Thursday, April 16, 2015

Cyclists geared up for a fight

The Bitterroot National Forest recently released the final draft of its first new forest-wide travel plan since 1976—and some local mountain bikers aren’t happy with the proposed limits on cycling. The new plan closes off about 102,000 acres of the Blue Joint and Sapphire Wilderness Study Areas to motorized and mechanized transport, which includes snowmobile and mountain bike use. Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists President Lance Pysher says he was “pretty shocked” by the final draft, which restricts motorized and mechanized access from 178 miles of trails, including popular paths in the Bitterroot like Blodgett Canyon and Bear Creek Overlook. Bitterroot Forest Supervisor Julie King says she views mountain bikers as “a valuable partner,” but she believes the Forest Service’s hands are tied by federal law regarding wilderness and proposed wilderness areas. The Wilderness Act doesn’t mention bicycles, but explicitly bans motorized vehicles and “mechanical transport,” which has been interpreted as including bicycles. Additionally, King says they took into consideration the precedent set by a 2011 case in the Gallatin National Forest, where wilderness groups won a lawsuit that demanded more restrictions on snowmobile and bicycle use. Mountain biking advocates nationwide have long argued against the Forest Service’s interpretation of the Wilderness Act, citing studies that indicate cycling has less impact on trails than other kinds of recreation. A 2006 National Park Service study concluded that “Horse and ATV trails are significantly more degraded than hiking and biking trails.”...more

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