M
Mike Vandeman
Guest
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 17:59:44 -0700
From: [a responsible citizen]
Subject: Re: Mountain Bikers are Eco-Vandalists!
Eight million bikers can be wrong when it comes down to the
welfare of the environment. You can get the whole story on
the Alpine Recreational Study on the www.dnv.org site. Just
scroll to it on the right hand side box.
On Wednesday night, a Parks and Natural Environment
committee member showed us some pictures of mountain bike
structures, illegally built on our upper mountain. What a
pack of trash and vandalism in our forests. We are supposed
to go up there again with a parks ranger, and look at more
this weekend. It is time for a backlash against this eco-
vandalism by the general public who are not mountain bikers.
It is a crying shame what they have done to our woods. By my
intuition, I have always said that what was happening in our
little park (Mountain View), was probably happening all over
Mount Fromme. It seems I am right. When I go up there, I
plan to take a lot of pictures. One biker on our committee
said it would be bad judgement to go on a Saturday, as we
would be taking risk on "mountain biker territory"----WHA--?
There, the truth. I sucked in my breath, and glared. These
people tell me I have no right to claim the neighbourhood
park for our neighbourhood, and yet tell me I will be
"infringing" on their "territory"? I was about to say
something, but thought the better of it, since it probably
would have gotten me thrown off the committee, and I can do
more on the committee.
Some very dodgy things going on with the mountain bikers and
the NSMBA. The focus groups and Alpine Plan is an eye
opener. Things were said like:
* Preserve unique nature of mountain bike experience.
Standards can sterilize experience. ( I take this to mean
they do not wish to have rules, containment, restriction,
or enforcement) This one is a real beauty, isn't it.
* Promote (North Shore Mountains) as a world class
mountain bike destination. (The district already is, so
what else is new?)
* Need for mountain bike skills park for kids and youth.
(One is already in the plans; another is being looked
at,etc. How many do they need??? And why do we need to
teach youth "skills" to rip up our wildlands? If they
build mountain bike "amusement" parks, and kept them out
of our wild places, like skateboard parks to keep
skateboarders off the streets, I could see that working.
ie. one for the city, one for DNV and one for West Van.)
-- but of course hell will freeze over first before we get
any mountain biker going for that..
There are liability issues; rescue services are overburdened
by mountain bike injuries. (North Shore Search and Rescue).
Mountain bikers want free access, free ride, and free
everything,etc. Another stress on our wildlands last year
and this year is drought (believe it or not). So there is
the added stress on our flora and fauna created by perceived
long term climatic changes. If we do not get our usual April
and May deluge of rain, forest closures could come up in
very early summer. Which may not be such a bad thing with
regards to mountain bikers and the upcoming mountain bike
conference and festival. Frankly living right next to the
forest, I welcome anything that would prevent forest fires.
I'll keep you up to date.
===
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
From: [a responsible citizen]
Subject: Re: Mountain Bikers are Eco-Vandalists!
Eight million bikers can be wrong when it comes down to the
welfare of the environment. You can get the whole story on
the Alpine Recreational Study on the www.dnv.org site. Just
scroll to it on the right hand side box.
On Wednesday night, a Parks and Natural Environment
committee member showed us some pictures of mountain bike
structures, illegally built on our upper mountain. What a
pack of trash and vandalism in our forests. We are supposed
to go up there again with a parks ranger, and look at more
this weekend. It is time for a backlash against this eco-
vandalism by the general public who are not mountain bikers.
It is a crying shame what they have done to our woods. By my
intuition, I have always said that what was happening in our
little park (Mountain View), was probably happening all over
Mount Fromme. It seems I am right. When I go up there, I
plan to take a lot of pictures. One biker on our committee
said it would be bad judgement to go on a Saturday, as we
would be taking risk on "mountain biker territory"----WHA--?
There, the truth. I sucked in my breath, and glared. These
people tell me I have no right to claim the neighbourhood
park for our neighbourhood, and yet tell me I will be
"infringing" on their "territory"? I was about to say
something, but thought the better of it, since it probably
would have gotten me thrown off the committee, and I can do
more on the committee.
Some very dodgy things going on with the mountain bikers and
the NSMBA. The focus groups and Alpine Plan is an eye
opener. Things were said like:
* Preserve unique nature of mountain bike experience.
Standards can sterilize experience. ( I take this to mean
they do not wish to have rules, containment, restriction,
or enforcement) This one is a real beauty, isn't it.
* Promote (North Shore Mountains) as a world class
mountain bike destination. (The district already is, so
what else is new?)
* Need for mountain bike skills park for kids and youth.
(One is already in the plans; another is being looked
at,etc. How many do they need??? And why do we need to
teach youth "skills" to rip up our wildlands? If they
build mountain bike "amusement" parks, and kept them out
of our wild places, like skateboard parks to keep
skateboarders off the streets, I could see that working.
ie. one for the city, one for DNV and one for West Van.)
-- but of course hell will freeze over first before we get
any mountain biker going for that..
There are liability issues; rescue services are overburdened
by mountain bike injuries. (North Shore Search and Rescue).
Mountain bikers want free access, free ride, and free
everything,etc. Another stress on our wildlands last year
and this year is drought (believe it or not). So there is
the added stress on our flora and fauna created by perceived
long term climatic changes. If we do not get our usual April
and May deluge of rain, forest closures could come up in
very early summer. Which may not be such a bad thing with
regards to mountain bikers and the upcoming mountain bike
conference and festival. Frankly living right next to the
forest, I welcome anything that would prevent forest fires.
I'll keep you up to date.
===
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
