Comments on: Are Motorcycles Destroying American Fork Canyon’s Trails?

By: KDXsteve

KDXsteve — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:59:33 +0000

There is a mtn bike/hiker only trail near Denver (Morrison Slide trial) that is way more deteriorated than anything I saw a AFC. Of course, the hikers blame the mtn. bikers and want to kick them off. Trail users need to understand that it’s not the user type the causes deterioration but simply overuse. The best solution is to create more trail mileage to reduce the stress on already overused trails and to accommodate the increasingly higher number of users. The solution is for all trial users to unite and petition government agencies to provide more trails. Government will not do this unless we push them. This includes getting involved and volunteering time. You would be surprised how easy it would be to build a trestle where that pic was taken if you just contact the Forest Service with 10 volunteers. Pointing the finger at other trail users is only divisive, unproductive, and will only get everybody banned.

By: Jason Mitchell

Jason Mitchell — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 04:55:46 +0000

Moto riders have the option of riding hundreds of miles of trails elsewhere, that’s a poor excuse. I also have other trail options and miles and miles of trails that MTB’s can’t ride on either. These trails simply cannot support moto traffic, period. If the trails were to be improved to drain better and support moto traffic, I’d be OK with it. But, motos put the hurt on these trails in a hurry. Again, look at the trails now versus when motos were banned. It’s night-and-day.

Of course, this year, we’ll likely be until August before we’re able to ride up there at all.

Take care of the trails and I’m just fine sharing them with motos. I just don’t know how a 500 lb bike can truly “tread lightly”.

By: Guest

Guest — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 04:35:12 +0000

Jason, I wonder if your choice of backcountry recreation was on a moto rather than a pedal would you have a different view of the damage?
Is it ok to condemn a user group because of their choice of recreation?
Multi use trails will forever be a battle between user groups, I feel horses do as much damage as motos and I find most pedalers I have encountered share the same eletist attitude you have. Surely there must be some non-motorized trails you can enjoy elsewhere?????????
You have a choice, we do not!

By: Unimpressed

Unimpressed — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 01:32:04 +0000

The hiker-based government management folks don’t like mtn-bikes or dirtbikes. If they had their way, they wouldn’t allow anyone to use it. So just keep whining and you’ll get everybody kicked out. Then you’ll have to drive an hour just to be able to ride. Fun for all!!

By: Jason Mitchell

Jason Mitchell — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:03:47 +0000

Dear Unimpressed. Though I appreciate your comment, it’s hard to find much of value in there. Your obviously-sarcastic slippery-slope argument does nothing to address the situation. Yes, all users inflict damage — even at a micro level. But, nobody is opting for that type of drastic measure.

I’m encouraging condition-based restrictions and common sense before drastic measures WILL be enforced upon us all.

Case in point… the new upper Mill Canyon trail was re-constructed 2 years ago. While it still is an awesome trail, it has become the favorite ride of the Metal Mulisha and nearly every switchback corner is already rutted and damaged. Motos are obviously to blame… plain and simple. It’s for that reason that I don’t think I’ll ever condone motos in the backcountry. That’s my opinion. You can stick to your baseless slippery-slope nonsense.

By: Unimpressed

Unimpressed — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 06:46:04 +0000

I’m unimpressed. Maybe we should all just stay home and play X-box. Video games don’t do trail damage? The problem is not the mode of transportation, it is the concentration of users and proximity to population centers. People have debated horses / pedal bikes / motorbikes for decades with no clear victor. All use does damage, and noone (no one user group) is ever completely respectful despite their best intentions, dear green Jason included (I’ll bet he’s locked up his brakes down the occasional damp hill, just like the rest of us). The only solution is to close it to all users. Even foot traffic does damage if the surface foliage is disrupted enough to cause soil erosion from runoff. So, the conclusion must be: the only way to avoid user conflict is to avoid users! Establish a wildlife preserve, and go home and play biking video games. Of course then you are just burning electricity from the coal-fired power plant… You can’t win, just give it up! Despite your best efforts, thoughts, philosophy, and research, you still end up with simple-minded, one-sided arguments about what sport rather than what person does the most damage. If you close it for one, you should close it for all, everyone pays the same (well I guess that depends on your tax bracket). I personally like human powered biking and dinosaur powered biking, I also like backpacking and hiking. However, over the years I have seen many, many, many, cool places fall victim to overcrowding, overuse, and user conflict. The root cause is simply popularity, ease of access and creeping urban/suburban development, not to be mistaken for which kind of sport causes erosion (the fastest).

By: Steve-O

Steve-O — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:34:43 +0000

I came upon this thread and could not resist to chime in.

My Background: Professional Geologist, Certified professional in storm water management and erosion control, avid mountain biker and avid motorcyclist.

My 2 cents…The root of the problem lies within the regulatory and governmental agencies never implementing real scientific principles and studies when determining appropriate use. Isolating use to only designated trails causes rill and channel erosion by all users. If the impact were spread into unisolated areas then the damage would be spread across the entire region but be repairable by natural erosion and slope stability processes.

When the FS or other agencies are approached with viable alternatives by qualified professionals such as me or a few riding buddies (engineers and other degreed and licensed professionals) they say we don’t have the money to maintain the trail system, even though we are willing to maintain trails for them… I thought this was about the damage not $. The lobbyist, agency personnel, and lawyers that don’t have a background in science need to listen to the individuals on the other side of the table and address the REAL issues at hand or we will all suffer the consequences of full closure of OUR public lands. We need to force the issue that these lands are OURS not THEIRS.

By: Rambo

Rambo — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 01:53:19 +0000

One thing a hate about mtn. bikers is having to watch out for them going up afc thay ride on the road like they own it, they don’t pay licenseing fees to have their bike on the roads like cars or 4 wheelers or motorcycles have to, I think they should start paying to be on the roads with their bikes

By: Noah C.

Noah C. — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 02:18:27 +0000

I ride with Caleb and I ride mtb’s with an occasional horse ride so I am familiar with most activities. I have to say without a doubt the horses are very detrimental to the trails and the riders seem to be some of the most discourteous as well. I understand that people on foot want the trails most conducive to foot traffic and mtb’s want the same for them but what you have to understand is that we all own the land and we all have rights to it so if you want special privileges then find trails that provide what you want instead of denying people the right to use the land they own.

I would like to also mention that on our last outing the mtbr’s were riding in a way to make the trail unsafe for foot traffic so maybe we could remove them from the trails also.

My email is real as well

By: Jason Mitchell

Jason Mitchell — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 05:06:24 +0000

Yup, each user group can inflict real trail damage. We all need to do our part to protect the trails and educate our fellow trail users.

I apologize for exaggerating both the weight and power of motorcycles. Not owning one myself, I’m taking a guess, but thanks for the education on motorized transportation.

I admittedly cringe when I see a car with muddy mountain bikes on top coming down the canyon. I also cringe when I’m riding along Ridge Trail 157 at 7am and I hear the sound of motorcycles ruining the still, peaceful morning. It’s like fingernails on the chalkboard for me. I also cringe when I see the trail in the newly re-routed Maple Canyon that can only be done by motorcycles spinning their rear wheels around each of the 30+ switchbacks. I also cringe when I come upon an equestrian whose horse has just mangled the shoulder of the trail and caused erosion and hoof-marks the size of a roadside bomb.

Trail damage in general ticks me off. All trail users need to be more aware of the damage they can and do cause. We all need to turn around when the trails become too wet and we all need to police each user group so we can all enjoy the area to the fullest.