On Jan 23, 2010, at 12:59 AM, erik jensen wrote:
On Jan 22, 7:11 pm, erik jensen <[email protected]> wrote:
> i'm not sure i understand why a "land owner" would not want
people riding
> rivendells on public lands laced with firetrails.
>
> can you explain?
On Fri, Jan 22, 2010 at 7:48 PM, MichaelH <[email protected]> wrote:
Eric,
Thanks for the question; I'd be glad to explain.
I can only assume that "public" land owners aren't paying as close
attention as I am.
For me, this process begins with bikers riding across fragile paths.
It is followed by mid night snowmobilers heading to the next bar and
then moves to four wheelers running through mud season spraying
precious topsoil wildly. I use the trails too - on snow shoes and
cross country skis, so I get to see the damage up close.
My wife chairs the town Conservation Committee, and sees the same
destruction on town trails. Here in Vt. the state has just granted
unlimited access to state trails for four wheelers. I'm guessing
they figure they can pocket the campaign donations before anyone
starts complaining about the real cost. I'm ready to go back to a
world where rural paths are for walking & cross country skiing.
Roads
are for riding on.
I suppose I can definitely see you point given certain environments
are absolutely fragile, and many cyclists are abusive. However,
riding here in the east bay, I ride smooth 35mm tires on fireroads
in land that is used as free-range for cattle. Not exactly a
fragile clime, but I agree with you entirely about the dangers of
destructive trail use and i'd love to see all motorized usage banned.
The reason that hikers want to keep bicyclists off the trails,
bicyclists want to keep ATVs off the trails, equestrians want to keep
bicyclists off the trails, snowshoers and skiers want to keep
snowmobiles off the trails- and all of those vice versa too- is
mostly pretty simple: entitlement. I'm having my fun and you're in
my way. It'll be couched with other justifications, some virtuous
and some not, but that's a big part of it.
The simple truth of humanity is that we can't all just get along.
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