Bikers must police our own
Patrick Farrell’s Sept. 18 cover story, "Going
Big," presented a fairly accurate picture of the current challenges
facing the mountain-bike community. As an active mountain-bike
trail advocate since 1989, I have witnessed the gradual acceptance
of mountain bikes as part of the trail equation by land agencies
and most trail users. The upstart downhill/ freeride crowd will, no
doubt, go through the same growing pains the more traditional
cross-country riders went through 15-plus years ago. Their
existence depends on how they respond to those who want to shut
them down.
The construction of unauthorized trails could be reduced by land agencies lending a more receptive ear to the needs of trail users. One major obstacle to this process is the ever-shrinking federal agency’s recreation budgets. Some mountain-bike trail groups and local federal land-management offices are developing innovative modes of financing trail development with the help of local and national business concerns.
My experience on non-motorized trails is most trail users tolerate other modes of trail use, and most trail users are well-behaved. It is the responsibility of all trail groups to educate their members about trail etiquette and tolerance, and police their own.
Bill Harris
Montrose, Colorado
The construction of unauthorized trails could be reduced by land agencies lending a more receptive ear to the needs of trail users. One major obstacle to this process is the ever-shrinking federal agency’s recreation budgets. Some mountain-bike trail groups and local federal land-management offices are developing innovative modes of financing trail development with the help of local and national business concerns.
My experience on non-motorized trails is most trail users tolerate other modes of trail use, and most trail users are well-behaved. It is the responsibility of all trail groups to educate their members about trail etiquette and tolerance, and police their own.
Bill Harris
Montrose, Colorado
