[pct-l] RE: Bikes on the PCT

[bensabraw@yahoo.com (Ben Sabraw)]

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[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]

I am sincere and this isn't random trolling meant to illicit angry response=
s, but rather a realistic question. I still see nothing wrong with bikes on=
 the PCT and the reason listed were totally inadequate.

Reason 1: "The horse people built the trail and continue to maintain it."  =
So if those that cause the damage "attempt" to fully repair it, its okay? I=
 believe that logic is flawed. I doubt you would be happy if horse usage wa=
s as high as hiker usage in some areas, but don't worry they are "maintaini=
ng" the trail.

Reason 2: "The 1964 wilderness act stipulates no wheeled vehicles of any ki=
nd....etc. etc."  Well, I completely agree. The government passed an act an=
d because our omnipotent and ever-wise government wrote this into law, we s=
hall no longer discuss said acts' merits. Good thinking, lets be selfish an=
d keep the blinders on just like the stupid mules that trudge out of the va=
lley every day all day from june till september.

Reason 3: "Bikes dont belong on the PCT for the same reasons that hikers do=
nt belong on bike trails. Its not safe for the people on foot." Well this i=
s utterly ridiculous. I have done a lot of hiking and biking on multi use t=
rails and have had no unpleasant experiences with hikers or bikers, maybe b=
ecause I am a hiker and a biker and know how to be courteous as well as inf=
ormed of the local rules, but to assume this poses actual "danger" to the h=
iker is laughable. My hiking partner in 2001 was nearly run over by a train=
 of mules outside of the muir hot springs when the handler lost control and=
 the dumb animals spooked. The trail was waist high with brush and he was n=
early trampled. Now that is dangerous. And the biggest joke is the folks wh=
o stand around and stonewall a biker headed downhill. Yeah, that's realisti=
c. All you are proving is your ignorance and your stubborness. Do you want =
the biker to ride cross country right off the trail and tear up the flora a=
nd fauna? Do you want him or her to turn around and peddle back where they =
came from even if they are on the tail end of a thirty mile stretch? Do you=
 want to make them feel really uncomfortable and send them away with head h=
eld in shame like a child in timeout? Give me a break! I hope no one would =
consider assaulting someone over something like this because that is seriou=
sly bad news for everyone involved.

I will always support the PCT  physically and monetarily, but to assume tha=
t bikes have no place within the borders on this trail is shortsighted. I a=
m not interested in riding the JMT or the Marbles or Jefferson Park, but I =
will ride the areas around Downieville, and who knows, maybe after the ADZP=
CTKO in April I'll do a short fifty miles of PCT after breakfast!  Anyone w=
ant to come along?



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