[pct-l] Forest Service to consider allowing Mtn Bikes on the PCT

[Melanie Clarke]

I agree that cycles do not belong on hiking trails!  I own a Road Bike and
believe me, there are plenty of very remote, PAVED, back mountain roads
that are seldom used by vehicular traffic.  I get the experience of
breath-taking vistas, flora and fauna by cycling PAVED roads that can even
rival the hiking experience!  Everyone in my cycling club with broken
collar bones seem to have acquired it while riding a Mountain Bike.  There
are far more remote PAVED roads suitable and safe for ROAD cycling than
hiking trails so why do they have to take the little we have to enjoy
nature on foot?  Please pardon the *"shouty capitals"*, I'm trying NOT to
get annoyed by Mountain bikes!  I'm taking deep breaths now...

Aum,

Toga

On Sun, Oct 7, 2012 at 5:45 PM, Maxine Weyant <weyantm at msn.com> wrote:

> I think mountain biking is a wonderful sport but it should NOT be allowed
> on the PCT.  It's very destructive to the trail tread, and there's a big
> issue with safety.  I don't agree that 98% of mountain bikers are
> courteous.  In my experience, it's been about 50%.
>
> When I was on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, in the sections where
> mountain biking was allowed on the same trail as the hikers, there were
> numerous times when I was almost nailed by cyclists whipping down the
> trail.  Having to suddenly jump out of the way, or just being suddenly
> surprised when you're wearing a heavy pack, can cause injuries or
> worse--falls.  I once almost flew over a 100 foot cliff while I was
> mountain biking near Mt Rainier when 2 careless cyclists came careening
> down the trail at full speed and rounded the corner.  To avoid a head-on
> collision, I had to brake vigorously and my bike skidded off the trail.
>  Fortunately, the cliff had ended just a few feet before our encounter so I
> ended up face-first in the huckleberry bushes about 8 feet below the trail.
>  We really don't need that type of encounter on the PCT, especially when we
> have so many horses (not to mention hikers zoning out, listening to their
> mp3 players.)  Why invite tragedy?
>
> Sure, maybe the PCTA could make more money by collecting donations from
> mountain bikers, but their first duty should be to protect and preserve the
> PCT, not just to preserve the PCTA.  I'd be happy to donate even more to
> keep the bikes off the trail, but if the PCTA doesn't take a vigorous stand
> against allowing bikes on the trail, I'd be likely to send my donations
> elsewhere.
>
> It's my impression that with government budget cuts and USFS staffing cuts
> in the last 10 years, far more trail maintenance is performed by
> volunteers, not by the USFS.  And while horses may do a LOT of damage to
> the trail tread, equestrian groups like the Backcountry Horsemen do a LOT
> of the trail maintenance.  If bikes are allowed on the trail, trail
> volunteers will have even more work to do.  I don't think the USFS should
> open the trail to mixed use and invite accelerated trail erosion and
> rutting if they can't pony up the funds and manpower to maintain the trail.
>  I don't think the volunteers who maintain the trail will appreciate the
> added burden that mountain bikes would impart.
>
> Most non-wilderness areas already have a lot of trails that allow mountain
> biking,  If mountain bikers so badly want a PCT-equivalent experience,
> perhaps a separate PCT comprised of other trails and fire-roads could be
> set aside for multi-use.   And if the PCTA wanted to promote and assist in
> the development of such a separate route, provided it was funded by the
> bike-enthusiasts, I'd be in support of that.
>
> Dys-feng shui-nal
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