[pct-l] Bicycle Usage Proposal

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

The mountain bike problem is huge in Santa Barbara. We are cursed  
with 3000 foot mountains that have a road along the crest and trails  
that drop down into the city. Individuals and private companies  
shuttle mountain bikers to the top of the mountains and drop them  
off. Many of them have downhill bikes that resemble motorcycles with  
the engine removed. They bomb down the trail at tremendous speed  
wearing full face motorcycle helmets and body armor. Here are some  
pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69529140@N00/124881487/
http://www.ihatebikes.net/site/blog/tunnel-trail-santa-barbara- 
california/
http://www.leelikesbikes.com/wp-content/110602TunnelJimSection.jpg

Parts of the PCT have easy access like our trails in Santa Barbara. I  
would not wish this on the PCT.

A couple of years ago a mountain biker father and son came roaring  
around a corner and frightened a lady with her 5-year-old daughter  
riding a horse. The horse jumped off the side of the trail and fell  
to its death 50 feet below. The mother and daughter jumped off the  
horse in time to avoid also plunging 50 feet. The mountain bikers  
fled the scene. Bicycles are dangerous on narrow trails with foot and  
horse traffic. They do not belong there.

For the past couple of years the mountain bikers have been laying  
low. I'm curious why in the past couple weeks we've seen an increase  
of this topic on this list. It appears they've laid low for a couple  
of years and have returned.

I do hope they haven't hashed out a new "Art of War" tactic. These  
people do things in an incredibly deceitful manner. Someone from a  
Swiss email account telling Americans their country should have fewer  
regulations? My suspicions are raised, yes. They poison every place  
where they get a foothold. I hope they do not ruin the PCT. I will  
discontinue my PCTA membership if mountain bikers gain seats on the  
board or if they weaken the protection of the PCT.

Diane