The International Mountain Bicycling Association is running a campaign to gain access to National Scenic Trails, such as the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, and is being opposed by the American Hiking Society and watched by other groups.
While IMBA touts the campaign as a way to allow mountain bikers to "continue to enjoy our nation's best trails and open bike access on more," the American Hiking Society counters by stating that it "believes that trails that allow hikers to explore the outdoors without competing with bicyclists are in some instances entirely appropriate."
Across the country there are a number of national scenic trails -- the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, and the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail, just to name a few. While many of the trails are managed by the National Park Service, others are managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. As might be expected, these different entities have different regulations when it comes to mountain bikes on national scenic trails.
The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, which is managed by the Forest Service, permits mountain bike use "along those segments that are outside of designated and recommended wilderness areas, and have been approved by the federal land managers. However, these activities may only occur as long as they do not 'substantially interfere' with the nature and purposes for which the trail was created- namely foot and stock use."
The Park Service, meanwhile, prohibits mountain bikes on the Appalachian Trail. Bikes also are prohibited on the Pacific Crest Trail, which is managed by the Forest Service.
IMBA Communications Director Mark Eller did not respond to a Traveler inquiry as to which national scenic trails his group wants access to. However, in a blog post on IMBA's site in August he wrote that there obviously are some trails too rugged for bikers.
"The Appalachian Trail is specifically designated as a foot-travel route, and as someone who spent many years leading backpacking trips on the AT in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania I can tell you that it ... would not make an appealing venue for mountain biking. Other trails traverse wilderness parcels where biking isn't an option," he wrote.
"IMBA is not being absolutist in our approach. We are more than willing to discuss how to advance more opportunities for long-distance trails, and where bikes will, and will not, be a welcome addition," he added. "It's a discussion we hope to have with many groups, and land managers, in upcoming weeks. Ideally, we could all talk while enjoying a nice hike, or bike ride, together."
IMBA's efforts to expand biking access onto national scenic trails is being watched by a number of groups, including the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
"The National Scenic Trails community, as well as the American Hiking Society, is aware of IMBA's push for biking access on some portions of National Scenic Trails. ATC has seen recent rhetoric and we are working collectively with the Partnership for the National Scenic Trails and the AHS to address concerns with IMBA's initiative," Laura Belleville, director of conservation for the Conservancy, said in an email.
"The A.T. is designated 'footpath only' by Congress, and we have not had any specific proposals for bike access on the A.T. Thus far we have not made any organizational statements about IMBA's 'campaign,' but we fully support PNTS and AHS," she added. "We are carefully watching the campaign and will offer a statement at the appropriate time if necessary."
Comments
Sarah, there are several mountain biking only trails around the country that hikers could get ticketed, especially if there is a crash involved. But I also feel that it is very dangerous for Mountain Bikers to bike on a hiking only or hiking and horseback riding only trail. Bikers go a a much higher rate of speed than hikers, sometimes upwards of 500% faster. Are you saying that mountain bikers shouldn't get ticketed for riding on a hiking only trail?
Here is an example of a Mountain Biking Only Trail. So if a hiker is hiking on the trail and has a crash with a mountain bike, it's the hiker's fault and they can be ticketed.
I would like to dispel some of the misinformation that Imtnbike has stated here earlier in this thread. First of all Imtnbiker stated “The 1988 typewritten closure order plainly violates the federal Administrative Procedure Act.” It is very unclear whether that’s even the case. According to Americanbar.org “The APA’s exceptions for “interpretative rules” and “general statements of policy,” however, exclude the vast majority of agency statements from the requirement for notice and comment.” It’s obvious that the permanent ban order for bikes on the PCT is an interpretive rule which is interpreting this law: (sec 212.21) “The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail as defined by the National Trails Systems Act, 82 Stat. 919, shall be administered primarily as a footpath and horseback riding trail by the Forest Service in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior. The use of motorized vehicles may be authorized by the Federal Agency administering the segment of trail involved when use of such vehicles is necessary to meet emergencies or to enable landowners or land users to have reasonable access to their lands or timber rights.” It’s obvious that the PCT could cease to be “primarily as a footpath and horseback riding trail” if hordes of Mountain Bikers take over the trail.
Secondly, Imtnbiker wrote “Second, anyone who's ever walked any part of the AT will soon see that it's unsuitable for riding a bike.” That’s absolutely ridiculous. The AT is suitable for mountain biking, but it’s boring, so they don’t want to pursue it. Further more, Mountain Bikers in Virginia have created a continuous mountain biking trail system of 500 miles using some of the same trailheads as the AT. But seemingly, that can’t be done out west, even though there are more public lands in the west.
Imtmbike wrote “Major parts of its are overgrown from underuse.” Yeah, they were discussing an overgrown section of the PCT on their facebook page when another biker said he biked it frequently. That doesn’t sound so overgrown to me. Plus, Mountain Bikers need longer sight lines because they go faster. So what a mountain biker says is overgrown might be perfectly all right with hikers. The Forest Service has reported that 3 out of 4 trails are not maintained up to standards. So, there are over 80,000 miles of trails not up to standards that allow mountain biking. Maybe they should worry about those trails being overgrown instead of worrying about the PCT being overgrown.
Mountain Bikers like Imtnbike and other are continually slamming the Forest Service, Hikers and Horseback Riders. I believe that Imtnbike and the other founders of “bikes on the PCT” movement are morally corrupt. I personally have caught them several times misrepresenting the truth and creatively editing material. In fact I’ve done it so many times that they have banned me from their facebook page. Plus it appears that Imtnbike’s post here is one big giant advertisement for his facebook page and website. Imtnbike and others like him are doing nothing but hurting the relationships with the groups of people that mountain bikers should be working together with. It’s an absolute shame.
Quote from isawtman:
"I believe that Imtnbike and the other founders of 'bikes on the PCT' movement are morally corrupt."
I think it's even worse than that—we're gravely morally disordered. Catholic scholars have said the same of contraception:
"It is clear then, merely on the basis of these few points, that for the Magisterium contraception is such a morally disordered form of behaviour that it constitutes gravely sinful matter."
I now see the error of my ways. Let us avoid both behaviors and pray for forgiveness.
(Quotation source: Fr Lino Ciccone, C.M., Professor of Moral Theology, Lugano, Switzerland.)