[pct-l] The AT and cyclists

[Cat Nelson]

Scary and true.
On Oct 29, 2012 4:35 PM, "Tortoise" <tortoise73 at charter.net> wrote:

> There is always the danger that a friendly legislator will attach a rider
> to a must pass bill to allow mountain bikes onto the trails.  nothing
> certain in Congress.
>
> Typoed on my iPad.
>
> On Oct 29, 2012, at 13:13, <abiegen at cox.net> wrote:
>
> > RE: Any movement by mountain bikers to get access to the AT.
> >
> > The National Trails System Act of 1968 defined the existing/proposed
> National
> > Scenic Trails. It specifically states for the Appalachian Trail:
> >
> > "The Appalachian Trail shall be administered primarily as a footpath by
> the
> > Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of
> Agriculture."
> >
> > When the bill was written, the Appalachian Trail was well established
> and had a
> > strong association to protect their vision.
> >
> > The fact that it is stated "primarily as a footpath" ensures that it
> cannot be
> > opened to mountain bikes except by an act of Congress. Given that
> Congress has
> > refused to act even as we careen toward the fiscal cliff (please excuse
> my one
> > bipartisan political statement) it is extremely unlikely that the AT
> will be
> > opened to MBers.
> >
> > IMBA definitely has their sights on Wilderness and started several years
> ago to
> > propose alternate designations that they feel will allow mountain bikes.
> The
> > MBers are trying to define a thin line since they hate dirt bikes. They
> cite the
> > difference in speed and weight and how that impacts their safety. Hmmmmm.
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