above.


(whatever that means).
5. The authors provide no other quantitative, statistical comparison
between hiking and mountain biking impacts. The only way to do that
would be to do an experimental study, where all factors except hiking
vs. mountain biking are controlled (in other words, apply equal
amounts of hiking and mountain biking to identical trails and measure
the impacts using before-and-after measurements).



Wouldn't that be next to impossible ? That would mean the trails to be
compared would have to be identicle in every respect, such as same type of
soil, same slope, same amount of rainfall, etc..... Now it's easy to see
where "comparable" fits in.


6. Their estimate of the number of mountain bikers ("21% of the
American public") seems grossly exaggerated. I think they need to find
a more reliable source for that information.
7. They make claims about the benefits of mountain biking. This seems
out of place in a scientific paper, especially since they provide no
evidence for any such (net) benefits.


It really doesn't take much smarts to figure that one out, does it? They
are outdoors getting physical exercise. I have never heard were exercise
wasn't good for you.


Such claims are usually biased
by tallying alleged positive benefits without subtracting the harm
caused by mountain biking (e.g. accidents, environmental damage,
wildlife impacts, and driving other trail users off of the trails).



That only happens when idiots like you do the studies.


8. They claim "management actions that limit access can be
controversial and raise issues of equity", but provide no evidence.
I'm not aware of any limited access or issues of equity.



Sure you are. You are always complaining about mountain bikers not having
any rights to use the trails. How would you feel if the mountain bikers had
exclusive use of the trails and you could no longer use them. How would that
fit in to your "issuses of equity".



Since only
bicycles, not people, have ever been restricted, I don't see how they
can make such a claim. In fact, it is very unlikely that there are any
equity issues, since it was already determined by a federal court that
bikes may be banned from trails (see
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/mtb10).
9. I'm glad they mention "questionable studies". There are, indeed, a
lot of them!


There sure are. You should read some of the crap that is written by a guy
named Vandeman.


But I wonder why they included some of them in their
references, such as Wilson and Seney, and presented them without
comment, as if they were sound science (see Vandeman 2004).


You can't use the terms "sound science" and "Vandeman" in the same
sentence as it is a contradiction of terms.


They also
misrepresented Thurston and Reader's results, as I explained above.
10. On p.24 they mention "visitor-related factors", but omitted
impacts on other trail users. I think that that is one of the major
impacts of mountain biking. I'm aware of many parks where mountain
bikers have driven other trail users off the trails and out of the
parks.


Now we get down to the real reason for your hatred of mountain bikers. You
don't want them on YOUR trails.


11. On p.26 they claim that "the magnitude of ecological impacts
attributed to mountain biking appear to be comparable to those of
hiking". "Comparable" is vague or meaningless as a scientific term.


It means that both activities have the same impact on the environment.

Main Entry: sim·i·lar
Pronunciation: 'si-m&-l&r, 'sim-l&r
Function: adjective
Etymology: French similaire, from Latin similis like, similar -- more at
SAME
1 : having characteristics in common : strictly comparable
2 : alike in substance or essentials : CORRESPONDING no two animal habitats
are exactly similar -- W. H. Dowdeswell
3 : not differing in shape but only in size or position similar triangles
similar polygons


The Earth is comparable to the Sun (they can be compared).


Sure, if you are saying both are round objects.


I think
that they also misrepresent the implications of those studies


Your opinion only.


(see
Vandeman 2004).


I don't read science fiction.


12. On p.29 they mention "user-created" trails.


Are you saying that the trails are not "user-created" ?


Why use a euphemism,
in a scientific paper? Those trails were built illegally. The authors
only add to the impression that their paper is deliberately slanted.
13. They make a good point on p.36 about trail users having to leave
the trail to allow mountain bikers to pass. This is a good reason to
ban bikes from trails: they lead inevitably to trail widening. But the
authors don't suggest banning bikes as an option, even though it is a
very common management tool. This adds to the impression of bias.
14. On p.37 they claim that "the width and depth" of their trails is
"similar" (not a scientific term, since it is so vague) to that of
Marion & Leung, although their trails averaged 32" wide (median 26")
and his median trail width was 17", so theirs was 50% greater. Why be
scientifically precise in some contexts, but totally vague when they
want to advocate for mountain biking?


It is scientifically meaningless
to compare trails in different areas, since the differences or
similarities could be caused by many irrelevant factors, such as
differences in soil type, kind and amount of use, management policies,
etc.


Exactly, now you should be able to see why they use the term "similar" so
often.


15. Also on p.37 they claim that "The findings from our study thus
reinforce results from previous research that certain impacts to
mountain bike trails, especially width, are comparable or less than
hiking ... trails". On the contrary, they presented zero data on the
width of hiking trails. In fact, they gave evidence (see # 13 above)
that mountain biking tends to widen hiking trails, by forcing hikers
and equestrians off the trail.
16. They also say "average width in our study was similar to lower use
mountain bike trails in Australia ... which [were] from 17 in. to 26
in." "Similar" is not a scientific term. It would appear, on the
contrary, that their trails were much wider than those ones. But as I
mentioned earlier, it is meaningless to compare trails in different
areas. There is no way to determine the cause of any differences or
lack of differences.
17. They claim on p.37 that "mountain biking is likely a sustainable
activity on properly managed trails". What does that mean?


Comprehension of the english language is not one of your strong points, I
see.


They have
just documented erosion and trail widening. Those effects are not
"sustainable"; they constitute environmental damage, in addition to
that of other trail users.


It's the hikers using mountain bike trails that cause the widening of the
trails, maybe all hikers should be banned.


They go on to mention several other
negative effects of mountain biking (wildlife impacts and spread of
exotic species) that also contradict the idea that mountain biking is
"sustainable". It would appear that they are bending over backwards to
conclude that mountain biking is acceptable.


Wouldn't those negative effects apply to hiking as well ?


18. I fail to see the value of "the introduction of CERs" (Common
Ecological Regions). It seems to have no relevance to policy or
management, unless we are going to prohibit mountain biking in desert
areas where trails can't be clearly delimited. But we already know
that trail widening is harmful: it represents habitat destruction.



Sure, adding another six inches to the width of the trail would just clear
the wildlife right out of the forrest, wouldn't it ?


In summary, I was bothered most by the authors' unquestioning
acceptance at face value of (or even misrepresenting) some rather
questionable studies, and their drawing conclusions not warranted by
their data. If they really want to do science, and not just promote
mountain biking, I think they should adhere better to what the data
tell us.


Maybe you should take that advice and use it in your own "studies".



Actually, it's much easier than trying to slant results. Permit me to
tell a little story. I was in graduate school at UCLA, was trying to
write a literature-review paper, and was having a terrible time
writing it -- until I realized that I was trying to make the results
come out the way I wanted them to. When I decided to "just tell it
like it was" and let the cards fall as they might, the paper almost
wrote itself. It became easy.


So what happened between then and now ?


Mountain biking is such a contentious issue that there is a great
temptation to slant the results to support one's preferred management
policy. The result is a lot of questionable studies that don't really
further science and don't really help provide scientific management of
our precious remaining wildlife habitat.



I would agree to that as your "studies" read like science fiction.


I suggest that they first
find out what kind of answers are needed (especially by land
managers), and then design research specifically to answer those
questions.


I hope I am reading that wrong but it seems that's how studies are done
now. They figure out the answer they want for the question and then find the
research that gives the desired answer.

How about a study that is done without bias that actually and thruthfully
answers the questions at hand ?


References:

Thurston, E. and R. J. Reader. 2001. Impacts of experimentally applied
mountain biking and hiking on vegetation and soil of a deciduous
forest. Environmental Management 27:397-409.

Vandeman, M. J. 2004. The Impacts of Mountain Biking on Wildlife and
People -- A Review of the Literature. Available at
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/scb7.

White, D. D., M. T. Waskey, G. P. Brodehl, and P. E. Foti. 2006. A
Comparative Study of Impacts to Mountain Bike Trails in Five Common
Ecological Regions of the Southwestern U.S. Journal of Park and
Recreation Administration, 24:2, 21-41.

Wilson, J. P. and J. Seney. 1994. Erosional impact of hikers, horses,
motorcycles, and off-road bicycles on mountain trails in Montana.
Mountain Research and Development. 14:77-88.
===
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





  #60  
Old November 23rd 06, 07:04 PM posted to alt.mountain-bike,rec.bicycles.soc,rec.backcountry,ca.environment,sci.environment
Mike Vandeman
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4,798
Default Last Child in the Woods -- Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

On Thu, 23 Nov 2006 08:01:55 GMT, "Roberto Baggio"
wrote:

Can you explain how a conference is considered an independent confirmation?


I wouldn't be allowed to speak (not just ONCE, but REPEATEDLY), if my
paper weren't of scientific quality.

"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message
.. .
Every conference mentioned on my website is an independent
confirmation.


===
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
 




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