EX-Z55
ƒ/4.3
5.8 mm
1/250
“Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip…”
Two snapped chains, one broken spoke, a broken seat, a broken shox, and I went off a ravine and landed head first in a stream.
10 responses to “a three hour tour…”
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Bicycles should not be allowed in any natural area. They are inanimate objects and have no rights. There is also no right to mountain bike. That was settled in federal court in 1994: home.pacbell.net/mjvande/mtb10 . It’s dishonest of mountain bikers to say that they don’t have access to trails closed to bikes. They have EXACTLY the same access as everyone else — ON FOOT! Why isn’t that good enough for mountain bikers? They are all capable of walking….
A favorite myth of mountain bikers is that mountain biking is no more harmful to wildlife, people, and the environment than hiking, and that science supports that view. Of course, it’s not true. To settle the matter once and for all, I read all of the research they cited, and wrote a review of the research on mountain biking impacts (see home.pacbell.net/mjvande/scb7 ). I found that of the seven studies they cited, (1) all were written by mountain bikers, and (2) in every case, the authors misinterpreted their own data, in order to come to the conclusion that they favored. They also studiously avoided mentioning another scientific study (Wisdom et al) which did not favor mountain biking, and came to the opposite conclusions.
Those were all experimental studies. Two other studies (by White et al and by Jeff Marion) used a survey design, which is inherently incapable of answering that question (comparing hiking with mountain biking). I only mention them because mountain bikers often cite them, but scientifically, they are worthless.
Mountain biking accelerates erosion, creates V-shaped ruts, kills small animals and plants on and next to the trail, drives wildlife and other trail users out of the
area, and (worst of all) teaches kids that the rough treatment of nature is okay (it’s NOT!). What’s good about THAT?For more information: home.pacbell.net/mjvande/mtbfaq .
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No idea what provoked this rant, but I think most people would agree that some trails should allow only hiking. Whether we have found the right balance in mixed trail use is debatable. To not allow bikes in any natural area seems like a silly extreme.
I have never heard the arguments that you are refuting, so let me pose one: mountain biking is no more harmful to wildlife, people and the environment than horseback riding. And it smells better.
Per your logic, why do we let horseback riders go into natural places?
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Mountain biking does smell better that horseback riding and I deem the same ecological problems.
(And I would like to know how the horse feels about it, too).
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