M
Mike Vandeman
Guest
Subject: RE: "Parker Ranch Restoration Project"
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 08:26:11 -0800
Mike,
As the word "illegal" in illegal trail indicates, the mountain bikers
were not allowed to build the bike trail. They worked quietly hidden
in
wooded areas on private lands, even without the property owners'
knowledge.
They not only ignore, they destroy signs. The City has been fighting
with them for quite awhile.
Unfortunately, no one from the illegal bicycle trail builders stepped
up
to help this past Saturday to restore the land to its natural original
contours. Please check the City website for more details about the
volunteer opportunities on Parker Ranch trail restoration if you are
interested.
http://www.saratoga.ca.us/pw/parker_ranch.html
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Vandeman [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 7:21 PM
Subject: "Parker Ranch Restoration Project"
Why are mountain bikers allowed to build an illegal trail? Trail
building is habitat destruction -- not appropriate for land under a
"conservation easement". Mountain biking, in particular, is
incompatible with conservation.
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 1994:
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/mtb10. 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....
A favorite myth of mountain bikers is that mountain biking is no more
harmful to wildlife, people, and the environment than hiking, and
that science supports that view. Of course, it's not true. To settle
the matter once and for all, I read all of the research they cited,
and wrote a review of the research on mountain biking impacts (see
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/scb7). I found that of the seven
studies they cited, (1) all were written by mountain bikers, and (2)
in every case, the authors misinterpreted their own data, in order to
come to the conclusion that they favored. They also studiously
avoided mentioning another scientific study (Wisdom et al) which did
not favor mountain biking, and came to the opposite conclusions.
Those were all experimental studies. Two other studies (by White et
al and by Jeff Marion) used a survey design, which is inherently
incapable of answering that question (comparing hiking with mountain
biking). I only mention them because mountain bikers often cite them,
but scientifically, they are worthless.
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 okay (it's NOT!). What's good about THAT?
Mike Vandeman
Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2008 20:56:36 -0800
From: "Josh Moore" <[email protected]>
Subject: Parker Ranch Restoration Project
First and Third Saturdays in March and April
09:00 AM Saturday, March 15 2008 Duration: 5:0
The Parker Ranch Trail was an amazing feat in trail building and
riding pleasure. Unfortunately it is on private land which is under a
conservation easement. Even the private land owners are not allowed to
build on it. Please come out and create some goodwill by helping to
restore this trail.
The city of Saratoga requires that you fill out their volunteer form
and sign a waiver for this event.
This trail is officially closed. Please don't ride it or rebuild it
anymore. ROMP is working with land managers to provide more riding
opportunities like this.
Location:
Top of Picea Court
Picea Court
Saratoga CA
--
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.)
Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of!
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 08:26:11 -0800
Mike,
As the word "illegal" in illegal trail indicates, the mountain bikers
were not allowed to build the bike trail. They worked quietly hidden
in
wooded areas on private lands, even without the property owners'
knowledge.
They not only ignore, they destroy signs. The City has been fighting
with them for quite awhile.
Unfortunately, no one from the illegal bicycle trail builders stepped
up
to help this past Saturday to restore the land to its natural original
contours. Please check the City website for more details about the
volunteer opportunities on Parker Ranch trail restoration if you are
interested.
http://www.saratoga.ca.us/pw/parker_ranch.html
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Vandeman [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 7:21 PM
Subject: "Parker Ranch Restoration Project"
Why are mountain bikers allowed to build an illegal trail? Trail
building is habitat destruction -- not appropriate for land under a
"conservation easement". Mountain biking, in particular, is
incompatible with conservation.
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 1994:
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/mtb10. 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....
A favorite myth of mountain bikers is that mountain biking is no more
harmful to wildlife, people, and the environment than hiking, and
that science supports that view. Of course, it's not true. To settle
the matter once and for all, I read all of the research they cited,
and wrote a review of the research on mountain biking impacts (see
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/scb7). I found that of the seven
studies they cited, (1) all were written by mountain bikers, and (2)
in every case, the authors misinterpreted their own data, in order to
come to the conclusion that they favored. They also studiously
avoided mentioning another scientific study (Wisdom et al) which did
not favor mountain biking, and came to the opposite conclusions.
Those were all experimental studies. Two other studies (by White et
al and by Jeff Marion) used a survey design, which is inherently
incapable of answering that question (comparing hiking with mountain
biking). I only mention them because mountain bikers often cite them,
but scientifically, they are worthless.
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 okay (it's NOT!). What's good about THAT?
Mike Vandeman
Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2008 20:56:36 -0800
From: "Josh Moore" <[email protected]>
Subject: Parker Ranch Restoration Project
First and Third Saturdays in March and April
09:00 AM Saturday, March 15 2008 Duration: 5:0
The Parker Ranch Trail was an amazing feat in trail building and
riding pleasure. Unfortunately it is on private land which is under a
conservation easement. Even the private land owners are not allowed to
build on it. Please come out and create some goodwill by helping to
restore this trail.
The city of Saratoga requires that you fill out their volunteer form
and sign a waiver for this event.
This trail is officially closed. Please don't ride it or rebuild it
anymore. ROMP is working with land managers to provide more riding
opportunities like this.
Location:
Top of Picea Court
Picea Court
Saratoga CA
--
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.)
Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of!
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande
