M
Mike Vandeman
Guest
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: IMBA: Night Riding
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 11:51:51 -0700 (PDT)
Dan, I usually only ride at night during the wintertime, because our evenings
are long! I have yet to hear about any complaints from people about night
riding, I think most people are just amazed people ride at night. So issues in
Boise with night riding are non-existant, but I can't imagine that is the case
everywhere.
One thing I noticed is that some parks say day use only, but the parking lots
remain open so I imagine they are just trying to prevent overnight camping. So
one solution would be for IMBA to come up with a universal hanging tag that
mountain bikers could hang from there rear veiw mirror. On the hanging tag you
would have a basic message saying I am a night rider..blah..blah and then have
a little rotating dial that the rider can use to let someone know what time
they departed the car and what time they will return. Then the patroling ranger
knows they are out riding for a defined period of time and are not trying to
camp. In high crime areas this might not work.
I definatly agree that mountain biking could help keep a park safer at night,
although you probably would not catch me riding in an area with serious
criminals.
So does IMBA have any studies on night riding and the effects on wildlife? My
observations is that some wildlife is intially afraid of mountain bikers if
they have never seen one before. But overall I think once the wildlife gets use
to bikes it should not present an issue since we are not percieved as a
predator. For example if you go to a national park which does not allow hunting
how close can you get to the wildlife, I have found you can get really close
while if you are on regular public land which allows hunting then the wildlife
is a little more scared because they may associate you with something that will
kill them. For example I was riding along the coast in Norcal near redwood np
and an elk was standing right near the trail. We walked our bikes past him and
the only reason he moved was to chew on something else, it was an amazing
experiance for sure. By the way I have nothing against hunting. Wildlife will
get use to your presence and learn a mountain bike does not mean death.
I bought my first night light in 1997 and have loved riding with it. The one
thing I always stress to new riders is to carry a small backup headlamp like a
petzel tikka. If you have a handlebar mounted light then this is vital to have
for on the trail repairs and is also a backup light in case your primary light
fails. And also it is always nice to have a rear light so someone else can tell
more easily you are their.
Chris
=====
Christopher Cook
IMBA Representative for Idaho
SWIMBA President
1700 Irene St.
Boise, ID 83702
208-363-1850 (D)
208-794-7255(Cell)
http://www.IMBA.com
===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande
Cc: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: IMBA: Night Riding
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 11:51:51 -0700 (PDT)
Dan, I usually only ride at night during the wintertime, because our evenings
are long! I have yet to hear about any complaints from people about night
riding, I think most people are just amazed people ride at night. So issues in
Boise with night riding are non-existant, but I can't imagine that is the case
everywhere.
One thing I noticed is that some parks say day use only, but the parking lots
remain open so I imagine they are just trying to prevent overnight camping. So
one solution would be for IMBA to come up with a universal hanging tag that
mountain bikers could hang from there rear veiw mirror. On the hanging tag you
would have a basic message saying I am a night rider..blah..blah and then have
a little rotating dial that the rider can use to let someone know what time
they departed the car and what time they will return. Then the patroling ranger
knows they are out riding for a defined period of time and are not trying to
camp. In high crime areas this might not work.
I definatly agree that mountain biking could help keep a park safer at night,
although you probably would not catch me riding in an area with serious
criminals.
So does IMBA have any studies on night riding and the effects on wildlife? My
observations is that some wildlife is intially afraid of mountain bikers if
they have never seen one before. But overall I think once the wildlife gets use
to bikes it should not present an issue since we are not percieved as a
predator. For example if you go to a national park which does not allow hunting
how close can you get to the wildlife, I have found you can get really close
while if you are on regular public land which allows hunting then the wildlife
is a little more scared because they may associate you with something that will
kill them. For example I was riding along the coast in Norcal near redwood np
and an elk was standing right near the trail. We walked our bikes past him and
the only reason he moved was to chew on something else, it was an amazing
experiance for sure. By the way I have nothing against hunting. Wildlife will
get use to your presence and learn a mountain bike does not mean death.
I bought my first night light in 1997 and have loved riding with it. The one
thing I always stress to new riders is to carry a small backup headlamp like a
petzel tikka. If you have a handlebar mounted light then this is vital to have
for on the trail repairs and is also a backup light in case your primary light
fails. And also it is always nice to have a rear light so someone else can tell
more easily you are their.
Chris
=====
Christopher Cook
IMBA Representative for Idaho
SWIMBA President
1700 Irene St.
Boise, ID 83702
208-363-1850 (D)
208-794-7255(Cell)
http://www.IMBA.com
===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande