[pct-l] The AT and cyclists

[Tortoise]

There is always the danger that a friendly legislator will attach a rider to a must pass bill to allow mountain bikes onto the trails.  nothing certain in Congress.

Typoed on my iPad.

On Oct 29, 2012, at 13:13, <abiegen at cox.net> wrote:

> RE: Any movement by mountain bikers to get access to the AT. 
> 
> The National Trails System Act of 1968 defined the existing/proposed National 
> Scenic Trails. It specifically states for the Appalachian Trail: 
> 
> "The Appalachian Trail shall be administered primarily as a footpath by the 
> Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture." 
> 
> When the bill was written, the Appalachian Trail was well established and had a 
> strong association to protect their vision. 
> 
> The fact that it is stated "primarily as a footpath" ensures that it cannot be 
> opened to mountain bikes except by an act of Congress. Given that Congress has 
> refused to act even as we careen toward the fiscal cliff (please excuse my one 
> bipartisan political statement) it is extremely unlikely that the AT will be 
> opened to MBers. 
> 
> IMBA definitely has their sights on Wilderness and started several years ago to 
> propose alternate designations that they feel will allow mountain bikes. The 
> MBers are trying to define a thin line since they hate dirt bikes. They cite the 
> difference in speed and weight and how that impacts their safety. Hmmmmm. 
> _______________________________________________
> 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.