Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84; site opus.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!sdcsvax!dcdwest!ittvax!decvax!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!hao!cires!nbires!opus!rcd 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.