[pct-l] Bikes on the PCT

[Devon Taig]

I have thru-hike both the PCT and the Colorado Trail. Although I am not a
mountain biker, I count anyone who is *respectful *of others on the trail
and who gives of their time, energy, and financial resources to help
maintain the trails to be an important ally. I am honestly happy that
people are using the trails even though I might encounter some additional
(often substantial) traffic while hiking. People using trails is a good
thing! Truly, there are parts of the Continental Divide Trail that probably
wouldn't be visible anymore if it weren't for bikers.
Now, on the other hand, when a person is riding a machine capable of the
kinds of speeds that a bike is, there is obviously the potential for a
serious problem or an injury; and YES, I have encountered problem cyclists
on the Colorado Trail that have scared me and my dog.  But I don't believe
in throwing the baby out with the bathwater.  I welcome cyclists, but I ask
them to *please* be respectful of hikers.  Know that hikers are *much* slower
than you and may not hear you coming (particularly if they have headphones
on).  Kindly dismount if you aren't able to ride around. Even though you
may think it is super-easy for a hiker to simply step off the trail, if it
is the 30th time they've stepped off in one hour, it gets *really *old
really quick to always yield. And lastly, *PLEASE slow down especially
downhill and on blind curves and never ride at night*.  The biggest problem
on the Colorado Trail in my opinion is that stupid Denver to Durango bike
race.  Racers, because they are riding so fast and often at night pose a
VERY serious danger indeed.  Racing has absolutely NO place on the PCT or
the Colorado Trail. You can't be respectful and race at the same time.
It isn't bikes on the trail that worry me - it's people not respecting one
another.  Please, do that and we'll all get along fine.

Devon


On Wed, Oct 10, 2012 at 11:42 PM, Stephanie Best <stephintahoe at sbcglobal.net
> wrote:

> I have to strongly disagree with you Bob.  I live in a town (in CO) with a
> huge
> mountain bike presence (the town is dubbed "Mountain bike capital of the
> USA").
>  It has gotten to the point where my friends and I simply do not hike
> during the
> weekends because we have the added bike traffic from the Front Rangers who
> take
> over the trails.  We have been bumped with handle bars, our dogs have been
> injured and we have been cussed out for not hearing them behind us.  It is
> not
> my job to constantly be looking behind me to see if I'm in a bikers way.
>  Not
> once has a biker yielded to me.
>
> I hope you will reconsider your position.
>
> Stephanie
> ________________________________
> From: Bob Bankhead <wandering_bob at comcast.net>
> To: PCT List Forum <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 9, 2012 9:12 PM
> Subject: [pct-l]  bikes on the PCT
>
> Mountain bikers and hikers can co-exist on the same trail. Look at the
> Colorado
> Trail. With the exception of a few wilderness areas, non-motorized bikes
> are
> allowed anywhere along its length. Parts of the trail are included in the
> routings of the Leadville and Breckenridge 100 mile races, and there is
> even an
> annual bike race from Denver to Durango on the CT. There are designated
> biker CT
> road routes around those sensitive wilderness areas.
>
> How do they do it? Respect for each other. Bikers put in hundreds of
> manhours
> each year maintaining the CT. I've never met a disrespectful biker on the
> CT.
> Quite the contrary, they are a great resource for hikers, often sharing
> water,
> trail condition, and providing rides to/from remote trailheads. Yes, the
> bikes
> do cut ruts into the trail tread, but fixing that is where a lot of their
> maintenance hours go.
>
> The rules of the road are everyone yields to stock, and bikes yield to
> hikers.
> Courtesy modifies that a bit such that descending hikers routinely step
> off the
> trail for bikes pedaling uphill. It's a lot easier to get going again for
> the
> hiker. Bikers are well aware of the presence of hikers and make a concerted
> effort to avoid collisions on blind corners and sweeping curves, even
> during the
> races.
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