[pct-l] bikes on the PCT

[ambery-80243 at mypacks.net]

If you are going to bring up the historical group, I think you have overlooked the historical facts: this trail was set up and designated as a footpath for the use of hikers and equestrians.  

I get the appeal of mountain biking.  But it still doesn't justify to me why we can't have this one long distance trail experience without the distractions and issues involved with allowing bikes.  

-----Original Message-----
>From: Zorglub <azorglub at yahoo.com>
>Sent: Oct 9, 2012 8:14 PM
>To: 'PCT' <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] bikes on the PCT
>
>The whole OHV argument is a slippery slope that I don't buy and is a distraction from the main issue that one historical group is trying to keep another human powered group of recreationists out.
>
>Again, nobody's asking access to 100% of the PCT, but being kept out completely is unfair.  That might be why so many cyclists are not obeying the current rules.  Rules that are blatantly unfair are rarely followed.  
>
>
>________________________________
> From: Jim Banks <jbanks4 at socal.rr.com>
>To: 'PCT' <pct-l at backcountry.net> 
>Sent: Tuesday, October 9, 2012 8:09 PM
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] bikes on the PCT
> 
>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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