Kudos to the Bureau of Land Management for beginning to address the negative impacts of mountain biking on our trails (“
As the proliferation of bikers on trails grows, these impacts (and conflicts) are growing in frequency and intensity. I would add that besides impacts on wildlife, there is also an unnamed but very real adverse experiential impact to pedestrians (and equestrians) who move slowly through the landscape, and have to deal with speeding bikes, blind corner, and bikers who feel they always have the right of way.
What makes the experience good for mountain bikes often makes it bad for others. It’s obvious that they don’t always mix well.
There are local trails that have now become nothing but freeways for bikes, and this forces many to avoid them because the experience is not at all pleasant as a hiker or equestrian.
Granted, I see the need for a few bike-only trails so that those folks can enjoy their trail biking experience the way they want to, but more importantly I see the need for more no-bike trails so that those that hike (or ride horses) can do so without worrying about being hit or forced off the trail by mountain bikers.
William LiebDurango
