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From: rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: Mountain Bikes & The Environment
Message-ID: <913@opus.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 19-Oct-84 03:01:03 EDT
Article-I.D.: opus.913
Posted: Fri Oct 19 03:01:03 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 22-Oct-84 06:51:05 EDT
References: <541@sjuvax.UUCP>
Organization: NBI,Inc, Boulder CO
Lines: 34

> Any idiot who runs over vegetation in a careless manner in such fragile eco-
> systems as desert or mountainous regions should be hung, drawn, and quartered.
> They and others like them are the ones responsible for the slow death of our
> planet's ecological systems. What a bunch of ignorant BASTARDS!
> 
> 
>                                Get out your flamethrowers...
>                                   Anthony J. Rowley

One trouble is that the number of careless idiots destroying fragile
ecosystems is countered by perhaps as many ignorant bastards who don't
know the difference between careless destruction of ecosystems and passing
through.  We are PART of the ecosystem--you will never walk through an area
which has not felt human footsteps.  (Think about it.)

If the point is that mountain bikes are destructive, let's hear what
happens--not just this "I heard that someone who knows someone in the
Sierra Club went to a meeting and..." stuff.  We're unfortunately short on
real experience reported here.  It would be nice to have some real ideas of
how much disruption can be caused by bicyclists at various points along the
scale [rude..considerate] as compared to hikers.  In other words, is
TYPICAL behavior of bicyclists a problem?  Does the typical mountain bike
cause more erosion, say, than the typical hiker?

There are probably some odd factors to be considered.  One that occurred to
me is that mountain bicyclists might be less likely to go peeing in the
streams than hikers--and that's a real ecosystem consideration.  What other
factors can you think of?

On the other hand, if the point is no longer mountain bikes but simply
another excuse for tantrums, let's toddle on over to net.flame.
-- 
Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
   ...Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip it's been.