[pct-l] single track, stock, bikes

David Hough on pct-l pcnst2001 at sbcglobal.net
Fri Oct 19 09:54:14 CDT 2012


Seems to me the issue on the PCT is stock vs bikes, motorized or not.
They just don't coexist well on narrow trails.     The PCT was originally
designated as a trail for foot and stock use.     That's the same whether
in statutory wilderness or not.      Stock use on trails is part of our
heritage in the West.    Bicycles are newer.     

(In contrast, plenty of
the AT is not friendly to stock or bikes.    
In further contrast, it sounds like parts of the CDT will
become de-facto bike trails if present trends continue.)

Since legal principles like right of way aren't that helpful if you need
to get stitched up on the trail, hikers generally understand that they
have to get out of the way of stock and bikes if they want to maximize
their chances of finishing a long hike.    In most parts of the PCT, stock
encounters are not frequent enough to be a nuisance for hikers.
Bicycles would likely be more frequent if legal.

I personally don't mind sharing fire roads with bicycles, but less and less
of the PCT is still on roads.

I think the right solution is for interested parties to develop legal
alternate routes for mechanized travelers.    After all, there are several
places already on the PCT where the stock and foot routes diverge for
various reasons.

Threats and denial-of-service attacks and other vigilantism
don't seem helpful to me.    More
funding for law enforcement on national scenic trails would be helpful,
but that would be getting into politics and not many people want to go
there on this list.





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