[pct-l] bicycles

[losthiker at sisqtel.net (Deems)]

>> I still fail to  see any good reason to prohibit non-motorized bicycles.
Aside from demanding courtesy from riders--km<

>Look you ask if bikes can be ridden on the PCT. As someone said, no it's
against the law. It's a Federal law to boot. It's not a regulation that can
come and go at some agency's digression.  It'd take an act of Congress to change the law.  
 
The PCT, a rather sacred National Scenic Trail for foot travel explicitly, is only a mere 2650 miles where it is illegal for cycling and wheels, and as this informed group has voiced "not acceptable, unsafe, and illegal" as determined by Congress; but there are tens of thousands of other trail miles outside of Wilderness areas, and about 500,000 miles of Forest Service roads out there for you to ride your bike.  Cycling is illegal in Wilderness areas, on the PCT, and on some National Park trails.  I'm a serious cyclist, a USFS civil servant, and don't on the PCT due to the "intent of the law" which is to protect and manage this national trail resource for all to enjoy and experience. The trail is patrolled regularly by the USFS, NPS, and hikers for this reason. It is enough of a challenge to manage and maintain the current natural quality of the Wilderness areas, National Forests and Parks due to the current budget gutting, outsourcing, and silencing of science within the Federal Government without new abuses to the system.  Tune in or drop out; your personal opinion is irrelevant in this discussion about bikes on the PCT. Take it up with the current Congress, and Tim Stone who manages the PCT for the USFS if you feel your need is worth addressing. But for now, keep your bike off the PCT, it is very illegal and rudely unwelcome. Feel free and welcome to hike on it all you want though, that is why the PCT was built for us all.