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Letter to the editor: Bicycles should not be allowed in any natural area

Mountain bikers created their own “problem,” by insisting on bringing a large piece of machinery with them into wilderness, where it doesn’t belong. And they pretend to be “excluded,” when in fact only their bicycle is excluded. This is a non-issue.

Bicycles should not be allowed in any natural area. They are inanimate objects and have no rights. There is also no right to mountain bike. That was settled in federal court in 1996: http://mjvande.nfshost.com/mtb10.htm.

It’s dishonest of mountain bikers to say that they don’t have access to trails closed to bikes. They have exactly the same access as everyone else — on foot! Why isn’t that good enough for mountain bikers? They are all capable of walking.



Mountain biking accelerates erosion, creates v-shaped ruts, kills small animals and plants on and next to the trail, drives wildlife and other trail users out of the area, and, worst of all, teaches kids that the rough treatment of nature is OK. It’s not.

Mike Vandeman



San Ramon


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