Mountain Bikers Threaten to Break the Law, If They Don't Get Their Way

As usual....

Mike


http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/...urges_con.html


Doubts linger over Middlesex Fells' plan

Posted by Matt Byrne September 15, 2011 10:04 AM

By Matt Byrne, Town Correspondent
Since the advent of the sandbox, there have been disputes over who may
play in it. The Middlesex Fells, after years of infighting, meetings,
and now the release by the state of a long sought after planning
document, appears to be no different.

The tension continued Thursday night at a meeting to unveil the
Resource Management Plan, in the works for more than two years, that
some groups have hoped would settle, at least for now, the competing
interests of the many user groups who frequent the Fells's 100-plus
miles of trails.

"The Fells is big," said state Senator Pat Jehlen, a Democrat of
Somerville. "But maybe not big enough for all of us to love it our own
way."

Aside from the slew of rare wildlife, more than 860 plant types, and
dozens of historic buildings, the state found another unique feature
at the expansive, 2,575-acre park: Controversy.

The agency dedicates an entire section to the use of the Fells by
walkers, hikers, mountain bikers, dog owners, birders, and
naturalists.

The sharpest disagreement has long been between members of the Boston
chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association, who seek more
equitable access to trails for riding, and the Friends of the Fells, a
nature group that advocates for stricter rules on preservation.

The state found that hiking or walking have similar environmental
impacts as mountain biking, and that while a "potential for conflict"
exists between the camps, the report says, officially sanctioned areas
for each use should be expanded.

"I have friends who are dog-walkers. I have friends who are mountain
bikers," said Bryan Hamlin, the chairman of the board of directors for
the Friends group. "No matter what the plan is, it won't work unless
we make it work."

Adam Glick, president of the mountain bikers' Boston chapter, said
that his members may still be skeptical, although more trails for
riding around the Dark Hollow area are planned, as well as some single-
track loops in the eastern section of the park.

"If this plan is perceived to not offer significant change, you won't
get compliance," said Glick.

Also miffed were some dog owners, who scored a victory earlier this
year when a preliminary finding by the DCR promised a trial run of an
off-leash dog area at the popular Sheepfold meadow.

But the state requires that all other areas of the park remain on-
leash, including on all trails, which drew criticism and
disappointment from some dog owners who said they sought off-leash
trail walking.

"I think dog owners are going to be very disappointed," said David
Monihan of FellsDOG, who lamented the continued off-leash trail ban.

While much of the attention has been focused on the feuding user
groups, the state's plan for the Fells is largely aimed at natural
preservation.

The state calls for protection of the expansive adjacent watershed
that supplies Winchester with drinking water; the rare wildlife and
their habitats; the historic buildings and structures that dot the
landscape; and of the rare swaths, five in all, of 10-acre patches of
untouched forest.

To achieve the goals, the agency plans to close more than 20 miles of
redundant, damaging, or unauthorized trails, and slice the reservation
into three tiered zones that correspond to the sensitivity of the
surrounding wildlife.

Enforcement will be ramped up, as well. Two seasonal park rangers will
be hired, said Samantha Overton, acting director of urban parks and
recreation.

More rangers, more ticket-writing, and a beefier presence is on the
way, said Curt Rudge, DCR's chief ranger.

Echoing the sentiment of exasperation that seemed to ripple through
the crowd, Hamlin, of the Friends of the Fells, struck a conciliatory
note.

"We can't always get what we want," he said.

On Sep 18, 4:42*pm, Mike Vandeman wrote:
As usual....

Mike

Are the rape stories true, Mike?

"Kayak 44" wrote in message
...
[...]

Are the rape stories true, Mike?

You are the expert on sodomy. Why don't you tell us ... **** face!

--
Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

On Sep 20, 10:27*pm, "Edward Dolan" wrote:
"Kayak 44" wrote in message

...
[...]

Are the rape stories true, Mike?

You are the expert on sodomy. Why don't you tell us ... **** face!

--
Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

Ed is Mike's bitch!

"Kayak 44" wrote in message
...
On Sep 20, 10:27 pm, "Edward Dolan" wrote:
"Kayak 44" wrote in message

...
[...]

Are the rape stories true, Mike?

You are the expert on sodomy. Why don't you tell us ... **** face!

Ed is Mike's bitch!

Kayak is the bitch of anyone with a penis. The only thing he has on his
miniscule brain is sodomy. That is what comes of working in a prison ...
even if it is a prison of your own mind.

--
Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota