[pct-l] Mountain Bikers

[Barry Teschlog]

JPL:  Leaving trees on the trail isn't an effective deterrent to MTBers.  Smaller trees across MTB trails, in the 8-12" neighborhood, are a common ADDED feature for jumping / skills purposes.  Ditto with not removing branches - the obstacle to bikers is trivial compared the hassle to hikers.


Nick:  I never said anything about a feature that would "lock" a wheel.  Where did you get this idea?  Being a MTBer myself I have a feel what features are difficult to ride, and how said features could be installed such that they can be easily walked through by both hiker and equestrian, yet extremely difficult to ride (or go around).  


BTW, I'm a cross country style MTBer, so yes, it IS all about the flow, and that's the style of poacher that would primarily be interested in the PCT since not too many parts would be epic DH / Freeride type terrain.

Fanciful that the USFS might allow us trail maintainers to have another tool / feature to actually protect, preserve and keep the trail open?  Hardly.  Its only a matter of time.  


As you say Nick, poachers could certainly take up active vandalism of the trail....at least with shovels, picks, etc to remove / destroy US Government Property in the form of trail improvements, in addition to using their bikes in said works of destruction and defacing / actively removing no bikes signs. I don't let that stop me from taking care of the trail now, why would I let that stop me in the future?  Besides, those that would do so (engage in active vandalism) would further demonstrate the unsuitability of said user group (bikers) to have access to the trail with their mechanical transportation.  A brief search indicates that Title 18, Section 1361 would probably apply to those fool enough to start digging up features installed to keep bikes at bay.

Oh - Dan:  Is it your assertion that only non-bombing, careful, respectful, un-armored and un-full face helmeted low
speed bikers would ever be on the trail?  Yeah, I thought not.