iamlucky13

Actually, if you read his stuff, you find out he also seems to be against nice houses, too. He was very clear that he is an active oponent of all new highway construction in his area. He's a slim two steps away from the type of person who thinks that the best thing for the world would be for everyone to cut themselves up into little cubes and feed themselves to the poor starving lions in Africa.

Callaway

Of course, he is a people hater, anything that allows us to have fun or keeps our species thriving (houses, highways, etc...) he will ***** about it. Where do we suppose he lives? In a man-made yurt somewhere? Does he walk through the woods to work? Doubt it, he probably *****es the people out that drive by him on the freeway...a sad, sad existence

late

Umm, guys?
Any chance you can discuss this like grownups? These are not simple issues that are going to go away. You are going to have to
find a workable solution that balances the competing interests, and repairs the damage. Hikers spend enormous amouts of time and money working on trails. I don't see that level of commitment
in Mtn bikers yet.

What I'd like to see from the Mtn bike community is what I have seen in the hiking community. I have worked to expand the area of federally designanted wilderness here in my state. This has meant losing some things that I, as a hiker, liked very much.
You can't have everything. And to be blunt,some of the responses I am reading here are not going to tell people you are interested in repsonsible stewarship.
We have a responsiblity to perserve our wilderness for future generations.

Maelstrom 

To be honest, I completely agree with Late. Although, bc has a large group of riders, most active, some political and a lot of builders (relative to the size...) and excellent advocacy. I think more places need to try and model themselves after a good solid model that is both political and pro-active. If things keep going the way they are going I will likely continue to hear how trails are closing in the states and east coast.

While this guy is a crackpot with studies created out of bullcrap, his points are to some degree valid, although extreme

Dang

Amazing! I'm stunned. I never heard of this guy. I was just looking for MTN Bike stuff on the Internet and this article came up on the search. Had I not posted it on the forum I'd had slapped some smoothies on the old Rockhopper by now and bought some hiking shoes.
Thanks guys for setting me streight.
Also while riding along the creek between the new golf courses and huge homes I spotted a cyotee (Why don't we have spell check?) and some wild turkeys. It was cool! I bet that trail will be only for horse riding soon.

Maelstrom 

Spell check would be hugely intensive on the server. Do a google for a tool called iespell. Very very useful

Dang

"What can I do to help keep the trails open?"
I think I'll join the IMBA and get involved in a local chapter in my area. I just learned that they organize volunteers to clean and fix trails. And theres dinner and beer afterwards.

Maelstrom 

Several things

1) organize the bikers/teams/clubs. The more members the more political clout. Organize mass weekly rides to keep this mass club as one.
2) with this said club, start a trail building/maintenance team. Get tips and tricks for proper trail building with erosion in mind. Provide proofs and examples of how and why what you are building will help stop erosion. The trail is there already, what the majority of enviro groups are concerned with is mass erosion. This can usually be stopped by moving the trail and/or using bridges.
3) maintain the trails. After they are built, they may need to be moved or redone every year or so. We have a trail called river runs through it. Built on a swamp. Costs Worca (whistler offroad) a fortune to maintain. But we have over 1000members paying 40$ a year to join.
4) try and find a moderate enviro group to work with. We are lucky here because they work together. The nsmba is usually known for saving trails. If you can get some clout from the 'other' side you end up with an ace up your sleeve.

The reason the other side is winning is because only one side is giving the politicians the education. The nuts give them endless proofs while the mountain bikers come online and whine and complain without providing anything useful to the politicans. Mt Fromme (this is the mountain that represent the North Shore to the rest of the world) was close to being close (or parts of it) they already had an organization in place. Decades of work and there was still some nut working against them. The nsmba really took it to the politicians, provided proofs, examples and even tours of the trails to show the work they did. It took work, money and all the riders working together. But, guess what, the trails on fromme are still there.

BTW this crackpot I believe, worked as a contractor for the 'other' side. So he can be beat.

I have been online for 3 or 4 years and have read about many trails closing becuase of the enviro groups being more organized and more powerful (money) Mountain bikers don't tend to be very organized, maybe its the nature of how we are really all individuals, but even your biking group (don't remember the name) doesn't have enough power to really do much. They help trail by trail but it seems to be a loosing battle from what I read. I might be wrong, I am just going by articles and online conjecture.

Dang

Ha! I was just researching what I could do while while you were writting you essay. Thank-you Maelstrom

iamthetas

UMMMMMM Id never considered you a tree hugger. environmentally responsible? yes. a tree hugger( someone who wants at all costs for you to believe as they do evironmentally) no.
I do not see you as the type to booby trap trails because you dont want bikers on them, or putting fishing line across trail heads at neck level because some owl flew through that section of trail once.or any other EXTREMEist measures. I do see you going all out to stop AOLese but not as a tree hugger

iamthetas

MORE of Richmond Va. got the governors award for excellence recently for the work being done in Virginia to trails, education of trail building/maintenence, rider skills, teach the teachers program( the Chesterfield school teachers were tought basic skills and will teach their students on actual trails) advcacy with the local governments etc. basically they started with an existing trail and did advocacy of it and then spread from there into a group that rivals our big brother ( NoVaMORE). we are in most parks in central Va. and are also the first bike club allowed to do work In Petersburg National Battlefield.
a dedicated group can get organized and make a difference. it just takes time and dedication. I have been maintaining 15 miles of trails in the above mentioned national park by myself for over a year but its worth it to keep them open until more folks can help as the club grows.
there is soooo much needed in Rchmond most of the hours are needed there and those projects are almost done

Raiyn

Thank you for that clarification tas, but what you describe as a "tree-hugger" is what I describe as an "eco-terrorist". These are the same ****wads who spike trees that have been designated to be culled in order to create fire breaks to prevent forest fires from harming communities. With some foresight and planning we can have our comfortable way of life as well as our fun and not screw the planet in the process.