Mountain bikers want access to wilderness
By Vernon Felton, Outside
Since 1984, mountain bikes have been banned from all Wilderness areas. That, however, might change soon.
The Human-Powered Wildlands Travel Management Act of 2015, a potential piece of legislation seeking to reverse that prohibition, has begun its journey on Capitol Hill, and, although the draft has yet to gain an official sponsor, it’s already sparking controversy over who should and shouldn’t be allowed in America’s most pristine places.
Mountain biking was in its infancy, back in 1984, when the U.S. Forest Service revised its regulations, banning not only motorized transportation in Wilderness areas, but also “mechanical transport,” a move that has since made mountain bikers persona non grata on nearly 110 million acres of Wilderness.
Opponents of the ban point out that no studies of mountain biking’s environmental impact were conducted at the time and that several independent studies since then have shown that mountain bikers have about the same impact on trails as hikers and less than equestrians—a group that enjoys largely unfettered access to wilderness.
I’m a mt biker, keep us out of the wilderness! Mt bikers don’t stay on trails, in fact they are continually building new illegal ones. They cut trails, ride through and damage meadows let their dogs run off leash and do not give right-of-way to walkers.
It is called Wilderness for a reason. If you want to go, walk !
If you want to go into the wilderness as a biker then do it like the rest of us: hike or ride a horse. People go into wilderness areas to escape people, conjestion and seek serenity. They don’t want to see bikes. I’m a hiker and a horseman. I seek the wilderness to avoid the bikes because when bikes and horses come together it is the horseman who will lose. Horses are prey animals and bikers tend to appear as preditors to horses. Seriously, riding a bike fast on a trail do you really enjoy a wilderness experience? Not at all. You are too busy looking at your front tire. I’ve had bikes ride right up on me when on a 1200 pound horse. This article failed to mention that ALL mechanical items are not allowed. Even a chain saw cannot be taken into a wilderness area.
I have restrictions with my horse. I cannot ride it around on city streets but you can ride bikes there so get over it that you cannot have it all. If you can ride a bike then you can walk. You are therefore not excluded from the Wilderness. This move has not a damn thing of wanting a wilderness experience. It is all about having more places to ride bikes. That is why this Act must not change.
Totally agree, RC. When I’m hiking I always carry a hiking/spoke stick.
I agree with the previous posters. Having bikers in the wilderness will soon have it looking like Tahoe Mountain or other areas here open to riders. Trails everywhere–jumps–the not relaxing experience of having a rider come charging down in front of you or surprising you from behind. Up by the Freel Peak saddle there are numerous bike trails that veer off into protected vegetation and other off limit areas.
Most of our local riders are courteous but the growing number of them is having a huge impact on natural areas. Wilderness is suffering from many other assaults and does not need to try to heal from scars left from thousands of bikers.
Yes this is not good news at all, one of the last great pristine frontiers are going to be over run by MB manics? I have tried to walk my dog on some of the local trials around here like off of Pioneer and you really have to be carefull around the blind spots! When your almost hit by these MB’s they will make you feel that they have the right away no matter what, and with a attitude. I now travel to the desolation trials to get away from this negative element of MB’s with attitudes. It is going to break my heart if they are allowed up in desolation, Kirkwood, and other pristine hiking trials surrounding us, it will be a real shame if they allow this maddness. To all of the out of control MB’s going off trial and killing off the natural forest plants, etc. Then shame on you and karma will seek you out sooner then later, like doing a head plant into a perfectly placed granite boulder.
It will take an act of congress to change the wilderness act. Doubt that it is a priority at this time, however, the mtn. Biker folk that try to persue this will have to go through some very tough environmental groups that will have access to the financial support and legal support of the toughest kind in our country. They will need a lot of good lawyers and a lot of money.
It will be a waste of money and time IMHO, and it wont get far.
keep bikes out of wilderness!!!
Clearly not a good idea. Science is there as well. http://www.culturechange.org/mountain_biking_impacts.htm
mm, thats not science. Its not even close.
Not allowing mtn bikes in wilderness areas might have stopped at least 2 wilderness areas to be formed at Tahoe.
Long overdue and with a republican congress it probably has a good chance to pass.
I have been mountain biking since 1991. Keep bikes AND HORSES out of wilderness areas. Wtf is wrong with this country? Edward Abbey is stewing in his desert grave somewhere. I call on the Monkey Wrench Gang to take care of wayward bi-wheelers and the like
Bikes out of the wilderness. We dont Want them and we’ve made it clear. I also carry a spoke stick whenever I’m out hiking. Had to use it after an out of control mountain biker ran into my wife and dog at 40 mph.
Tahoebluewire, ill send out the vibes to cactus ed too, maybe his ghost spirit, and a few of his close buddies, will come forth and fix the problem. At least I can hope…
several independent studies since then have shown that mountain bikers have about the same impact on trails as hikers and less than equestrians.
yes on an existing trail tread, but that is not the only impact and judging by the responses, from a social perception point of view a lack of impact certainly isn’t true. And from a mechanical point of view it wont be be either – a mountain biker can sure cover a lot more terrain a day and place more people in areas than w/o bicycles. And self-made trails will beyond doubt increase given the practical inability to police use once people are back there with allowed equipment.
Have to go with the majority on this, bikes have NO business in a wilderness area.
Ljames- slow down. Reread your comment. You will see it makes zero sense. I can’t even understand what your point is. Should have stayed in school bruh.
Absolutely no top this bad idea.
One thing nobody mentioned is that there are many many more people with bicycles than there are people who ride horses. Therefore the impact comparisons are a bit on the hazy side, and bikers commonly go fast in places where you would not ever find a horse.
And yes, I participate in both activities
Mtn. Bikers can go into wilderness, they just need to park, get off their machine and walk, same as everyone else…