Frequently Asked
Questions about Mountain Biking
Michael Vandeman,
Ph.D.
Last Updated July 20,
2026
1. What harm does mountain biking
do? The vast majority
of people who try to assess the harm that mountain biking does only look at the
obvious: the impact on the trail and other trail users. But in fact, the
greatest harm is caused by increasing the human footprint (the distance that
people can travel) in wildlife habitat. This denies the wildlife the full use
of their habitat during the day – and when people ride at night, all the
time! E-bikes increase that footprint even more, since someone can travel
much farther on an e-bike than on a regular mountain bike: https://sports.yahoo.com/much-vertical-ascent-possible-e-124809730.html
220 km = 137 miles: can you walk that far in a day? Can you even mountain
bike that far in a day? That shows exactly how much an e-bike expands the human
footprint. Another reason to ban e-bikes from trails: an e-bike, by running out
of electricity, can strand someone far from any help:
https://www.mysanantonio.com/lifestyle/outdoors/article/biker-stranded-big-bend-20217872.php
'Downright dangerous': E-bike rider stranded at Big Bend State Park: She
pushed the bike for 20 miles before being located. The same thing can result
from a simple flat tire!
There is only one solution: ban
bicycles and other machinery (except wheelchairs) from all unpaved trails. The
other greatest harm that mountain bikers do is to continually build new trails,
which destroys wildlife habitat (see https://mjvande.info/scb9.htm).
Mountain bikers are obsessed with building new trails (legally or
illegally), because if they build it, they will automatically have access to
it. Amazingly, conservation biologists apparently haven’t noticed this and have
done nothing to stop it! Conservation biology is a new branch of science that
was created in 1968 (see https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/conservation-biology-16089256/)
specifically to be an "activist" discipline – that would not only study
extinction, but actively work to prevent it. But conservation biologists
seem to have forgotten that, and lost their way. Their journals are full of
jargon and are of no help to wildlife activists. Try to find an article there
on the harm that is obviously done by mountain biking and trail-building! L
a. Why do people
mountain bike? They say that using a bike allows them to get much farther,
in the same amount of time, than they can by walking. They also maintain
constant pressure on land managers, to open more and more trails to bikes. Of
course, all of these trails are already open to them, if they choose to walk.
They also frequently claim that closing trails to bikes "excludes" them
from the parks. This could only be true if they were unable to walk. Of course,
they are able to walk. There's nothing inherently wrong with bicycling
instead of walking; we all like to save energy, when it's appropriate. Use of a
bicycle to replace automobile use is obviously beneficial. However, by the same
token, replacing hiking with mountain biking is obviously not
beneficial.
b. They are
interested in the quantity of nature they can see, rather than the quality
of their experience. While riding a bike, especially over terrain as rough as a
trail, one has to be constantly paying attention to not crashing. That makes it
almost impossible to notice much else. (IMBA confirmed that in their "Rules of the Trail": "Control Your Bicycle: Inattention for even a moment could put
yourself and others at risk": http://www.imba.com/about/rules-trail.
Or: http://bikemagic.com/news/guest-blog/craig-bowles-3rd-at-world-24-hour-solo-mountain-bike-championships.html:
"The rest of the lap dazzled us with stunning views of the azure
waters below, although fast rocky descending and even more steep loose climbing
meant you had to pay attention to the tricky trail.") By contrast, a hiker feels the ground, hears all the sounds and
smells all the odors of nature and can stop instantly, if he/she finds
something interesting. The brain thrives on stimulation. A biker has to travel
several times as far as a hiker, to get the same stimulation as a hiker. (And,
by the same token, motorcyclists have to travel several times as far as a
bicyclist, and an auto user several times as far as a motorcyclist, since they
are enclosed in a metal box.)
"Something I didn't know about mountain biking,
at least on a trail this challenging: You cannot look up. Even for a second. To
do so is to court ruin. Forget about the scenery, all that peripheral beauty
gone by in a flash, the profound silence, the bliss of seclusion. Was that a
bull elk up ahead or merely a juniper? Oh, how the rings of morning light
smolder over that ridgeline ... Wake up! Dial it in, man! Head down! Eyes
locked on the trail! Let your mind drift and you are toast."
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/rare-snake-was-weirdest-thing-hed-ever-seen-says-lecturer:
"'The high speed means it is terrible as you miss 95
per cent of what is around you, but the vast distance you get to cover more
than compensates,' he said." Really? Then
what is the point of mountain biking, if you miss most of what you are passing?
For example, night riding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR0kXFF6nYk1yq9qkjKBgC9G2Imp8BOiISKUSDyhVRABPyfauqdN7qb2rfI&v=T1x5w6DICs4&feature=youtu.be
https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/essays-culture/mountain-biking-mental-health-essay/:
"To me,
mountain biking is the physical embodiment of the concept of mindfulness: it
requires you to be in the moment, because if your attention wanders, the
consequences can be severe."
Anyone who has ever watched a mountain biker video knows that
they ride too fast (and must give 100% of their attention to the trail in front
of their front tire, or they will crash!) to really see anything. But when
riding at night, they see even less (how much is less than nothing? ;) )! So what the heck is the point
of mountain biking, anyway???
a. They are interested in thrills.
Riding a bike on a trail, especially a trail containing many obstacles, or a
trail one is not familiar with, is very challenging. (But if mountain biking is
the high point of your week, as it seems to be for many mountain bikers, you
must be leading a pretty dull life, off of the bike!) "The sensation of speed, the feeling of the
wind whipping against your face as the ground turns to a blur beneath knobby
tires is one of the reasons so many of us become addicted to mountain
biking." http://www.pinkbike.com/news/1-question-what-does-it-take-to-become-a-faster-rider-2015.html?utm_source=MailingList&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PB+Best+-+July+2015
b.
It's a behavioral addiction. An addiction is an activity that you keep
doing, even though you know that it is going to harm you or others: https://www.projectknow.com/behavioral-addictions/.
"Jake Legge,
who will attend Moopark College in the fall, said the
sport is addictive. “Ever since I was little we’d do
vacation trips in Mammoth and
we’d bike out there,” he said. “As time went on, we did more and more biking.
Before you know it, we’re racing. We got hooked. Ever since, we just can’t get
off the bike.”
http://www.toacorn.com/news/2016-07-07/Sports/Newbury_Park_mountain_bike_team_conquers_trails.html.
http://www.nogalesinternational.com/sports/nogales-sonora-to-host-mountain-bike-race-series/article_9a6092f2-3c19-11e7-993f-eb3dfe21e9aa.html:
“It’s
one of those kinds of sports ... it grows on you,” Corona said, adding: “It’s
very addictive. If you like it, you’re going to like it a lot.”
c. They are interested in building
mountain biking skills and competing with other mountain bikers. The thrill of
racing drives people to spend more money on their bike, and ride it harder and
more often. Racing, up to and including the Olympics, drives a lot of mountain
biking. Of course, it is also extremely harmful to the parks and natural areas
that are used for practice! It is hard to think of any other (legal) use of
public lands, other than hunting, that is as harmful as mountain biking.
d. They want to get to their
destination faster (not considering that the process of getting there is
a major part of the enjoyment). Once, when much younger, I was hiking along a
very boring trail. The thought came to me that if I had a bike, I could get
past the boring section of the trail, and to the interesting part much faster.
But about 2 seconds later I realized that if I could do that, so could everyone
else, and the place would be full of people and ruined. That was the end of my
(2-second) mountain biking career.
e. "We mountain bike because of the euphoric adrenaline rush, but
that adrenaline rush is made all the sweeter by the pain endured on every
single ride." Greg Heil
f. Example: "What do you enjoy most about mountain
biking?" "Just the experience of being out in a forest on a
trail, just flowing down it and enjoying the scenery. I know it sounds cheesy,
but you really become one with nature. At the same time, there's the adrenaline
rush you get from downhills and runner's high from climbing. It's a lot of
stuff that's hard to put into words." Steve Ray, mountain biker
g. "Mountain biking is more than just a hobby for me; it's a way
of life. The adrenaline rush of speeding down a trail, the satisfaction of
conquering a tough climb, and the joy of being one with nature are feelings
that I live for." Jay Beaton
h.
The mountain biker ideal (the human ideal?) is nonstop
adventure, with no restrictions! That seems to be an integral part of human
nature. But the result is the total disaster that the Earth has become, from
global warming, ocean acidification, ozone depletion, pollution of the entire
Earth, habitat destruction, and rampant species extinction. At the very
least, we should restrict bicycles to pavement!
2. What is
driving the sport of mountain biking? Besides the attraction for
participants, manufacturers and retailers of mountain bikes and mountain biking
accessories, as well as "adventure" travel guides, make a lot of
money from promoting mountain biking. Even some auto manufacturers (e.g.
Subaru) promote and sponsor mountain biking, and try to use its popularity to
sell more cars. The tourism industry also promotes mountain biking, among other
attractions.
3. What harm
does mountain biking do?
a. Most obvious is the
acceleration of erosion. Knobby tires rip into the soil, loosening it and
allowing rain to wash it away. They also create V-shaped grooves that make
walking difficult or even dangerous. The mechanical advantage given by the
gears and ball bearings allow a mountain biker to travel several times as fast
as a hiker. Given their increased weight (rider plus bike), this results in
vastly increased momentum, and hence much greater horizontal (shearing) forces
on the soil. (Witness the skid marks from stops, starts, and turns.) According
to Newton, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Mountain bikes were
built much stronger than other bikes, so that they could withstand the greater
forces they were subject to on rough trails. These same forces, therefore, are
being applied to the trails! To give a definite number, the winner of a 20-mile
race here in Briones Regional Park averaged 13 MPH (the speed limit is
15 MPH -- where were the park rangers?). Mountain bikers themselves use the
expression "shred trails" for mountain biking. That is not an
accident. That is exactly what knobby tires are designed to do! (http://blogs.bikemag.com/news/diamondback-welcomes-billy-lewis/:
"Northwest shredder Billy Lewis is now riding for Diamondback. ... Filmed
at Duthie Hill and NWSOF.com(windells) as well as a
couple secret spots.")
b. The damage
is PERMANENT! Eroded soil can't be retrieved. It's GONE. And this is only one
of MANY harms that mountain biking does. It also destroys and fragments
wildlife habitat (mountain bikers frequently create illegal trails; they
recently created two illegal trails on University of California, Berkeley
property), drives hikers & equestrians off the trails and out of the parks,
and causes horrific accidents, injuries, paralysis, and even deaths. There is
absolutely no good reason to allow bicycles on any unpaved trail!
Mike
Jordan
Herrmann
From:jordanzon82@gmail.com
Mon, Mar 3 at 11:10 AM
Hi Mike,
I made this short video on July 4, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khMekmmlYAs,
It is taken on the Owl Trail, Muir Beach,
California. There is a fork here in the Owl Trail, one side for hikers only,
the other side for bikes only. It is the best graphic example I have seen,
proof of the extensive and virtually irreparable damage the bike tires do to the surface of an earth and rocky trail. (Eventually
on a trail subjected to bike tires, the thin surface layer of soil, we have
about a 5" surface layer in much of the Bay Area, is eroded away as is
shown in the bike only side of the trail.)
As downhill running, fast flowing rainwater is
concentrated in the large grooves and crevices created by bike tires, soil
erosion occurs, compounding severe damage for time immemorial, or as long as
the trail is in an unrepaired condition. I don't think the great expense
to fix a trail in this condition would be attempted. Especially considering the
extent and huge amount of damage. This is a damaged, permanent condition.
Methods such as just dumping gravel on top of the damage does not provide a hikeable surface. Hiking a long distance on a gravel
surface is not pleasant.
Building replacement trails and some type of
planting for restoration of the ruined trails may be undertaken someday?
In the case of the Marin Municipal Water
District, where there are trails above the drinking water reservoirs, that
5" of soil that is run off the trails has to go somewhere. It goes into
their drinking water.
All land managers should see the video and be
made aware of the above facts.
Jordan
c. Mountain bikers love to race on
singletrack (narrow) trails. But it makes absolutely no sense to
"race" on a singletrack trail, where, by definition, everyone must
travel single-file, and you can't pass anyone (or risk widening the trail)!
d. A hiker must be very careful
not to accidentally step on small animals and plants on the trail. For a
mountain biker, it is almost impossible to avoid killing countless
animals and plants on and under the trail. They have to pay attention to
controlling the bike, and can't afford to look carefully at what is on the
trail, especially when travelling fast. And even if they happen to see, for example,
a snake, it is hard for them to stop in time to avoid killing it (e.g. see http://bb.nsmb.com/showthread.php?t=128889).
A hiker, when crossing a creek, will try to avoid getting wet, by crossing on
stepping stones or logs. Mountain bikers, on the other hand, simply ride right
through the creek bed, crushing any animals or plants that happen to be there.
Mountain biking magazines are full of photos of mountain bikers throwing up
spray, as they barrel through creeks. Not only do bikes destroy animals and
plants as they ride across streams, they ride through streams stirring up
sediment. The sediment in the water interferes with the oxygen uptake by
aquatic life, for example, killing fish- and frog eggs. Young fish, insects,
amphibians, and aquatic microorganisms are extremely sensitive to sediment in
water.
e. Bikes also allow people to
travel several times as far as a hiker. This translates into several
times the impacts, both on the trail and on the wildlife (to say nothing of the
other trail users). Existing parklands are already inadequate to protect the
wildlife that live there. When they are crisscrossed by mountain bikers and
legal or illegal trails, their habitat becomes even more inadequate. Mountain
bikers frequently advertise rides of 20-50 miles or more. Have you ever tried
to walk that far in a day? In other words, allowing bikes in a park greatly
increases human presence (the human “footprint”) in that park and drives
wildlife further from the resources that they need to survive, including water,
food, and mates. Given the current Sixth Extinction crisis, the human footprint
needs to be reduced, not increased!
f. Some mountain bikers say that
because they travel faster than a hiker, they have less impact on the wildlife.
But of course they can ride slowly, and they can
get off their bike whenever they want to, becoming just like a hiker.
g. Due to their width and speed,
bikes can't safely pass each other on narrow trails. Therefore, policies that
permit mountain biking also result in more habitat destruction, as trails are
widened by bikers (or by hikers and equestrians jumping out of their way).
h. Knobby mountain bike tires are
ideal for carrying mud, and consequently exotic plants, fungi, and other
organisms from place to place, resulting in the spread of exotic invasive
species, such as weeds and Sudden Oak Death.
i. Mountain biking is driving the
very young and old off of the trails and hence out of the parks. Even
able-bodied hikers and equestrians fear for their safety, and don’t enjoy
sharing the trails with bikes. (The mountain bikers claim that they are simply
being selfish and "unwilling to share", but actually they have no
problem sharing trails with mountain bikers; it is only their bikes
that are a problem!)
j. “"I
feel bad for the Hikers..."
Some
MTBers wrote on this forum thread:
I was at Princess Park a couple of days
ago, kids were playing capture the flag. They had finished and were walking up
the paved road just past the playground when a biker went zipping past us at mach one speeds. There was 18 kids
ranging from 6-14 yrs of age. A couple of mom yelled
at him to slow down, which he didn't. I was quite embarrassed to be a mtber! All he had to do was slow down for a whole 10secs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weekends and weekdays on the Shore are like night and day. Dunno where these
guys come from on the weekends but
the non friendly don't give a shit attitude has really been noticeable over the
last couple years. Buddy comes
hauling down St Mary's where it
crosses Boundary, proceeds to air off the roller where it's a blind corner into
a group of hikers, no one was hurt luckily... Guy was unapologetic, took off, so pathetic. Welcome to the weekends on Fromme. Find the Gen x er crowd is really friendly,
the younger guys if riding solo bury their face in their phone when you pass on
climbs or look away. Must be horrible to have all that social anxiety.”
https://nsmb.com/forum/forum/the-shore-3/topic/i-feel-bad-for-the-hikers-131345/?page=1
https://nsmb.com/forum/forum/the-shore-3/topic/i-feel-bad-for-the-hikers-131345/?page=2
k. Mountain bikes, which are
obviously built to go anywhere, teach children and anyone else who sees them
that the rough treatment of nature is acceptable. This undoubtedly has a
negative effect on people's treatment of nature.
l. In order to mitigate
bike-caused erosion, park managers have been resorting to extreme measures --
even in some cases putting a plastic matrix or other exotic material under the
trail (e.g. in Pleasanton Ridge Regional Preserve, near Pleasanton, California)!
It's hard to imagine that this will have a beneficial effect on the park and
its wildlife….
m. Allowing mountain bikes in a
park greatly increases the damage to the trails, damage from
"bootleg" (illegally created) trails, and the problems of conflicts
between trail users, and hence the cost of maintaining the park. Considering
how tight park budgets are, we can't afford the extra costs of policing, and
repairing the damage from, mountain biking.
n. For the science on mountain
biking and its impacts on wildlife and people, see https://mjvande.info/scb7.htm
o. Mountain bikers ride so fast
that they don't experience most of what they are passing, and quickly get bored
with any given trail, and then want more and more trails to ride. If they can't
get enough trails to ride legally, they ride illegally. Or they build
new trails. If they can't get legal permission to build them, they build them illegally.
They are insatiable! Mountain biker John Fisch: “I'm a classic short attention span kind of guy and
would generally [rather] ride an average trail for the first time than a great
trail for the second time”. See https://mjvande.info/scb9.htm
regarding the habitat destruction caused by trail-building. "Kyle
Legge, who will go to Orange Coast College in the fall, enjoys
carving through canyon trails.' You kind of forget about everything else,' he
said. 'You’re just focusing on the trail and what’s in front of you.'" http://www.toacorn.com/news/2016-07-07/Sports/Newbury_Park_mountain_bike_team_conquers_trails.html.
"'Mountain biking is different than [sic] road
biking. It takes a lot of focus to be on the trial [sic],' 16-year-old Jacob
Venenga said. 'Dr. Schindler taught me how to keep that focus. Focus on what is
ahead, not what’s around.'" https://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/austin-s-mountain-bike-trail-gets-new-name/article_33a921ba-a963-11e8-9fab-1f7ab026a8af.html
Trail building, of course,
destroys wildlife habitat, not only underfoot, but also a wide swath on both
sides of the trail, since the presence of humans prevents the animals from
using the area (see https://www.squamishreporter.com/2020/09/24/wildlife-avoids-places-visited-by-outdoor-adventurers-ubc/
and
https://www.wired.com/story/when-the-woods-get-noisy-the-animals-get-nervous/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_ca3bab73-9573-4152-8be8-c08820e7b64e_text2vec1). Here is IMBA bragging about
all the trail building they do, which is actually nothing to be proud of!:
From:
"IMBA" <info@imba.com>
Subject: Get incredible mountain biking, right near your place
Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 06:45:18 -0600
Heres the deal...
1. Mountain biking is awesome.
2. Building and maintaining trails is expensive.
3. If we wait for someone else to fund great riding, trails wont
get built, and we wont ride.
Last year, IMBA's professional trailbuilders built 13
bike parks and 450 miles of new trails. Check the map to see what's happening
near you.
And we helped volunteers build and maintain thousands more through grants and
technical assistance.
This year, were ready to do it all again, but we need your support.
It's vital that you and every mountain biker pitches
in.
Whether its $20, $50, $250please give what you can to the Trail Building Fund.
Donating is the most effective way to fund trails; the money is matched by
other supporters and goes back out to enable local trail work across the U.S.
As a thank you, IMBA will send you a gift of your choicelike
a limited-edition IMBA cap or a Tech T-shirtonly
available when you donate now.
Build It. Ride It. Support It.
Thank you!
Michael Van Abel, Executive Director
P.S. Donations to IMBA are tax-deductible and earn 20 percent off anything at
the IMBA store. Click here now for your discount code.
207 Canyon BLVD
Suite 301
Boulder, CO 80302-co
United States
IMBA
5/31/18: "Most hometown trails are built and cared for by local mountain
bike groups in support of under-resourced land managers." In other words,
habitat destruction is a big part of mountain bikers' mission!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/110050760/nelson-mountain-bike-club-comes-of-age-as-a-big-cog-on-nz-landscape:
This shows exactly why mountain bikers should never be allowed to build trails!
Where a hiker only needs a relatively straight trail from point A to point B,
mountain bikers want extra twists and bumps to give them thrills, making the
trail much longer than necessary and destroying far more habitat.
4. Mountain bikers claim
that their sport has no greater environmental impact than hiking. Is that true?
a. If you read the "studies" that make that claim, you
find that they don't really compare the impacts of hiking and mountain biking,
but only the impacts per foot. If, for a moment, we assume that the
studies are correct in their having equivalent impacts per foot, it
would still follow that mountain biking has far greater impact per person,
since mountain bikers typically travel so much farther than hikers. Besides
overlooking distances travelled, those "studies" almost all ignore
impacts on wildlife. And they don't study mountain biking under normal
conditions -- only at a very slow speed. Actually, the comparison with hiking
is irrelevant. It would only be relevant if we planned to allow only one
of the two, and were considering which of the two is more harmful. In fact,
no one is considering banning hiking. We are only considering adding mountain
biking. Therefore, the only relevant question is, "Is mountain biking
harmful"? (Of course, it is!) There is only one truly scientific
study that I know of
that compares the impacts of hiking and mountain biking. It found
that mountain biking has a greater impact on elk than hiking (Wisdom, M. J., H.
K. Preisler, N. J. Cimon, B. K. Johnson. 2004. Effects of Off-Road Recreation
on Mule Deer and Elk. Transactions of the North American Wildlife and Natural
Resource Conference 69, 2004, pp.531-550.) See https://mjvande.info/scb7.htm.
b. On its web site, IMBA mentions recent
research on mountain biking by Dave White et al and Jeff Marion, both of whom
claim that mountain biking and hiking have "similar" impacts. Is that
true? First, "similar" is not a scientific term and really has no
clear meaning. That term is being used only to obfuscate. Second, these are
survey studies, not experimental studies. By its very nature, a survey study
cannot be used to compare the impacts from two activities, because it doesn't
control all the variables. For example, we don't know if the differences in
erosion between two trails are due to the mountain biking vs. hiking use, or
due to differences in the weather, terrain, steepness, soil type, management
practices, amount of use, hikers on the "mountain biking trail",
mountain bikers on the "hiking trail", etc. White et al only measured
their trails once, and didn't even collect any data on hiking impacts! See
https://mjvande.info/white.htm
and https://mjvande.info/marion.htm.
c. Why would a researcher risk his/her
reputation by doing such shoddy work? For money! And to ensure the
continuance of their sport. If land managers think that mountain biking is more
harmful than hiking, they will be more likely to close trails to bikes. Bike
parts manufacturer Shimano paid Professor White to do his study. Research funds
are difficult to obtain. A researcher who can be relied upon to produce
research favorable to mountain biking will be able to obtain funding from the
mountain biking industry. A researcher who tells the truth about mountain
biking won't be able to obtain research funds and will risk stunting his/her
career.
5. Where should
mountain biking allowed? A couple of role models
for wildlife protection are Yosemite National Park and East Bay Municipal
Utility District (in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, California). They both
restrict bicycles to paved roads, where they can't do much harm. Somehow
bicyclists have managed to enjoy their sport for over a hundred years, without
riding off-road.
6. What should
the policy be on trails? Closed to bikes, unless marked open. Signs that
say "No Bikes" are quickly and repeatedly ripped out of the ground by
mountain bikers. Bikes should never be permitted on any unpaved trail.
7. Isn't it
discriminatory to allow hikers and equestrians on trails, but not mountain
bikers? Mountain bikers love to say this, apparently because they think it
will gain them some sympathy. The truth is that mountain bikers have exactly
the same access to trails that everyone else has! It is only their bikes
that are banned. If mountain bikers were really being discriminated against,
they could easily go to court to gain access. However
… they already have access to every trail in the world! An honest person
who believes that a law is unfair would openly practice civil disobedience, as
Gandhi did. Instead, mountain bikers break the law secretly! They are simply
criminals.
8. Don't I have
a right to mountain bike on all public lands? I am a taxpayer! The public
has the right, through its elected representatives, to restrict how land is
used. A federal court has already ruled that there is no right to
mountain bike. It is a privilege, and any land manager who gives a good reason
(such as safety or protecting the environment) can keep bikes off of trails
(see https://mjvande.info/mtb10.htm).
They
have the right to walk, but not the right to bring a bicycle with them.
9. Don't
mountain bikers do some good things, like trail construction and trail maintenance?
Trail construction destroys wildlife habitat both directly (by killing plants
and animals) and indirectly (by reducing the size of the intervening
"islands" of habitat). Moreover, mountain bikers favor trails that
are "twisty" (sinuous), bumpy, and full of obstacles that provide
thrills for mountain bikers. Such designs increase habitat destruction (by
lengthening the trail) and make the trails less useful for hikers and
equestrians. Trail maintenance sounds good, until you realize that it would
hardly be necessary, if bikes weren't allowed there. The mountain bikers are
the main reason why trail maintenance is necessary! Trails used only by
hikers require hardly any maintenance. Therefore, admitting bicycles to a park
greatly increases its cost of maintenance. Nothing is really "free",
including trail construction and maintenance. (How does the saying go?
"Beware of Trojans bearing gifts"?) Not many mountain bikers
volunteer for trail maintenance: "We had 20 people, mostly NON-MOUNTAIN
BIKERS, turn out for the IMBA Trail Care Crew this weekend at Newberry Heritage
Park. ... Would have been nice to see other riders there helping out, but it's
average for only 1-2% of mountain bikers (nationally) to donate time to building
or maintenance." Mountain bikers claim that they perform a valuable service by
maintaining trails. But if not properly trained and managed, they can easily
cause millions of dollars in damage and death to wildlife and people: there are
hidden costs associated with it down the road that will cost substantial money
(e.g. erosion, fire). For example, two mountain bikers doing unauthorized "trail
maintenance" started a fire that destroyed 80 homes!:
http://www.independent.com/news/jesusita-fire.
"Mother Nature
was being her cantankerous old self and decided to drop a couple of mature Monterey
pines next to one of our trails at Joaquin Miller Park in the Oakland hills. As
such, we'll be restoring some of the trail that was damaged by the roots of the
tree and doing some additional general maintenance."
This illustrates why bikes should not be allowed on trails. Hikers can step
over tree roots; bikers always ride over them and damage them -- they are too
lazy to dismount and step over them. There is no good reason to cut the roots
away, just to please mountain bikers. Wildlife, including trees, should get top
priority in parks, because wildlife is what makes a place a park! Mountain
bikers should not be doing "trail maintenance". They obviously don't
know how to do it properly.
10. But don't
mountain bikers provide added safety, by being able to quickly summon help in
the event of an emergency? I would rather trust in a cell phone, than a
speeding mountain biker. Besides, natural areas are already one of the safest
places you can be. In over 50 years of hiking and backpacking, I have never
witnessed any situation requiring emergency aid. Most people go to natural
areas partly for solitude. If we wanted to be around large, fast-moving pieces
of machinery, we would stay in the city!
11. Can't
mountain biking help get our overweight kids off the couch? Hiking can
already do that, without causing extra harm to wildlife and people. Mountain
biking downhill provides zero exercise benefit. Mountain biking on level ground
provides minimal exercise benefit, much less than walking. Since it's
impossible to pay any attention to your surroundings while mountain biking (or
you will crash), there's no reason to promote mountain biking. It benefits only
those who stand to make money off of it, such as bike manufacturers, retailers,
and tour companies. Mountain biking is also inappropriate for young people
because it's very expensive!
"Fri, Aug 10
2007:
Newsgroups: alt.mountain-bike
From: Ride-A-Lot
<mitchell@schnauzers.ws>
Date: Fri, 10 Aug
2007
Subject: Re: need
suggestions on mountain bike, thanks a lot
Any bike you buy
from a big box store (i.e. Target, Wal-Mart, Dicks, Sports Authority, etc.) is
going to be JUNK. If you ware going to do any actual mountain biking, you
will very very disappointed with the performance. For
a new mountain bike, the low-end entry level bike Specialized Rockhopper is
one) will cost around $500."
(Mountain bikes are
built tough because street bikes can't take the pounding that they would get on
trails. They would fall apart.)
12. But isn't
mountain biking healthful exercise? No! Mountain biking is inherently
dangerous, and cannot be made safe. Hiking trails are not designed for
bicycling. They are unpredictable. There is a reason why departments of
transportation have standards for bicycle trails that require a smooth surface,
not too steep a grade, a no-skid surface, a minimum width, a long sight
distance (no blind turns), etc. Mountain bikers regularly fall off their bikes,
resulting in paraplegia, quadriplegia, or even death. This obviously cancels out
any possible health benefit. See https://mjvande.info/mtb_death.htm and https://mjvande.info/mtb_dangerous.htm.
In 2010, a 12-year-old girl died during her very first mountain biking lesson!: http://www.nbc11news.com/home/headlines/98876339.html.
Bicycling also reduces bone density: http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-cycling16-2009feb16,0,1785648.story.
A bicycle is an energy-saving device. In fact, according to a "Scientific
American" article, it is the most energy-efficient of all forms of
transportation. For healthful exercise, nothing can beat walking.
Mountain bikers are a danger
to themselves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=5EAcljh4cxw&NR=1
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/interview-norco-factory-mechanic-lewis-kirkwood-thinks-mtb-could-be-giving-us-bad-vibrations.html:
Norco Factory Team Mechanic Lewis Kirkwood Thinks Mountain Biking Could be
Giving us Bad Vibrations
Mountain bikers are a danger to others: http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/woman+injured+by+bike+on+river+valley+trail+speaks+out/6442701011/story.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTHUQlZrxBI
"Mountain
biking is a beautiful thing. It's also an inherently dangerous activity, but it
rewards you in proportion to the risks you take. Point down the hill and you go
fast. Let off the brakes and you go faster. The less you brake in turns, the
more speed you carry out. Want to catch some air? You'll have to leave the
ground first. Risk is as essential to the sport as wheels or handlebars. If you
don't want to skin your knee, get lost, get hypothermia or bonk from time to
time, you never want to risk wearing a cast for a few weeks, and you want your
trails smoothly groomed, straight with good sight lines, well-marked and not
too fast or pointed downhill, maybe you should take up jogging or spin class
instead of mountain biking." ihttp://www.pinkbike.com/news/1-question-the-biggest-mistake-thats-been-made-in-mountain-biking.html?utm_source=MailingList&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PB+Best+-+July+2015
It doesn't take much practice or forethought to
realize that mountain biking is inherently dangerous. We don't trust young
people with drugs, alcohol, motor vehicles, or guns. Why should we trust them
with mountain bikes, which are at least as dangerous?????
One more reason not to mountain bike: mountain bikers
ride so fast and quietly that they will startle a mountain lion or grizzly,
causing them to instinctively attack!: http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2018/05/1_dead_1_injured_in_washington.html
13. Won't a
helmet protect me from serious injury? Don't bet on it!:
http://www.therepublic.com/view/local_story/Man_critically_injured_in_Brow_1337613553/
Man injured in Brown County mountain biking accident
Staff Reports editorial@therepublic.com
First Posted: May 21, 2012 - 11:19 am
1:17 p.m. update
Alan Keeling, 48, of Crestwood, Ky., is in good condition today at IU Health
Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
NASHVILLE, Ind. A Kentucky man was critically injured in a mountain biking
accident at Brown County State Park.
Alan Keeling, 48, of Crestwood, Ky., was slammed face first into a fallen log
after he was thrown from his mountain bike at about 4 p.m. Sunday while riding
the trails at the state park, according to Indiana conservation officers.
Keeling was wearing a helmet, but he struck the log lower on his head. He
suffered face and skull fractures and was flown to IU Health Methodist Hospital
in Indianapolis for treatment.
Indiana Conservation Officer Brent Bohbrink
investigated the accident. Nashville Volunteer Fire Department, Columbus
Regional Hospital EMS and state park personnel assisted at the scene.
14. Doesn't
mountain biking get people out of their cars? So do walking, road cycling,
and transit use, without harm to the natural environment. Since very few
mountain biking opportunities are within easy bicycling distance, the vast
majority of mountain bike trips require transporting the bike in a truck,
SUV, or car. If mountain bikers cared about the environment, they would bicycle
to the park, lock their bike at the trailhead, and hike. Or simply
bicycle on paved roads, as bicyclists have for the past century.
15. Doesn't the
threat from mountain biking pale, in comparison to other sources of
environmental damage, such as logging? Maybe, and maybe not. Mountain
biking teaches people that the rough treatment of nature is acceptable, so it
may lead to many other abuses. In parks, where most mountain biking is done, it
is probably the most harmful activity allowed. But even if mountain biking is
less damaging than another activity, such as logging, it is still additional
damage. If an area is already messed up (e.g. by logging), how does that
make it okay to do additional damage? It doesn't! The
phrase that comes to mind is "death by a thousand cuts". Mountain
bikers don't usually kill people (except themselves!), but their trail-building
and riding destroy habitat bit by bit. Locally, it seems insignificant, but
when considered as a whole, it is very significant.
16. What's wrong
with night riding? Humans have been destroying wildlife habitat for
centuries, so that very little remains. Our presence in parks prevents wildlife
from using a large part of their habitat, at least during the daytime. Now that
night riding is becoming popular, wildlife and being denied that habitat even
at night, or incur an increased risk getting run over, if they attempt to use
it. There is very little law enforcement even during the day in these days of
tight budgets. There is no patrolling of parks at night! This gives
mountain bikers free rein to do whatever they want, including riding trails
that are closed to bikes or even building their own illegal trails. No wonder
night riding is so popular! And, of course, night riding makes an activity that
is already very dangerous, much more dangerous.
17. Don't the
vast majority of mountain bikers ride responsibly? Actually, just the
opposite is true. In a scientific study that IMBA had on their website for a
while, then quietly removed, 83.1% of mountain bikers broke the law (see
https://mjvande.info/mtb76.htm).
18. Aren't the
problems with mountain biking just caused by "a few bad apples"?
There aren't just a few! There are enough to put some in just about every park
in the world. The same problems appear everywhere: riding off-trail, riding
where prohibited, illegal trail construction, excessive speed, accelerating
erosion, killing plants and animals on and next to the trail, driving other
trail users off the trails, etc.
19. Isn't
mountain biking good for the economy? Nearly all mountain bicycles are made
by foreign companies. The profit from bicycle sales goes abroad!
The small shops and bike mechanics find it hard to make a living. So, IMBA
isn't supporting much USA business; IMBA is supporting foreign companies and
their renegade sport. Mountain biking destroys wildlife habitat and drives
non-mountain bikers off of the trails, so there is a net loss in recreation.
This can't be good for the economy. As David Brower used to say, "There's
no economy on a dead planet". IMBA promotes the idea that support for
mountain biking will boost the local economy, if visiting mountain bikers
patronize local businesses. But they ignore the negative side of the ledger. Search
and rescue costs a lot of money! And deaths and
injuries, e.g. paralysis, greatly harm those mountain bikers and their families.
20. Why is
mountain biking so addicting? It seems that once someone starts mountain
biking, they feel a need to do it as often as possible – at least weekly. And
they become impervious to information about the harm that mountain biking does.
(That's why it is extremely unfortunate when land managers or their staff start
mountain biking.) Apparently, some people have an especially strong desire or
"need" for danger and thrills, and it seems to be accompanied by an
unusually low concern for the welfare of wildlife, the environment, non-bikers,
or anything else that gets in the way of their thrill-seeking. A phenomenon
that may be related is the existence of psychopaths -- people who seem to be
genetically devoid of moral feeling. See Without Conscience: The Disturbing
World of the Psychopaths Among Us, by the brilliant scientist Dr. Robert
Hare. I highly recommend his book. As far as I know, in Hare's terminology,
mountain bikers are sociopaths, not psychopaths.
21. Aren't
mountain bikers just hikers with wheels, and don't they care about protecting
the land as much as conservationists? I am going to quote a friend, who
said it much better than I ever could: "What comes across very strongly to
me is that this is like the Biblical fable of Solomon trying to decide which
woman is the real mother to a baby. Sick of their bickering, he threatens to
cut the baby in half and give half to each. The true mother cries out in
objection, saying she would rather he gave the baby to the other woman than see
it killed. That's how Solomon knew who the real mother was. What does this have
to do with mountain bikers and the wilderness? It seems to me that the mountain
bikers commenting in this thread really don't care about the land unless they
can use it. They would just as soon the land not be protected as 'wilderness'
at all, than be declared off-limits to them. If they
really cared about the wilderness, they would say, please preserve the land,
even if we cannot use it. And in fact, as Mike correctly states, the land would
still [be] open to their use. Just without the bicycle."
"Behan, Richards, and Lee (2001) found that
pedestrians valued spiritual benefits more than mountain bikers did, as it was
easier for non-mechanized travelers to focus on nature." Behan, J.R., M.T.
Richards, and M.E. Lee. 2001. Effects of tour jeeps in a wildland setting on
non-motorized recreationist benefits. Journal of Park and Recreation
Administration 19:2,119. See http://www.georgewright.org/gws2013_proceedings.pdf.
22. How can I
see first-hand the harm that mountain biking does? Easy! Just watch their
own videos: https://mjvande.info/mtbvideo.htm.
23. IMBA has
rules designed to minimize the impacts of mountain biking, such as not riding
under wet conditions. Don't they protect the parks from damage?
IMBA's
"rules" are just for show, and are universally ignored. So much for
IMBA's rule about not riding under wet conditions! They could stick to
pavement, but they are too selfish to do so:
"Date: Sat, 23
Jan 2010 21:15:01 -0800
From: Ross
Finlayson <finlayson@live555.com>
Subject: Your
favorite 'midst of the wet season' rides?
At this time of the
year (especially during an 'El Nino' winter like this one), we often find
ourselves wanting to ride just a couple of days after a major rainy spell. Most of the trails are too muddy to ride, but
there are a few trails (mostly fireroads) that hold
up OK even after heavy rain.
In the past, my
favorite 'midst of the wet season' ride was the main (Aptos Creek) fireroad in Nisene Marks - from
Aptos up to Sand Point overlook and back.
But even that fireroad often gets very wet.
My new favorite
'midst of the wet season' ride - which I did again today - is at Butano State
Park: Up the Butano Fireroad, past the abandoned
airstrip, then down Olmo Fireroad, and back along the
paved road. This is a 12-mile loop with
2000' of total climbing , and holds up well
(especially the Butano Fireroad) even after a long
period of heavy rain, such as we had this past week.
So lets hear your favorite 'midst of the wet season' rides?
Ross."
24. Aren't most
mountain bikers responsible? Mountain biking organizations always say that they
oppose illegal trail-building and illegal mountain biking. Those statements
are just empty words. They are always followed by excuses that exonerate the
outlaws. For example, when three people were arrested for building an illegal
trail in Marin County across four different jurisdictions, IMBA said that it
was caused by a lack of sufficient singletrack opportunities! Is it any wonder
that these activities never stop?! Here is just one of the many examples on the
following website: http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=595571:
"As much as I disrespect vigilante trail building, sometimes its [sic] the swift kick in the butt needed to get the
powers that be to recognize a problem. I know many will disagree, but you
should check out the Freedom Riders movie and see how that turned out."
Mountain bikers have never lifted a finger to actually stop illegal
trail-building or illegal mountain biking. IMBA co-founder Michael Kelley once
asked me where the illegal mountain biking is going on, and promised to do
something about it. He has never shown up.
Danielle Baker:
https://www.bikemag.com/blog/the-bakery-can-you-keep-a-secret/
"At some point in every emerging mountain bike community,
illegal trails are necessary to grow the sport. It's easier to beg forgiveness
than ask permission, and it is impossible to prove to a political body that
mountain biking is a viable community sport if you don't already have somewhere
to ride. The secrecy is necessitated by the use of land we don't own. And at
some point that secrecy creates a divide between those
who know and those who don't. Location knowledge of these trails gives you the
popularity advantage of the first girl to develop in high school."
http://outsideinradio.org/transcript-rake-and-ride
"Sam Evans-Brown: If you’ve ever
been walking and turned onto a trail that suddenly is zig-zagging, maze-like
through the woods, winding crazily through the trees and doubling back on
itself… that’s a mountain bike trail. They’re super frustrating to walk on,
because they take forever to get anywhere. Mountain bikers don’t want views or
point-to-point trails, they want corners, and obstacles to get over, and
downhills and to ride their bikes until they’re tired and wind up back where
they started.
And they want it close to home…
which means often these trails were built in whatever woods were nearest by… no
matter whose they were. "
25. Can't horses
be taught to tolerate the presence of bikes on the trail, so that mountain
bikers can safely share trails with equestrians? No: "The
other advantage for an equestrian, sometimes, is that if the horse is trying to
avoid an obstacle/collision, the rider may be already out of the way of impact
due to the horse's reflexes in avoiding the obstacle. Horses have reflexes 10
times faster than humans, so I'm told. So the injured
rider usually has injuries not due to collision with the biker but instead with
trees, rocks, falling, or other trail issues. Falling on her back and hitting
her head are the main culprits for women riders. I now ride with a helmet to
protect at least one part of me. Hopefully I will not land on my back if I go
off; and if I have a choice, I'll try to roll. Another helpful piece, try to
ride a horse that has some sense and some training rather than a green one or a
colt, if possible. No matter how well trained, however, that is not a
guarantee that the rider will be safe in an emergency." "The
other problem with horse reflexes is that should they wheel and try to gallop
out of danger, often the rider is already thrown half out of the saddle and is
off balance due to the spin. Then the rider can hit the ground with great
force, or worse yet, hit their head on a rock. Also, a panicked, otherwise
completely sensible horse can back you off a cliff, fall with you and roll over
on you, saddle, horse and all. I have very well trained, level headed horses
that can meet many challenges that would frighten another horse. I am a very
experienced rider who was riding with a friend who is a horse trainer. Both
horses were frightened by the sudden, silent appearance of some speeding bikes.
One horse spun so hard that my trainer friend was laid out flat on his neck,
but didn't come off. My horse, a nearly bomb proof mare, freaked out and
started backing up toward a cliff. I got her stopped just as her hind legs went
off the edge of the cliff. I've had this mare for 14 years,
she's never tried to back off a cliff before. Another variation is that once
off balance on a spinning horse, the horse remains on the cliff, but the rider
is thrown over the side, rolling and bouncing all the way to the bottom. … You can get a horse trail ready, but you can NEVER train
the flight response out of a horse." "I and 2
other gals were all injured in an accident precipitated by a mountain biker who
was wearing ear buds, and bombing down a narrow mountain trail. MB Websites
have posts & pictures from mountain bikers bragging about AVERAGING 20 mph
on that same trail. The mountain biker hit the first horse and they all spun
and ran. We all had concussions, one gal suffered a compression fracture of her
spine, the second such injury in ONE WEEK, due to an equestrian mountain bike
accident. I was wearing a helmet and still got a concussion and back injuries.
My horse suffered abrasions down to her tendon sheath on her hind fetlocks. If
her injuries had gotten infected, that would have been it for her. The 2 gals I
was riding with had been riding all their lives and one is a breeder and
trainer. I was the rookie having been riding and owning horses for only 20 yrs.
All the horses were well accustomed to bikes on the trail. You can't train them
to be non reactive zombies when their life is threatened and a biker never
stops."
26. Won't
permitting mountain biking eliminate illegal mountain biking and trail
building? No! In spite of permission to mountain bike, that is never good
enough for mountain bikers! They still ride illegally and build illegal
trails! Of course, they always claim that getting access will eliminate the
illegal use, but it's not true!:
From: Michele Lamelin <michele@mbosc.org>
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 00:38:52 -0800
Subject: [morca] FLOW TRAIL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM MBoSC: Stewards of Soquel Forest 12/6 work day recap;
Adventure Sports Journal 12/20 work day registration open
To: "Monterey Off-Road Cycling Association (MORCA)"
<morca@googlegroups.com>
List-Subscribe: <http://groups.google.com/group/morca/subscribe>
Volunteer trail workers pose with raffle prizes at the end of a productive work
day. Photo by Drew Perkins.
Volunteer Trail Work Day Recap: 12/6, presented by the Stewards of Soquel
Forest
A dedicated 37 volunteers showed up at Soquel Demonstration State Forest (SDSF)
on a rainy morning this past Saturday for the first trail work day of the
2014/15 season.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) SDSF Forest
Manager Angela Bernheisel kicked off the day by addressing the crew. After
applauding their volunteer effort, Angela asked for their support and that of
the mountain biking community at large to help manage the growing issue of
unauthorized trail use and trail building on SDSF and neighboring private
landowner property, pointing out that such activity jeopardizes the future of
mountain biking at SDSF.
Fueled with coffee and breakfast treats courtesy Whole Foods, crews then headed
into the forest to perform much needed drainage maintenance on Braille and
Sawpit, cleaning out old drains and adding new ones where needed. This
maintenance work will help the trails weather the significant storm event
forecast for Thursday this week. The rain relented and glimpses of blue sky
were seen by lunchtime. A gourmet lunch was provided by the Stewards of Soquel
Forest and Summit Store.
After a long but productive day of work, volunteers enjoyed post-work
refreshments, also provided by the Stewards, and a fun raffle featuring product
from Bell, Epicenter Cycling, and Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company.
Former CAL FIRE SDSF Forest Manager Thomas Suftin, who pitched in with a
volunteer crew, expressed how impressed he was with the event’s organization.
Other feedback echoed this sentiment from long-time volunteer Ben Harold, who
also worked on the Emma McCary Trail: “I love volunteering for MBoSC eventsI get a lot more out
of them than I put in.”
Huge thanks to each and every volunteer for the hard work, and to the Stewards
of Soquel Forest, Whole Foods and Summit Store for the hospitality!
A trail crew heads to their work site in the mist. Photo by Bruce Dorman.
Volunteer crew leader Bruce Dorman takes care of a drainage problem. Photo by
Julie Kanagy.
Volunteers were also rewarded with an amazing sunset view over Soquel Creek and
SDSF courtesy Mother Nature. Photo by Bruce Dorman.
Next Volunteer Trail Work Day: 12/20, presented by Adventure Sports Journal
Volunteer Work Day #2 is scheduled for Saturday, December 20, with Adventure
Sports Journal generously providing the days’ hospitality. We expect to resume
work on the flow trail that day and would love another big turnout of help.
Volunteer involvement is crucial to completing the flow trail, and work days
are scheduled for twice a month. Check out the schedule and mark your calendar!
All are welcome at our workdaysno trail work
experience required. Bear in mind that work days are weather dependent. Windy
and wet weather may produce hazardous conditions, or limit workday
productivity.
Registration for volunteer trail work days is REQUIRED. Sign up for the
December 20 event HERE.
The SDSF flow trail was featured as the Adventure Sports Journal cover story in
their April/May 2014 issue. The article was written by SDSF flow trail builder
Matt De Young with photography by MBoSC volunteer
Bogdan Marian.
Other ways you can help:
JOIN OUR WEEKDAY DIG CREW: We will also hold informal work days during the week
Tuesday through Friday, weather permitting. Contact us for further details if
you can join us.
ASSIST WITH OTHER TASKS: If you want to help out, but aren’t keen on digging,
there are still lots of ways you can help out without breaking a sweat; check
out our Help Wanted page for ways you can get involved.
SPONSOR A VOLUNTEER TRAIL WORK DAY: Promote your business while supporting a
community driven project by pitching in to help MBoSC
put on an A+ Volunteer Trail Work Day. Your sponsorship donation will provide
hospitality for volunteers as well as cover MBoSC’s
costs to plan and organize the event. Learn more here.
DONATE EQUIPMENT/RAFFLE ITEMS/CASH:. We need to raise
another $140,000 in order to complete the flow trail. We also could use raffle
items to reward our volunteers with, and certain equipment useful for trail
building. Details here.
TAKE OUR SURVEY: Have you ridden the flow yet?
We want to know what you think. Your feedback will help us evaluate our work so
far and plan the remaining segments. Chime in here.
Volunteers enjoy coffee and breakfast treats as they sign waivers and get
organized for the day. Photo by Mark Davidson.
27. Overview
of common mountain bike injuries:
28. Isn't
mountain biking good for kids, since it gets them off the couch? Mountain
bikers would like you to believe that mountain biking is the only thing
that will get kids off the couch (there are many less harmful physical
activities that will do that, including hiking and street bicycling), and that
mountain bike racing is environmentally benign (the rest of this FAQ proves it
isn't) and is beneficial for the kids (at least the ones that aren't seriously
injured or killed!). The psychology of racing (e.g. Peak Mental
Performance Coaching: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/psychology-in-cycling-a-pmpc-appraoch-2015.html)
is all about ignoring everything and everyone in the world, so that you can
win a race. I have never had any interest in racing, so I can't say whether
it works, but it does seem to embody everything that is bad about mountain
biking: ignoring erosion, the killing of animals and plants, the terrorizing of
other trail users, and the endangerment of mountain bikers and others. This is
why it is so important to "nip it in the bud" - in grade school and
high school, where the racing addiction is fostered - by people who care more
about spreading their sport than they do about the welfare of children.
29. Mountain
bikers say they ride off-road because it's safer than riding on the road. Is
that true? No: "In some Canadian provinces,
mountain biking is a popular sport that involves riding on steep slopes,
through densely wooded trails, and jumping obstacles and cliffs. It involves
considerably higher injury risk than transport cycling" (http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/11/e008052.full.pdf+html).
In addition, road- and off-road biking have different goals: off-road biking
doesn't generally provide transportation from one point to another, so it can't
substitute for transportation cycling.
The State of California considers mountain biking a
"hazardous
recreational activity":
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=831.7:
"'hazardous recreational activity' means a recreational activity conducted
on property of a public entity that creates a substantial, as distinguished
from a minor, trivial, or insignificant, risk of injury to a participant or a
spectator." Notice that bicycling or driving on pavement is not
considered a "hazardous recreational activity".
30. Isn't
mountain biking safe if you learn the proper techniques? No! So-called
"expert" mountain bikers have horrendous accidents all the time.
Mountain bikers seem to enjoy the thrill of danger, and seek it out. That leads
to accidents. But no matter how "safely" you ride, the inherent
randomness and unpredictability of nature ensures that there will always be
accidents.
31. Isn't it
good to get more people on bikes, and thereby clean up the air? It's good
to get people out of their cars and riding bikes instead. But mountain biking
doesn't do that – it is done for recreation, not transportation, and doesn't
replace motor vehicle trips. In fact, most mountain bikers drive to the
trailhead, since very few mountain biking trails are within bicycling distance
of their homes. And mountain biking dirties the air: today I met a woman who
told me that a mountain biker (on a trail closed to bikes) skidded past her at
high speed and filled the air – and her lungs – with dust!
32. Pilot
projects: Mountain bikers and land managers that support mountain biking
love "pilot projects". "Let's try allowing bikes on trails and
see how it goes." "Let's allow bikes on that singletrack trail and
see how it goes." Those "pilot projects" never get revisited.
They last forever, regardless of how they go.
33. Are there
any good reasons to allow bicycles on trails? No. I can't think of one, and
in the 30 years I have studied mountain biking, no one else has been able to
come up with one.
34. One more reason
to oppose mountain biking: fire danger and over-consumption of resources:
From: Brian
Horejsi
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2018
2:57 PM
Subject: Hot Mtn Bike Brake
Starts Forest Fire
https://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-news/hot-mountain-bike-brake-rotor-starts-forest-fire-austria
At 03:19 PM 3/29/2018, [a friend] wrote:
"I've also heard that e-MTB batteries could catch on
fire.... http://jimmymacontwowheels.com/battery-fires-create-concerns-for-every-electric-bike-owner/
(February 2018)"
Hmmm. I've never found a need for brakes or large batteries while hiking.... ;)
There's one more reason to oppose mountain biking: over-consumption of
resources!
35. "No future for egoists -- that's what their brain says!" This
explains why, for example, mountain bikers apparently don't care about how they
impact other trail users or wildlife! They are able to turn a 60-year-old woman
into a paraplegic and refuse to take any responsibility for it. And they think
that destroying wildlife habitat by building endless new trails is doing a
"service"! This is exactly what I've been saying for the past 25
years! Finally, we have a good explanation! https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180425120245.htm
36. One more reason to ban mountain biking: the enormous cost
of rescuing someone from the wilds, often with helicopters or all-terrain
vehicles, and medical personnel.
37. The bottom line: bicycles should be restricted to
pavement or roads that are open to motor vehicles. There is no good reason
to allow bicycles or other vehicles on dirt trails or in natural areas.
Mountain biking is pointless – like mountain biking in the Sistine Chapel or
the Louvre.
38. Aren’t mountain bikers who break the law part of the
civil disobedience tradition of Gandhi and the Freedom Riders? No, they
abuse the concept of civil disobedience, dropping the "civil" part.
Gandhi openly and publicly broke the law and submitted to arrest. Mountain
bikers break the law secretly and surreptitiously and try to avoid arrest. They
are simply being selfish and anti-social. Instead of criticizing mountain
bikers who break the law, they excuse their law-breaking by claiming that (1)
mountain bikers are discriminated against and (2) there aren’t "enough"
places to mountain bike legally. But, of course, there is no "right"
to mountain bike, and protecting wildlife and the environment is a perfectly
good reason to ban mountain biking.
39. Aren’t the V-shaped ruts seen on mountain biking trails
caused by rain, not mountain bike tires? The mountain bikers always claim
that bikes don't cause those V-shaped ruts, that they are caused by rain. Here
we have a perfect natural experiment: the (mostly – a few mountain bikers ride
it illegally) bike-free section of the (San Francisco Bay Area) Ridge Trail south
of Tilden Park has no such ruts, whereas the "multi-use" section
adjacent to it (north of Sibley Park) does. Same terrain, same geology, same
rainfall. The only difference is the much larger number of bikes on the
multi-use section.
40. "Mountain biking builds character", right? Wrong!:
Mountain-biker from Abington sentenced on three bank holdups:
https://www.enterprisenews.com/news/20181019/mountain-biker-from-abington-sentenced-on-three-bank-holdups
Rape claims against French Alps shooting victim:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-45887227
41. What are the impacts on wildlife of mountain bikers with dogs?:
https://mountainjournal.org/mountain-biking-and-hiking-with-dogs-impacts-wildlife
42. A rarely-mentioned part of the mountain bikers’
dossier is corruption. It has recently come to light that officials in
Olympia, Washington (https://olywip.org/whizzing-past-public-process-will-kaiser-woods-become-a-playground-for-mountain-bikers/)
and Santa Clara County, California (http://www.sanjoseinside.com/2019/03/09/op-ed-secrecy-corporate-influence-threatened-santa-clara-countys-sanborn-park/)
have broken transparency laws by holding secret
meetings with mountain bikers to plan mountain bike parks, so that other
citizens don’t have an opportunity to object.
43. Mountain bikers claim that it is a lot of fun
and never boring. Is that true? Not at all! They are forever looking for
new trails to ride, and building new trails (legally or illegally). This proves
that mountain biking is boring and unsatisfying, in spite of their claims! If
it were satisfying, they would never need new trails. I have been hiking the
same trails weekly for 36 years, and they never get boring! Wild nature
is endlessly interesting, and no two days are ever the same! But mountain
bikers don’t look at anything but the trail in front of their front tire (so
they won’t crash). What could be more boring than that?
44. What is the
point of mountain biking? Mountain biking through the wilderness is like
bicycling through an art museum. How much are you going to see? Is that a good
way to learn about art?
45. What are
mountain bikers seeking? Mountain bikers like
"singletrack" (narrow) trails that are difficult enough to ride (e.g.
full of rock- and root hazards) that they allow them to show off their riding
skills and boost their ego. (Of course, every rider is different, so some people
infuriate the more skilled riders by changing the trail to make it easier to
ride.) Of course, these trails are totally inappropriate for hikers, who
simply want trails that are easy to walk on, so they can enjoy the “main
attraction”, which is untouched, wild nature. This is why mountain bikers
should never be allowed to build trails.
46. Doesn’t recreation lead to more conservation? This is
a common myth used to justify endless increases in recreation. Actually,
recreation only leads to more recreation. In the 30 years that I've been
observing mountain biking, the only thing that mountain bikers have ever
advocated is access for their bikes. Not a bit of environmental- or wildlife
protection ethic has ever rubbed off onto them. What does lead to
conservation is science, specifically conservation biology. E.g. E.O. Wilson,
arguably the most famous modern conservationist, started the Half Earth (for
the wildlife) and 30x30 projects.
47. Doesn’t mountain biking provide some benefits for riders,
such as reducing obesity? All of those benefits can be had by hiking, while
minimizing the impact on wildlife and the environment, as well as the danger of
accidents and injuries. Duh!
48. What are Native Americans teaching us about how nature
should be treated? Hike, don’t mountain bike! It's common sense: respect
the wildlife whose home it is: be quiet, move slowly, minimize harm, minimize
disturbance of the wildlife - it's their only home! See https://www.wltribune.com/news/williams-lake-mountain-bikers-raising-awareness-of-farwell-canyon-closure-prior-to-4-20-event/.
49. What’s good about bike parks and pump tracks?
Nothing! They teach “skills” (jumping, skidding, etc.) that are inappropriate
everywhere else, and yet the bikers are guaranteed to perform them in all of
our parks. If someone wants to learn how to ride a bike, they can do so on the
street, as we’ve all done since the bicycle was invented. Creating a bike park takes
land that should be reserved for more important uses, such as wildlife habitat
or parks for everyone – not just mountain bikers.
50. The Evolution of Laziness: “First,
they got a bike to reduce walking. Then, they got multiple gears to reduce
effort. Then, they got electric drive assist in going up steep
hills. Then, they got more powerful motors to go faster up and down hills
to cause deeper damages to nature. Due to all the injuries, the next
evolutionary step will be a well-padded shell maybe with air bags. To
improve hill climbing, the wheels will have retractable spikes.
Karl Young
Olympia, WA”
51. Do mountain
bikers add unpleasant noise to the natural environment?:
https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/25596-quiet-please:
"Hempton: There are sounds of human origin that are
harmonious with the sounds of nature. I think of indigenous music — Tibetan
chanting, Hawaiian slack-key guitar — whose pace is that of an easygoing life
lived mostly out-of-doors. I think of an infant’s coo when the breast appears
or the sound of a child’s voice. Footsteps, by and large, are a natural sound.
But most of us make too much noise. In Sri Lanka I witnessed a monk leading a
group of about seventy-five schoolchildren on a nature walk. That I saw this
large group of children before I heard them was remarkable. The children were
not chatting; they were not bringing another place with them. They were being
in that place. Compare that to a group of mountain bikers carrying on a
conversation about what happened last night at a bar while they’re supposedly
“experiencing nature.” They’re unconscious of their place. They’re shouting
because they’re riding single file. Their chains are clanging. They’re not part
of the natural world they’re traveling through. When you travel in natural
harmony, you attune yourself with your environment." [emphasis added] See also: https://www.thesunmagazine.org/publications/3/editions/2298.
52. Doesn't
mountain biking connect people with nature, and thus cause them to take care of
it? They learn just as much about nature as one would learn about art by
riding through an art gallery at high speed: i.e. exactly NOTHING!
53. What should
I do if I see someone mountain biking illegally or building an illegal trail?
Obviously, call the police. But they may not be able to respond in time. You
may also have the right to make a citizen’s arrest. In California, you have the
right to make a citizen’s arrest if you witness someone committing an
infraction or a misdemeanor, or if you have good reason to suspect that they
have committed a felony.
Note: I was the Chair of the
Wildlife Committee of the Sierra Club's San Francisco Bay Area Chapter for a
decade. During the same period, I studied conservation biology and the
environmental impacts of mountain biking, which are summarized in my paper
"The Impacts of Mountain Biking on Wildlife and People -- A Review of the
Literature": https://mjvande.info/scb7.htm.