A bill allowing bikes and other wheeled conveyances in wilderness is unnecessary and damaging to our Colorado wilderness areas.
This bill, HR 1349, passed the House Natural Resources Committee. I call on Rep. Scott Tipton to vote against this bill if it should come to a floor vote in the House.
Proponents of the bill argue, incorrectly, that wheelchairs are not allowed in wilderness. This is not true. Also, bikes have many thousands of miles of trails available to ride. Bicyclists are welcome to hike, paddle or ride horseback in wilderness. The machines with wheels are not allowed. This was made clear in the Wilderness Act of 1964.
The Weminuche, South San Juan, Lizard Head and Hermosa Creek Wilderness areas are places we can go to experience quiet, a slower pace and solitude. We have many miles of trails open to bicycles outside these wilderness areas. Several are designed specifically for mountain biking. We do not need to sacrifice wilderness for this use.
Each wilderness would loose the character that makes it unique if this bill is passed.
The opportunity to get away from civilization’s noise and stress does not come easily.
Once removed, this quality will not recover.
Anne Dal Vera
Bayfield
