[pct-l] bikes on the PCT

[Fred Walters]

Maybe a poll across existing trail volunteers.  Question would have to be
sensible so, "Would you be prepared to spend your time repairing all the
trail damage from mountain bike use ?" would probably not help.  But a
balanced question passed round each trail volunteer group the results then
submitted to PCTA (and Forrest Service) so those with significant input to
any decision can gauge the impact on the trail (i.e. will it still exist in
5 years with no maintenance).

I don't know if relevant to US decision making but in the UK with e.g.
planning and development the authorities cannot really consider what might
happen outside the scope of their decision.  i.e. were they to allow
non-wilderness trail access then considerations about bikes also using
wilderness sections cannot be considered.  Their regulations would ban
wilderness bike access and that people might break those rules are not
relevant to the non-wilderness decision.  That is UK, I don't know about US.

That mountain bikes already use sections illegally might actually help the
Mountain Bikers case.  Because they can respond that "OK, we should not be
using it but, without any guidelines there have been no accidents so there
is clearly no danger ... and existing use shows we can happily coexist".
 It sounds to me like the danger and potential injury aspect is something
that would concern the authorities.  A few years ago the Forrest Service
were found largely liable when a child was killed by a bear (there were
points both sides and I understand child had food in his tent).  If the
authorities take inadequate steps to protect other users I would expect
they may also liable for legal damages.  So who is going to post the vast
numbers of "Warning Fast Moving Mountain Bikes" signs along the trail -
trail volunteers who it would seem are anti the bike use ?  How are the
authorities going to protect other users (to avoid legal liability) ?

I've not yet hiked the PCT.  I plan to when a few current responsibilities
allow (maybe a few years time).  I watch the list to gain knowledge of the
trail.  If mountain bikes are allowed I will not be making a thru hike
(I'll find another trail - Te Araoa [sic] also appeals).  Not a threat
(because most people here are against the bike use anyway), just that it
would be such a shame were this change of use to be allowed (and I believe
it would be a change as hikers would quickly fade to a few section/day
hikers).

Fred
(Sorry, I always go on and on writing long messages)

On Wed, Oct 10, 2012 at 4:09 AM, Jim Banks <jbanks4 at socal.rr.com> wrote:

> The PCTA does receive some taxpayer money from the Forest Service and BLM
> for maintenance of the trail, but it is a very, very small part of the
> overall cost of maintaining the trail.  The vast majority of the expense of
> maintaining the PCT is the sweat equity put in by the hikers and
> equestrians
> that volunteer to do the trail work.  If there were no volunteers, the
> taxpayer money would not be enough to maintain 100 miles of the trail.  As
> one of those volunteers, I can tell you that if mountain bikes are ever
> allowed on the PCT, a majority (maybe a super majority) of the people
> willing to give up their time and put in the hard work maintaining the
> trail
> will quit.
>
> The trails that allow mountain bikes are also partially funded by the
> taxpayer.  Following your line of thinking, motorcycles, quads, and jeeps
> should be allowed on those trails as well since those trails "are not meant
> to be for the exclusive use of any group."  You see it cuts both ways.
>
> I-Beam
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of Zorglub
> Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 5:42 PM
> To: PCT
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] bikes on the PCT
>
> Commuting by bike is great, but that does not really address the anti
> mountain bike bias I see on this board.  It seems to me, and I'm sure all
> will disagree here, that the issue has to do with sharing more than
> anything
> else.  Hikers, and the few horse riders left over (from what I read earlier
> on another post) are used now to have the PCT to themselves and are not
> interesting in sharing.
>
> I'd like to remind everyone that the PCT is funded by the taxpayer and
> should be therefore not meant to be the exclusive use of any given group.
>  I
> don't see the USFS creating new trails exclusively for mountain bikers, so
> I
> really don't see why the PCT should be the exclusive use of hikers.
>
> In 12 + years of riding all over, I've never had one bad encounter with
> anybody.
>
>
> ________________________________
>  From: Brick Robbins <brick at brickrobbins.com>
> To: PCT <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 9, 2012 5:13 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] bikes on the PCT
>
> On Tue, Oct 9, 2012 at 3:49 PM, Craig Giffen <cg at lunky.com> wrote:
> >During my hike of the PCT in the mid 90's, I saw more illegal mountain
> >bikes on the trail than I did horses...and no, they did not yield.  One
> >came around a blind corner so fast he nearly hit me head on.  He
> >apologized but I told him other hikers might not be as nice as I was.<
>
> And FWIW, I would like to point out that Craig exclusivity commutes by
> bicycle and does not own a car. I own a car, but only drive 1 day a week.
>
> If you look at Craigs website www.lunky.com you will see his "ride around
> Australia"
>
> Both of us are fiercely pro-bicycle, just not on the PCT
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