Originally Posted by ih8_punkrock
Horses cause trail erosion, but no one is stopping horses from accessing trails. Free-range cattle grazing cause trail erosion, but no one is stopping cattle from grazing. And neither am I, dude, I am all about equal access, and right now, there isn't equal access.
What happens when FR stunts are taken down, or FR-ers are denied access to trails is that the reckless minority who are sick of it and have the balls will go built stunts anyway, ones they can put up and take down in a day. Obviously these aren't as safe or as well-built, but they don't have the opporutnitiy to do it right when other people rip them down anyway. Remember prohibition? No one stopped drinking just because it was illegal or caused liver disease. People are going to find a way to do something, so the best thing to do is give FR-ers some stunts to rip on. What is the big deal? A bridge that doesn't even touch the ground for its whole span HAS to have less of a trail impact than an actual trail on the ground, where people can skid their tires and rip up the dirt. It isn't about erosion. It is like what that other dude said about snowboarding.
This is not true, equestrians do not have access to all areas. They are denied access to many places because the poop all over the place and the riders don't like to stop to clean it up.
The truth of the matter here is that there are no "free-rides". It's not free for XC riders and it's certainly not free for free-riders (note my ironic wordplay here ;-). Someone has to take responsibility.
Now, there ARE free-riders who take responsibility and work with land managers. They keep their access. But you just cannot barge your way onto an existing trail from other users and modify it. All your other arguments are moot if you insist on being a "renegade".
You will find that IMBA is quite supportive of Freeriding. One way they help is by providing proven designs and instructions as to how to form relationships with land managers and how to build sustainable obstacles. However, at the end of the day, if the land manager says no ... that's it. And if you put yourself into opposition with the existing trail users, you can expect anything you put up will be dismantled.
If you are engaged in a war with land stewards by building freeride stunts on a trail, than that might explain why they are looking at you funny. Because if you are riding a 7" travel bike on a cross country course that might identify you as a suspect for who is causing the mayhem.
Bottom line is ... if it's not approved, it's removed. That's all there is to it. The landowner can be held liable if someone gets hurt on a man-made obstacle on their property. It does not matter whether they built it or not. You need to work with the local trail group to set something up. Be prepared to put in a lot of work before they take you seriously. And be prepared to compromise on what you want. I have talked to many people who say "I volunteer" and typically that means once a year or a couple dollars in a donation box. If you put in serious time, you will be heard.
I guarantee you that the trail stewards don't care what kind of bicycle you ride just so long as you don't muck with things. And they will work with you help them with what needs to get done to keep everything open and running right. You cannot just barge in an put up whatever you want and expect everyone else to go along with it.