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
Nothing to add to Mark's excellent answer. The push is to have access to suitable and significant portions of the PCT outside of Wilderness (about 1000 miles).
A good example would be in Truckee, CA. The Donner Lake Rim Trail is not multi use yet, because a good portion of it is part of PCT. And the PCTA is opposed to a multi use trail simply crossing the PCT. That's a segment of a few miles that would perfect for multi use. Similarly, the segment from Truckee to Downieville is also well suited to multi use. To add to the madness, in Downieville, the USFS decided to move a portion of the PCT to an existing multi use trail, and voila, bikes are banned from an historic trail!
Mr. Merritt,
Yes, I am correct in stating that hikers have unfettered acces to ALL public trails in the United States as there is nothing illegal about hiking a trail built for mountain biking.
A hiker cannot receive a citiation for walking on a mountain bike trail.
A mountain biker will receive a citation for riding on a hiking only trail.
Do you see the difference now?
To folks new to the debate, "HOHA" is the name some of those who want mtn biking allowed on National Scenic Trails, National Parks and Wilderness Areas have given to people disagreeing with their effort. Even if you support mtn biking in many other places, apparently you are still a "HOHA".
As I recently posted in the comments of an article at http://pedestrianview.blogspot.com/2013/08/hiking-and-biking-sometimes-n... , I genuinely want to:
- see more miles of off-road bike trail;
- work with off-road bike organizations to expand the LWCF so that more land along National Scenic Trails could be acquired for new human-powered trails; and
- help off-road bikers identify places along (not on) the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) where new off-road bike trail systems could be created.
I would even like to see a stronger IMBA if it meant the organization worked to expand active outdoor recreation for all (by helping see that more land gets protected, that good trail engineering standards are more the norm, etc.) instead of at the expense of other types of active outdoor recreation.
Washington PCT hiker here -
Personally, I see enough middle aged, agressive men in their Spandex costumes around Washington trails. Speeding dangerously, hollering, attitude of owning the trail, no respect for other users or the wilderness they are plowing through.
Then, would come their races with all their empty Goo packs and other litter they don't want to carry with them and toss to the side of the trail
Don't think the mountain bicyclists have ever heard of Leave No Trace around here.
No thanks.
Wow Cynthia!! That was quite the answer. I take it that you don't like middle age men in spandex. :) And that hollering, that is truly intolerable. I mean, how can one dare to have so much fun in nature?
I don't get your whole race/gu gel argument. Nobody's talking about racing on the PCT, and the trash argument is just ridiculous.
Here is how Mark Eller of IMBA is wrong on several points.
He writes
"Some NSTs, like the Continental Divide Trail and the North Country Trail,
already offer significant opportunities for shared use, including
mountain biking. IMBA would like to see even
more of these opportunities." Yes, the CDT does allow mountain biking
on a great deal of the trail, but the CDT is mostly two track forest
road and not a singletrack type of trail. The only places where biking
is allowed on the NCT is where the NCT shares a "hard surface" trail
like a rail trail, etc, or where mountain biking has been grandfathered
in on a section of trail. All the new trail that the NCT and NCTA is
building is hiking only. It's the NCT and NCTA's dream to become "The
Nation's Premier Footpath" and IMBA is trying to ruin their dream
He writes
"The complete ban on mountain biking on the Pacific Crest Trail should, in
IMBA's view, be reconsidered. We do not envision that mountain biking
would be workable on the entire PCT, but there are segments where it
could be a welcome addition." The PCT was established, designed and
built as a hiking and horseback riding only trail. It continues to be
maintained by hikers and horseback riders. Is it fair now to turn it
over to Mountain Bikers. Plus the law regarding the PCT says that the
trail should be "primarily a hiking and horseback riding trail." It's
obvious that if bikes are allowed on any section of the trail that
section possibly could be taken over by mountain bikes, thereby not be
primarily a hiking and horseback riding trail
Mark Writes
"IMBA agrees that not all trails are suitable for shared use among hikers and
bikers. Some trails are not well suited to biking and should be managed
for hiking only, or shared use amongst hikers and equestrians." Great,
then why is IMBA pissing off hikers and horseback riders by advocating
biking on the PCT?
Mark writes
"Some groups, including the American Hiking Society, have declared that
presence of mountain bikers detracts from the hiking experience -- but
many hikers who are members of those same organizations have voiced
their willingness to share trails with mountain bikers." Well, if some
groups have declared that the presence of mountain biking detracts from
the hiking experience, why are you intentionally trying to ruin their
experience? Plus there are many Mountain Bikers that think trails like
the PCT should be left to hikers and horseback riders. Don't you even
listen to some of your own members?
Mark Writes
"Sometrails should be optimized for bike travel. Currently, there are many
more miles of trail in the world where bikes are not allowed than ones
where biking is the preffered mode of travel."
I agree that some trails should be optimized for bike travel. But some
trails like the PCT are optimized for hiking and horseback riding, that
should be okay, too. I'm not buying that there are no places for
Mountain Bikers to ride, and they need to intrude on the PCT.
Singltracks.com lists 473 trails that mountain biking is allow on in
California, 128 in Oregon, and 110 in Washington. Meanwhile, California
and Oregon have only 1 National Scenic Trail, and Washington has 2
Mark Writes
"IMBA believes that trails can be shared among different user groups, and
that separate trails for different users is often too costly and
unnecessary -- especially on long-distance trails." This is not some
rinky dink little trail we are talking about. These are National Scenic
Trails where everything possible should be done to preserve them for
their intended users. If that means building a new mountain biking
trail to connect two existing mountain biking trails, then so be it.
IMBA is fully aware that in Virginia Mountain bikers have patched
together a 500 mile mountain biking trail. And they did that using some
of the same trailheads as the Appalachain Trail. I don't know why on
god's green earth that something like that can't be done out west where
there are more public lands.
Mark Writes
"There's not much value in conflating bike access to trails in national parks
with the NST issue. IMBA and the NPS have held a partnership agreement
for many years, and more than 40 national parks already allow mountain
biking on dirt roads and trails." What the heck do you mean? National
Scenic Trails ARE part of the National Park System.
I'll end it right there with responding to Mark. But Maybe Mark should respond to some of these questions.
According to the Forest Service 3 out of 4 trails are not maintained up to
standards. That means over 80,000 miles of trail that allow Mountain
Biking are not maintained up to standards. Shouldn't you be taking care
of trails that already allow Mountain Biking instead of trying to take
over a hiking and/or horseback riding trail?
According to the Outdoor Industry Association, the premier resource for Outdoor
Industry information, Mountain Biking participation has dropped by over
30% in the youth 6 to 17 age range. Shouldn't you be spending some more
time creating and maintaining beginner trails instead of trying to take
over National Scenic Trails?
And to Sarah Wilson, there are trails that are "Mountain Biking Only Trails" so if a hiker causes a crash by hiking on those trails, yes, the hiker could get a ticket.
Yes! My mentor and idol, isawtman has arrived to save the National Scenic Trails from the wheeled locusts! His facts are infallible (so don't even attempt to question any of them!), and mjvande should bow down to His Holiness... a new Sheriff is in town! Praise McMahon!!!
that is incorrect isawtman - there is no law/rule in place that allows for the isuue of a citation to a hiker on any public trail in the United States for hiking.
There are of course laws/rules in place for hikers who start fires, litter, etc.
Please get your facts straight.