Mountain Bikers Are Ruining the North Shore Ecosystem

Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 10:12:11 -0800
A message from Ernie Crist
Subject: FW: mountain bikers

This is one typical complaint. There are plenty more available.

Dear Mr. Crist Let me first apologize for phoning you home # at 5.30 pm I simply pulled your # from
the internet.I certainly didn't want to disturb you may be you should post your email on the
internet to avoid this from happening again I do like my privacy also sorry again. My name is
.......... Dempsey Road and I speak for most residents who reside on this street. (East of Mountain
Highway towards Braemar).We bought our home to retire, to enjoy the mountain trails walk our dogs
enjoy the tranquility, the flora and fauna but during the last 2 years this area has become a zoo
like Disneyland. The district decided beautifully to make Coleman street and up restricted parking
and what everyone here knew was that it simply moved the problem to our area. SUV's park all along
both sides of the road, we see them changing clothing, urinate in the rhododendrons, empty beer cans
all over, race down hill from upper Dempsey at neck breaking speeds down hill and it is just a
matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt or dies, such as cars backing out of drive ways,
kids playing on the drive way and a ball goes on to the road and its business as usual, we have to
get a few fatalities before the government takes action no matter how often they have been warned.
We wrote a letter to the North Shore News, to no avail, ( we knew they would not publish it as they
are getting paid for advertising for the biking shops and with a $ 25 million bonanza annually to
the North Shore as they report, ( North Shore News February 15 2004) little chance they will print
residents concerns. We have walked the Baden Powell trail for a decade, and nobody gives a damn
about the erosion of the trails, the mountain bikes run the topsoil off, and the heavy rain water
transforms the walking trials into muddy streams, tree roots are getting exposed, trees die and fall
down. Biker enthusiasts are happily using chain saws higher up to fall trees to make jumping ramps,
the sediments are rushing down and clogging culverts, resulting in excessive water in our back
yards, fences shifting and its much more fun to bike through the bush, destroying new rejuvenating
growth in fact to put it in simple terms they are destroying the ecosystem big time in the name of
sport. I have already racked up large veterinary bills for glass cuts in my dogs pads, ( from
discarded can tabs and broken bottles) which was once ( 3 years ago) a pristine forest. Constant
advertising in the North Shore News portraying this area as the Mecca for mountain biking has pretty
well destroyed our peaceful life in this area. My wife and I have been faithfully breaking down the
jumping ramps on the pedestrian trails, we have had to jump aside for foul mouthed bikers racing
down the pedestrian trails, taking our dogs out of their way and now we walk with a baseball bat as
we will take the law in our own hands to protect our dogs and ourselves. We fondly remember the
wildlife we had around this area but they are all but gone now, chased away by this "sport" The
North Shore News further advised of a Mountain Bike Festival spanning Capilano to Seymour during
August this year, , let the thousands of bikers come and ruin our forest even more. Interesting to
attend an open house in a Lynn Valley School where the District proudly showed plans of making
parking spaces so that more bikers can ruin our forest ( last year) . Don't misunderstand me, I am
not an environmental freak, we are middle aged people living peacefully paying a hefty property tax
to get away from the crime, hassle etc from down town, to enjoy nature, which is rapidly being
destroyed in the name of sport. Get these people off the North Shore and let them wreck the
ecosystem in their own communities why ours?????? Mr Crist, I read your article and anything you can
do to put an end to this destruction would be greatly appreciated.

===
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

 

Sheesh. you'd think somebody with that kind of time on their hands would at least use paragraphs!

Michael

"Mike Vandeman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 10:12:11 -0800 A message from Ernie Crist Subject: FW: mountain bikers
>
> This is one typical complaint. There are plenty more available.
>
> Dear Mr. Crist Let me first apologize for phoning you home # at 5.30 pm I simply pulled
your #
> from the internet.I certainly didn't want to disturb you may be you should
post
> your email on the internet to avoid this from happening again I do like my privacy also sorry
> again. My name is .......... Dempsey Road and I speak for most residents who
reside on
> this street. (East of Mountain Highway towards Braemar).We bought our home
to
> retire, to enjoy the mountain trails walk our dogs enjoy the tranquility,
the
> flora and fauna but during the last 2 years this area has become a zoo
like
> Disneyland. The district decided beautifully to make Coleman street and up restricted parking and
> what everyone here knew was that it simply moved
the
> problem to our area. SUV's park all along both sides of the road, we see
them
> changing clothing, urinate in the rhododendrons, empty beer cans all over,
race
> down hill from upper Dempsey at neck breaking speeds down hill and it is
just a
> matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt or dies, such as cars
backing
> out of drive ways, kids playing on the drive way and a ball goes on to the
road
> and its business as usual, we have to get a few fatalities before the
government
> takes action no matter how often they have been warned. We wrote a letter to the North Shore News,
> to no avail, ( we knew they
would not
> publish it as they are getting paid for advertising for the biking shops
and
> with a $ 25 million bonanza annually to the North Shore as they report,
( North
> Shore News February 15 2004) little chance they will print residents
concerns.
> We have walked the Baden Powell trail for a decade, and nobody gives a
damn
> about the erosion of the trails, the mountain bikes run the topsoil off,
and the
> heavy rain water transforms the walking trials into muddy streams, tree
roots
> are getting exposed, trees die and fall down. Biker enthusiasts are
happily
> using chain saws higher up to fall trees to make jumping ramps, the
sediments
> are rushing down and clogging culverts, resulting in excessive water in
our back
> yards, fences shifting and its much more fun to bike through the bush, destroying new rejuvenating
> growth in fact to put it in simple terms they
are
> destroying the ecosystem big time in the name of sport. I have already
racked up
> large veterinary bills for glass cuts in my dogs pads, ( from discarded
can tabs
> and broken bottles) which was once ( 3 years ago) a pristine forest.
Constant
> advertising in the North Shore News portraying this area as the Mecca for mountain biking has
> pretty well destroyed our peaceful life in this area. My wife and I have been faithfully breaking
> down the jumping ramps on the pedestrian trails, we have had to jump aside for foul mouthed bikers
racing down
> the pedestrian trails, taking our dogs out of their way and now we walk
with a
> baseball bat as we will take the law in our own hands to protect our dogs
and
> ourselves. We fondly remember the wildlife we had around this area but
they are
> all but gone now, chased away by this "sport" The North Shore News further advised of a Mountain
> Bike Festival spanning Capilano to Seymour during
August
> this year, , let the thousands of bikers come and ruin our forest even
more.
> Interesting to attend an open house in a Lynn Valley School where the
District
> proudly showed plans of making parking spaces so that more bikers can ruin
our
> forest ( last year) . Don't misunderstand me, I am not an environmental
freak,
> we are middle aged people living peacefully paying a hefty property tax to
get
> away from the crime, hassle etc from down town, to enjoy nature, which is rapidly being destroyed
> in the name of sport. Get these people off the
North
> Shore and let them wreck the ecosystem in their own communities why
ours??????
> Mr Crist, I read your article and anything you can do to put an end to
this
> destruction would be greatly appreciated.
>
> ===
> 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

 

Mike Vandeman <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 10:12:11 -0800 A message from Ernie Crist Subject: FW: mountain bikers
<snip fake agenda>

I saw pics in another post where horses had torn up a trail and yet not a word from you. Oh, that's
right, it's not really about trails, the environment or habitat.

 

"Michael Paul" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Sheesh. you'd think somebody with that kind of time on their hands would at least use paragraphs!
>
> Michael
>
>

> news:[email protected]...
> > Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 10:12:11 -0800 A message from Ernie Crist Subject: FW: mountain bikers
> >
> > This is one typical complaint. There are plenty more available.
> >
> > Dear Mr. Crist
>
snip

> this
> > destruction would be greatly appreciated.
> >

If this was from any other source I might be inclined to consider it credible.

Michael, you could try trimming your messages to avoid unnessecary replication of MV's shite.

cheers

gaz

 

On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 23:59:17 GMT, "Michael Paul" <[email protected]>
wrote:

.Sheesh. you'd think somebody with that kind of time on their hands would at .least use paragraphs!

Right. Ignore the issues. I think that has to do with my removing the HTML formatting, idiot.

.Michael . . ."Mike Vandeman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
.news:[email protected]... .> Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 10:12:11 -0800 .> A
message from Ernie Crist .> Subject: FW: mountain bikers .> .> This is one typical complaint. There
are plenty more available. .> .> Dear Mr. Crist .> Let me first apologize for phoning you home # at
5.30 pm I simply pulled .your # .> from the internet.I certainly didn't want to disturb you may be
you should .post .> your email on the internet to avoid this from happening again I do like my .>
privacy also sorry again. .> My name is .......... Dempsey Road and I speak for most residents who
.reside on .> this street. (East of Mountain Highway towards Braemar).We bought our home .to .>
retire, to enjoy the mountain trails walk our dogs enjoy the tranquility, .the .> flora and fauna
but during the last 2 years this area has become a zoo .like .> Disneyland. The district decided
beautifully to make Coleman street and up .> restricted parking and what everyone here knew was that
it simply moved .the .> problem to our area. SUV's park all along both sides of the road, we see
.them .> changing clothing, urinate in the rhododendrons, empty beer cans all over, .race .> down
hill from upper Dempsey at neck breaking speeds down hill and it is .just a .> matter of time before
someone gets seriously hurt or dies, such as cars .backing .> out of drive ways, kids playing on the
drive way and a ball goes on to the .road .> and its business as usual, we have to get a few
fatalities before the .government .> takes action no matter how often they have been warned. .> We
wrote a letter to the North Shore News, to no avail, ( we knew they .would not .> publish it as they
are getting paid for advertising for the biking shops .and .> with a $ 25 million bonanza annually
to the North Shore as they report, .( North .> Shore News February 15 2004) little chance they will
print residents .concerns. .> We have walked the Baden Powell trail for a decade, and nobody gives a
.damn .> about the erosion of the trails, the mountain bikes run the topsoil off, .and the .> heavy
rain water transforms the walking trials into muddy streams, tree .roots .> are getting exposed,
trees die and fall down. Biker enthusiasts are .happily .> using chain saws higher up to fall trees
to make jumping ramps, the .sediments .> are rushing down and clogging culverts, resulting in
excessive water in .our back .> yards, fences shifting and its much more fun to bike through the
bush, .> destroying new rejuvenating growth in fact to put it in simple terms they .are .>
destroying the ecosystem big time in the name of sport. I have already .racked up .> large
veterinary bills for glass cuts in my dogs pads, ( from discarded .can tabs .> and broken bottles)
which was once ( 3 years ago) a pristine forest. .Constant .> advertising in the North Shore News
portraying this area as the Mecca for .> mountain biking has pretty well destroyed our peaceful life
in this area. .> My wife and I have been faithfully breaking down the jumping ramps on the .>
pedestrian trails, we have had to jump aside for foul mouthed bikers .racing down .> the pedestrian
trails, taking our dogs out of their way and now we walk .with a .> baseball bat as we will take the
law in our own hands to protect our dogs .and .> ourselves. We fondly remember the wildlife we had
around this area but .they are .> all but gone now, chased away by this "sport" The North Shore News
further .> advised of a Mountain Bike Festival spanning Capilano to Seymour during .August .> this
year, , let the thousands of bikers come and ruin our forest even .more. .> Interesting to attend an
open house in a Lynn Valley School where the .District .> proudly showed plans of making parking
spaces so that more bikers can ruin .our .> forest ( last year) . Don't misunderstand me, I am not
an environmental .freak, .> we are middle aged people living peacefully paying a hefty property tax
to .get .> away from the crime, hassle etc from down town, to enjoy nature, which is .> rapidly
being destroyed in the name of sport. Get these people off the .North .> Shore and let them wreck
the ecosystem in their own communities why .ours?????? .> Mr Crist, I read your article and anything
you can do to put an end to .this .> destruction would be greatly appreciated. .> .> === .> 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 .

===
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

 

On Sun, 29 Feb 2004 20:43:04 +0000, Mike Vandeman wrote:

> On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 23:59:17 GMT, "Michael Paul" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> .Sheesh. you'd think somebody with that kind of time on their hands would at .least use
> paragraphs!
>
> Right. Ignore the issues. I think that has to do with my removing the HTML formatting, idiot.

So you're a PhD and can't do a cut-and-paste? And you're calling the other guy an idiot?

--Kamus

--
o__ | If you're old, eat right and ride a decent bike. ,>/'_ | Q. (_)\(_) | Usenet posting`

 

You're obviously a Typical Mountain Biker.

Michael Paul wrote:
> Sheesh. you'd think somebody with that kind of time on their hands would at least use paragraphs!
>
> Michael
>
>
> "Mike Vandeman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 10:12:11 -0800
<crap

 

> SUV's park all along both sides of the road, we see them

if you own the parking spot, have them towed....thats your choice.. or you can whine

> changing clothing, urinate in the rhododendrons, empty beer cans all over,

more illegal activity... simply report the problem... record license plates... record people...make
the slobs clean-up.... install garbage cans? RCMP have to respond to calls of drunk drivers... make
people responsible... theses arent biking issues.. they are people issues.

> matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt or dies, such as cars
backing
> out of drive ways, kids playing on the drive way and a ball goes on to the
road

I know.... let your kids play in the DRIVE way... where cars DRIVE.... and you worry about the
bikers runnin them over?... I'll bet you 8 out of 10 of those kids think mtn biking is cool, and
probably want bikes...

> and its business as usual, we have to get a few fatalities before the
government
> takes action no matter how often they have been warned. We wrote a letter to the North Shore News,
> to no avail, ( we knew they
would not
> publish it as they are getting paid for advertising for the biking shops
and
> with a $ 25 million bonanza annually to the North Shore as they report,
( North
> Shore News February 15 2004) little chance they will print residents
concerns.
> We have walked the Baden Powell trail for a decade, and nobody gives a
damn
> about the erosion of the trails, the mountain bikes run the topsoil off,
and the
> heavy rain water transforms the walking trials into muddy streams, tree
roots
> are getting exposed, trees die and fall down. Biker enthusiasts are
happily
> using chain saws higher up to fall trees to make jumping ramps, the
sediments
> are rushing down and clogging culverts, resulting in excessive water in
our back
> yards, fences shifting and its much more fun to bike through the bush, destroying new rejuvenating
> growth in fact to put it in simple terms they
are
> destroying the ecosystem big time in the name of sport.

The North Shore ecosystem is not constant.... massive erosion, massive ground movement will always
happen.... Build in a rainforest and deal with the consequences.... run-off will change, and has
been changing that lanscape, for centuries..

> I have already racked up large veterinary bills for glass cuts in my dogs pads, ( from discarded
can tabs
> and broken bottles)

hmmm backcountry and bottles dont mix... educate.. believe me... these things that puncture skin,
also puncture tire tubes.... believe it or not.. there has been cases of people braking bottles on
trails in order to puncture the tires, making biking a chore...i dont think its the mtb-rs's braking
the bottles

which was once ( 3 years ago) a pristine forest. Constant
> advertising in the North Shore News portraying this area as the Mecca for mountain biking has
> pretty well destroyed our peaceful life in this area. My wife and I have been faithfully breaking
> down the jumping ramps on the pedestrian trails, we have had to jump aside for foul mouthed bikers
racing down
> the pedestrian trails, taking our dogs out of their way and now we walk
with a
> baseball bat as we will take the law in our own hands to protect our dogs
and
> ourselves.

You have to pull your dogs out of the way?... dumb dogs, or dumb humans? Dogs on trails should be
under CONTROL or leased at ALL times.. meaning your dogs will listen to all commands at first
call....if not, they should be leashed...but once again... you can bet the dogs would rather be with
the bikers running down the trails, than walkin with their stiffs for owners...

We fondly remember the wildlife we had around this area but they are
> all but gone now, chased away by this "sport"

We all contribute to the displacement of wildlife, unfortunatly. Like you building a house in the
forest has no effect? or how about you walking your dogs in the forest.. im sure the deer just love
that too...

> Interesting to attend an open house in a Lynn Valley School where the
District
> proudly showed plans of making parking spaces so that more bikers can ruin
our
> forest ( last year) .

dont whine about the garbage or parking at the start then.... they are adressing that problem

> Don't misunderstand me, I am not an environmental freak, we are middle aged people living
> peacefully paying a hefty property tax to
get
> away from the crime, hassle etc from down town, to enjoy nature, which is rapidly being destroyed
> in the name of sport. Get these people off the
North
> Shore and let them wreck the ecosystem in their own communities why
ours??????

Your community?.. you own your house, and the ground soil surrounding it... thats all... mind your
own business.. move... if you really wanted nature you would move north... away from the city.. not
like.. 30 minutes away and pretending to be hip, like the rest of the people who can afford to live
there now. Cities sprawl, figure it out.

> 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

 

On Tue, 02 Mar 2004 12:35:46 -0600, Typical mountain biker <[email protected]> wrote:

.You're obviously a Typical Mountain Biker.

Cute.

.Michael Paul wrote: .> Sheesh. you'd think somebody with that kind of time on their hands would at
.> least use paragraphs! .> .> Michael .> .> .> "Mike Vandeman" <[email protected]> wrote in
message .> news:[email protected]... .> .>>Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 10:12:11
-0800 .<crap>

===
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

 

http://www.nsmb.com/shore_news/crist2_03_04.php

nice to see a lot of people turn out

mr chris

 

an interesting thing is this is happening in ontario also, mtbers are becoming much more vocal and
organized. we are learning how to get involved in the political system and taking back our rights to
ride from the politician/hikers. after all we got time and the majority of the local community on
our side which they dont have (thus the big push everywhere to shut down riding areas).

"mr chris" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> http://www.nsmb.com/shore_news/crist2_03_04.php
>
> nice to see a lot of people turn out
>
> mr chris