Mountain Bike Ethics question

[singletrackmind]

One of the parents around here spraypainted every rock and root and stump day-glo orange several years ago-I think they were trying to make the trail safer. Good intentions, but your eye focuses on that paint like no tomorrow so we were all HITTING the hazzards until we got used to ignoring the paint, then it was just really ugly (and really unnecessary) on the trail. Lots of flats and crashes for a while there. You can still see evidence of it but it's finally fading.

Man, I do NOT envy you your position though I have to say kudos for hanging onto what seems to be an unpopular but right one. It really sucks that it's probably a relatively small group of too-influential people that you're fighting the good fight against. Thank goodness trail maintenance around here is to preserve the singletrack as best as possible and build new (with permission). Of course mountains aren't us-who knows what would happen if we had access to incredible downhills? Too bad the trail-wreckers couldn't have an area of their own to wreck and leave the rest of the singletrack alone. A sort of sacrificial lamb to save the rest of the flock.

Well, I'm not telling you to or not to spraypaint. I'm not living your horror. I sure wish I had an answer for you. I'm mentally pushing bunches of best wishes your way!

[Irulan]

are you looking for answers or just venting? if you are just venting skip the following...

If you are looking for answers, I'd get IMBA Canada involved ( and your regional rep) , and push education, IMBA has a tremendous amount of material out there for the Freeride crowd now. Photos of how do things "Right" as compared to "wrong" have a whole lot of impact. See if you can get the Canadian Trail Care Crew to come through next summer. They are great- they will come to town for about 4 days, tour the area, meet with higher ups, do public seminars, combined with a public project that is visible.

There is no quick fix. Even if you have a journalist on your side, the people who need educating don't read the newspaper. Our local IMBA rep is a gem of a resource, he's been working with these issues for over 15 years and has a real understanding of how to work with land managers, and to educate people. Unfortunatley the education peice is a slow road.

I use photos a lot... here's a well built stunt, here is something cobbled together. Here is a well designed trail, here is an erosion night mare. Here is what has been done, here is what we will do.. you get the idea.

You've brought up your situation before. The hardest thing I think is when you realize it's becomeing a power game, and not an situation where the greater good is being focused on.


The problem with taking things into your own hands, is that essentially you are doing what they are.

Here, we've gotten very good cooperation with the powers that be... they go in and tear things down, as they have specfically stated they don't mind being the bad guys, and it make us ( the club) be the good guys. We don't have the problems you have, but we have dirt jump diggers that are just trashing the riding area, and there's not a thing we can do about it. The city tears them down, we go in and do clean up work ( filling in craters etc) but then they just rebuild them.

It's certain mentality I've seen, that's very prevalent on the west side of the state here. Build whatever you want, when they tear it down, just find another place to ride and build, rinse, repeat. Dont' bother to talk to anyone,get permission, make a plan.

The hardest thing to do is to decide to commit to get involved, to take action. It could take over your life. And it's a slow road, but ultimately rewarding.

One thing I do is I hang out out on one of the boards where I know a lot of these riders are. Without being negative ( or at least I try to not be negative or deragatory) I talk a lot about what our club is doing, the gains we are making, the LEGAL clearances we've gotten, the clean up and maintenance days, so that people do know what we are doing and that we are working on their behalf.

I net work a lot with other clubs. How do they handle these things? LBTC, here's a link for an interesting article from Kootenay Mountain Culture Magazine. Down in this part of BC they are doing things RIGHT in terms of trail building, mountain bike tourism and so on. The article itself is part of the pdf file, which is the whole most recent issue.
http://www.kmcmag.com/pdf/kmc_summer05.pdf It's a pretty interesting read... how much $$ mountain bike tourism is adding to the economy, working with the provincial government to get trail grants, how many jobs have been created.. but it's all legal trails and builds.

I'm rambling, the coffee kicked in, sorry...

irulan

[bcipam]

The big debate in the MTB community - what to do with rogue riders and groups?

I live in a area where most of the major MTB groups are well-respected and partner and share with many environmental groups. I'm a bike docent for The Nature Conservancy. The TNC is all about enjoying wilderness areas and also understanding what makes those areas so appealing is its natural state and beauty. Education about our environment is key. Our lead docents are also members of the Warriors Society and SHARE. Both group activiely promote preservation and trail maintenance. As a result, many areas have been opened up to riders because of these groups willingness to take ownership of the trails and control misuse and inappropriate riding and behavior. HOW? By speaking out. I'm not comfortable doing it, but I will and have said things to riders who are going off trail, partcipating in acts that damage trails (such as clearing rocks and brush, or building alternative trails). Doesn't mean that anyone stops when you say something but if one person stops, that is at least less damage.

My suggestions is that you contact SHARE of The Warriors Society and ask them what can be done to prevent this type of damage and destruction. Sadly, it's a matter of being totally inconsiderate to other users of the trail. I know its hard to say something, but we have to speak up. Sad thing about what was done, in clearing trees, and creating new singletrack, eventually that singletrak will become a doubletrack and then a big ugly road no longer fun to ride on.

[chelle]

I'm originally from Vancouver and I'm also a trailbuilder. Years ago people were just cutting trails and creating stunts that were very unsafe. When the local land managers started removing stunts and closing some trails the mountainbike community (mostly trailbuilders) got together and started the NSMBA www.nsmba.com to organize the builders. They now have a big voice with the local governments and land managers. I would suggest contacting them, talk to Sharon or Lee, they are an incredible wealth of knowledge and may have some ideas.

The trails on the shore don't have the same issues as you can't ride up them but I hate to hear that someone is cutting down live trees. In all of the trailbuilding that I've done I've never cut live trees.

I now live in Colorado and most of the land here is national forest or protected land or private. People still build trails here but if you get caught building you can go to jail. I think that's a bit harsh but it stops the illegal cutting of live trees.

I would suggest building a network of like minded cyclists and win the battle with information not action. Many mountain bikers just don't know about forests and the effect that trails have on erosion. If we didn't have trees and grasses on the mountains, holding all the soil there, we would just have big hunks of rock.

[LBTC]

thank you, ladies, and please keep your thoughts and comments comiing.

at this moment, I still have a very heavy heart about the situation.

We've spoken up before and it put our health in jeopardy. This time I think it would encroach on my sanity as well. I simply am not strong enough to do this again.

We never see the destruction taking place. This is a small population area, where, thank goodness, it is rare to see another rider on any given trail, let alone the people who are "building". When we do see a new line on a trail, or a place where the single track is wider than it ought to be, we, and a few other riders we know, will take debris from the forest floor and narrow the trail, or block off the new line.

When we see the dirt jumps, and, yes, we get those here, too...if they are fresh enough we have been known to move the dirt back. However, we don't ride with shovels, so there's a limit to how much we can do.

The "club" here has done a good job of making it seem to the public, the ministries, and other organizations that they are working with all riders, working with land managers and working within IMBA guidelines. It's completely false. They have alienated a whole group of riders, and they continue to encourage rogue trails. In essence, we have a rogue club.

I have a lot of respect for NSMBA, I wil consider making contact. However, I know that club representation has been to their trail building conference for 2 years. It's likely that what I have to say will not be believed. These guys from the club are smooth. really smooth. like selling snake oil.

I suppose that my post may not have been fair. As I think about this, perhaps I really did just want to vent, since my soul becomes hurt each time I try to envision taking the actions that you've all suggested. Your thoughts and ideas are dead on. I just don't have what it takes to do it.

The local guys in the club understand what they are doing. They can see the damage they've caused. They know what the IMBA rules are. They've been exposed to a lot of information about erosion, etc. They simply don't care. The attitude is like that of a parasite. They just ride the **** out of a trail, until it's not ridable anymore, then move on to another one. I don't have what it takes to inform them. I feel powerless.

I apologize for the negativity of this post. You should know that as I write this I have tears in my eyes.

Riding is nealry like a religion to me. The trails are sacred. It's like having hooligans vanadlize my church when I see what they do to the trails.

I would like to be the strong and enlightened person that can continue to work towards good even while the powers against it grow stronger. I'm not that person. I may never be.

thank you for accepting me, anyway.

Namaste,
~T~

[bcipam]

There is strength in numbers. You don't have to take this fight on yourself. Are there others in your clubs that agree with you? If so, unite them and together approach the Club Board/Membership to discuss these issues. Please don't just step back into the dark and hope someone else takes on the problem. I know it's hard but someone with your passion should be up for the task!

[SimpleCycle]

Perhaps you could start a sort of informal club of those who have been alienated by "The Dark Side". You say they have alienated a whole group of riders. What club do those riders belong to now? If there isn't an alternative, you can always try to start one. It could be as easy as a once a week informal organized ride. If these guys are the only game in town, then they will continue to have all the power.

If your informal group takes off, then you will have the power of a group of people who see the destruction taking place, and who are unhappy about it. I don't think you and your husband should try to take these people on alone, for the sake of both your health and sanity. But if you had more hands to share the work, it might be easier to take some action. You might even find you have some of those natural leader-types in your group, who will take on the organizing and logistical efforts.

What is the local governing body in your area? Maybe a city council? What about the people who own the property these rogue trails are built on? You might want to consider talking to the landowners about civil legal action. I would consider all possible routes. Maybe your city could pass an ordinance against destroying a live tree, and start ticketing people? (Doubtful, but worth a shot). Whatever you do, try to get as many people as possible to help. Surely there must be others out there who feel the way you do.

If you have a local newspaper, perhaps you could "leak" this story to them. I'm sure some intrepid young journalist would love to have the scoop. I'm sure the landowners, other cyclists, environmentalists, etc. would have plenty to say on the subject. Especially if this issue has received poltical attention - that makes it "real news" if they aren't following through and trying to get money for "trail improvements" that are actually destructive.

Something really simple you can do is document what is happening to the forest and trails. Take your camera with you, and take pictures of the stumps and the erosion. Even if you don't take any action now, you will have the "evidence" you need later.

[LBTC]

There is strength in numbers. You don't have to take this fight on yourself.

ah....if only you girls all lived here, then I would truly not be alone!

seriously, other riders here who see what is wrong will whisper about it amongst themselves, but none is willing to speak up. DH and I are branded as intolerant purists, so our influence would be considered detrimental to the possibility of moving forward.

Namaste,
~T~