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05-17-03, 09:14 AM
I was saddened this past week, reading a sign posted in Toronto's Don Valley, where I mostly ride.
It was a notice about pending closing trails to Mountain Biking in the Don, as it was negatively impacting a hardwood forest.
I fully understand that these green spaces in the midst of a city of 2.5 million need some preservation, but what use is it have green spaces if they cannot be appreciated.
It's maddening for those of us who do try to exercise good trail etiquette, as in not ridding after rains, and try very hard to avoid over breaking on downhills.
I'm not entirely convinced that the Mountain bikers are the true culprits in this case, as I've noticed that on the trails there is increasing amounts of dumping going on.
Generally, there is a norm that Mountain Bikers do not carry large bags of garbage in their camelbak to dump on the trail.
In the 3 years that I have been riding the Don, I cannot say Ive noticed an appreciable amount of erosion that can be attributed to mountain bikers, the only real damage if it can be called that is there have been a few stunts built in the past two years. do these constitute damage to the forest?
I must say, that if we are forced out of the Don, there will be an offset in the damage done to the environment.
I can ride to the trails, I don't drive my car, this reduces pollution, if we cant ride in the Don, we will be driving someplace else. What good is this?
For those of you who have managed to stop trails from being closed, what advice do you have?
As users of these areas, we should pitch in in the clean up, and make sure we get good press for it too! We need some good PR!!
As for fellow users of these lands, is anyone else concerned, and willing to offer some sweat equity to help save our riding. I'm not in a position to organize anything but would be willing to put my back into some work if necessary, and Ill spring for some large garbage bags so we can get some of this cleaned up.
It was a notice about pending closing trails to Mountain Biking in the Don, as it was negatively impacting a hardwood forest.
I fully understand that these green spaces in the midst of a city of 2.5 million need some preservation, but what use is it have green spaces if they cannot be appreciated.
It's maddening for those of us who do try to exercise good trail etiquette, as in not ridding after rains, and try very hard to avoid over breaking on downhills.
I'm not entirely convinced that the Mountain bikers are the true culprits in this case, as I've noticed that on the trails there is increasing amounts of dumping going on.
Generally, there is a norm that Mountain Bikers do not carry large bags of garbage in their camelbak to dump on the trail.
In the 3 years that I have been riding the Don, I cannot say Ive noticed an appreciable amount of erosion that can be attributed to mountain bikers, the only real damage if it can be called that is there have been a few stunts built in the past two years. do these constitute damage to the forest?
I must say, that if we are forced out of the Don, there will be an offset in the damage done to the environment.
I can ride to the trails, I don't drive my car, this reduces pollution, if we cant ride in the Don, we will be driving someplace else. What good is this?
For those of you who have managed to stop trails from being closed, what advice do you have?
As users of these areas, we should pitch in in the clean up, and make sure we get good press for it too! We need some good PR!!
As for fellow users of these lands, is anyone else concerned, and willing to offer some sweat equity to help save our riding. I'm not in a position to organize anything but would be willing to put my back into some work if necessary, and Ill spring for some large garbage bags so we can get some of this cleaned up.