Losing Trails
There used to be a some really good riding in a town close to here. It was an abandoned rail road bed. A local hunting club had the right of way and would allow anybody to use the trail and all the trails that stemmed from the old rail bed. Everybody got along. Equestrians, 4WD, hikers, mountain bikers and dirt bikers. Then something nasty happened. A group of people who know best how others should live decided that it would best if only hikers and bikers had access to these trails. So they banded together and lobbied the government and collected momementum from a whole slew of haters and created The "Great" Allegheny Passage. You know, those people who think that everybody should be exactly like them and only enjoy the exact same activities they enjoy. For your own good of course. Equestrians are also taboo in a lot of areas on the trail. Imagine that, one of the oldest forms of non bipedal conveyance.. taboo. But now it's not just the "Alleghany Passage". It's the "Great" "Alleghany Passage". I guess all the haters like it because now they only have to commune with others of their ilk who enjoy the exact same activities they do.
Don't get me wrong, I'm an avid mountain biker. I've even won a race or two. I used to ride my mountain bike on that trail just as often as I took the dirt bike, maybe more when I lived closer. I was courteous, I slowed way down when I saw a horse and frequently stopped to let them ride by without spooking the horse. I always slowed to a walking pace for hikers so as not to stir up dust or throw rocks. I never saw anybody on a dirtbike that wasn't as considerate. So I'm baffled as to why they hate and want to exclude others. I remember when they first proposed the passage, they told the local ORV groups that it would be a dual use trail. One side fenced off for bicycles and hikers, and the other side fenced off for ORVers. That must have just been lip service because it never materialzed.
Another puzzling thing is part of the trail is an active rail road bed. There is an actual fire breathing, noxious, smoke throwing train that hauls the lazy or the disabled up the hill to a tourist trap. I've been on the trail when that thing goes by. I'd much rather suck a few seconds of two stroke smoke than suck the thick cloud of coal smoke that billows uncontrollably from that thing. There is also nothing separating the train from the bicycle trail. Accident waiting to happen? I've seen some of the people who try and ride the trail and subsequently fall off their mounts. Just wait till one falls over while the train comes flying down the tracks.
So how do we keep from losing our trails? As much as I hate to say it, we have to take an active part in keeping these groups from swaying the government to enforce their hating. One way is to join groups that promote open use for EVERYBODY. And for us to realize that we do have to tolerate others use and be courteous and polite and considerate while on the trails.
I'm sure some of you have seen or heard about the Hatfield and McCoy trails system. According to http://www.americantrails.org/resources/motors/MotHatfieldMcCoy.html It's a coordinated effort between several like minded entities. "The partnership consists of Marshall University, the Hatfield-McCoy Recreation Development Coalition, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the Army Corps of Engineers and the AMA." One of the major proponents of course was the AMA.
Interestingly enough, the AMA states it's policy quite clearly about how it feels when it comes to supporting other special interest groups in creating and preserving trails. According to http://ama-cycle.org/legisltn/positions/lands.asp
"The AMA supports the development of collaborative efforts with other recreation and special interest groups, especially those interested in trail-based recreation, in order to improve understanding and respect among all members of the trails community and to enhance the diverse recreational trails opportunities available to all Americans. "
The AMAs track record has shown that when they are successful in creating or preserving a trail, everybody benefits. Everybody is allowed to use the trails. Horses, mountain bikers, hikers, dirt bikers, ORVers, Everybody.
Of course there are exceptions. Certainly your average jeep is not going to fit on that gnarly single track. And there will always be some rules that need to be followed.
The avid mountain biker in me would like to support some mountain bike organizations. But every one I have encountered has the same policy. Special mountain bike interests only. Many of them have, and will throw their outdoor bretheren under the bus if it means gaining them, and them alone access.
I contacted IMBA in regards to their policy. Their response was "IMBA's national policy is to focus only on achieving maximal access for moutain biking. We have partnerships with motorized groups in some locations. But we leave those decisions to our local affiliates."
Would the AMA do the same thing? Probably. However, the results of their efforts have time and again proven to benefit all trail users. The bicycle groups, have frequently helped exclude their ORV bretheren. From what I've seen, anyplace there's an ORV trail, bicycles are welcome. And the AMA policy is to actively seek out groups to work with to further their cause. So, they'll be getting my support.
