Originally Posted by
CB HI
Causing far more damage than 100 mountain bikers would.
Actually not. They patrolled on MCs anyway, and knew how to ride. Much of the problems caused by mtn bikers are due to poor riding habits, such as tearing grooves straight up the fall line, which leads to erosion. It's often also a question of numbers. In many parks here mtn biking was tolerated (actually ignored) when the numbers were small. Then word would get out and too many people would be using the same trails without regard to the damage.
In many areas in the east, park staff and mtn biking groups form partnerships, trading volunteer help maintaining the trails, setting erosion stops on some of the steeper climbs, agreeing to stay off trails after hard rains, etc. and these alliances have worked well for everybody.