[pct-l] Facts matter (Bicycles on the PCT)

[Timothy Nye]

This is a misrepresentation by Mr. Jacobs; perhaps it is unintentional, but who knows?  The language quoted by him is the regulatory, not statutory. I didn't bother to check to see if the statutes the regulations are purporting to enforce ( dating to 2009, by the way) actually involve the PCT as a national scenic trail.

Apparently, "facts" matter only if they comport with his narrative.  As I pointed out previously, the mountain bike was first devised in the late '70's. The trail preceded this development by roughly a decade. Therefore, asserting that mountain biking was originally viewed as a consistent use is false.

Sent from my iPad

On Oct 10, 2012, at 8:43 AM, Dan Jacobs <youroldpaldan at gmail.com> wrote:

> Facts matter.
> 
> So I decided to try to find out some facts. I looked up the Act of
> Congress that designated the National Trails system. I found it here:
> 
> http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/nts/legislation.html
> 
> In case there are some that don't want to read through it, here is a
> pertinent part of the Act (SEC. 7. [16USC1246] (j)):
> 
> "(j) Potential trail uses allowed on designated components of the
> national trails system may include, but are not limited to, the
> following: bicycling, cross-country skiing, day hiking, equestrian
> activities, jogging or similar fitness activities, trail biking,
> overnight and long-distance backpacking, snowmobiling, and surface
> water and underwater activities. Vehicles which may be permitted on
> certain trails may include, but need not be limited to, motorcycles,
> bicycles, four-wheel drive or all-terrain off-road vehicles. In
> addition, trail access for handicapped individuals may be provided.
> The provisions of this subsection shall not supersede any other
> provisions of this Act or other Federal laws, or any State or local
> laws."
> 
> So, the Act does not prohibit bicycles, in fact states they are a
> potential use of the National Trails System. You will also see that
> potential users include motorcycles and four wheel drive or
> all-terrain vehicles. If you're gonna fight something, you gotta know
> about it.
> 
> My wish is that we can keep the negativity on this list to an absolute
> minimum. If we have a superior moral and ethical position on the
> matter, we don't show it well with name calling, biting on the shiny
> troll bait and lures, and fighting among ourselves. The timing was
> awful after the bickering about horses on the PCT. If this is the kind
> of "club" I joined, I am thinking twice about whether I want to be a
> member.
> 
> I spend all day, four days a week with thousands of people that feel
> entitled to whatever they want, whenever they want it, and react in
> utter shock, disbelief, and anger when they don't get things they way
> they want. I don't need any more of that from anywhere else.
> 
> Dan Jacobs
> Washougal
> --
> "Loud motorcycle stereos save lives"
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> 
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
> All content is copyrighted by the respective authors. 
> Reproduction is prohibited without express permission.