#!markdown
We are advocates for non-motorized recreation, being wholly self propelled
limits impacts to the broader network as most users are not able to ride all
day or to the top of mountains, where our more difficult and less maintained
tails are. Again, I am not against them in places specifically designated for
their use, I am against them on non-motorized systems where they aren't
planned or managed for.
Our approach to accommodating increased number of non-motorized users, which
is already becoming a problem in certain parts of our network and wouldn't be
helped with more e-bikes, is active planning to expand our non-motorized
network and management to ensure our current network can handle the expected
levels of non-motorized use. I've actually just submitted a trail development
proposal for the south end of town that would add nearly 10km of intermediate
trail in a heavily used non-motorized area. Additionally I've spent the past 6
months working on a long term trail development plan that looks out 15-20
years in how we'd like to see our network expand and develop and will be
presenting that next month to the club in an open house. That plan is for non-
motorized use, it assumes non-motorized access.
Again, I, as the planning director for WORCA, am spending hundreds of hours of
my own time, doing this work on behalf of non-motorized trail users. I'm not
doing this for e-bikes, our trail builders aren't interested in doing this for
e-bikes. We as non-motorized mountain bikers have spent decades proving our
worth, building and maintaining over 300km of trails, our passion is non-
motorized recreation.
We are not pushing these things, manufacturers are, we aren't the ones that
should have to defend their use or be responsible for negative impacts. E-bike
proponents should organize, collaborate and offer some solid proposals and
sweat equity if this is so important for them. Saying we're being a lot like
hikers is disingenuous, we had to prove ourselves to land managers and other
non-motorized groups over the past 30 years, we weren't given an inch and
we've earned our place at the table through serious effort earning that
respect, effort that e-bike makers are trying to piggy back off of with zero
sweat equity. I'm not fighting e-bikes battle for them and potentially risking
normal non-motor mtb access. Again, not what I signed up for, not my job. The
industry needs to stop taking advocacy groups and clubs for granted, because
our energy for this unpaid work is not unlimited.
Jan. 10, 2017, 6:14 p.m. - t.odd
#!markdown We are advocates for non-motorized recreation, being wholly self propelled limits impacts to the broader network as most users are not able to ride all day or to the top of mountains, where our more difficult and less maintained tails are. Again, I am not against them in places specifically designated for their use, I am against them on non-motorized systems where they aren't planned or managed for. Our approach to accommodating increased number of non-motorized users, which is already becoming a problem in certain parts of our network and wouldn't be helped with more e-bikes, is active planning to expand our non-motorized network and management to ensure our current network can handle the expected levels of non-motorized use. I've actually just submitted a trail development proposal for the south end of town that would add nearly 10km of intermediate trail in a heavily used non-motorized area. Additionally I've spent the past 6 months working on a long term trail development plan that looks out 15-20 years in how we'd like to see our network expand and develop and will be presenting that next month to the club in an open house. That plan is for non- motorized use, it assumes non-motorized access. Again, I, as the planning director for WORCA, am spending hundreds of hours of my own time, doing this work on behalf of non-motorized trail users. I'm not doing this for e-bikes, our trail builders aren't interested in doing this for e-bikes. We as non-motorized mountain bikers have spent decades proving our worth, building and maintaining over 300km of trails, our passion is non- motorized recreation. We are not pushing these things, manufacturers are, we aren't the ones that should have to defend their use or be responsible for negative impacts. E-bike proponents should organize, collaborate and offer some solid proposals and sweat equity if this is so important for them. Saying we're being a lot like hikers is disingenuous, we had to prove ourselves to land managers and other non-motorized groups over the past 30 years, we weren't given an inch and we've earned our place at the table through serious effort earning that respect, effort that e-bike makers are trying to piggy back off of with zero sweat equity. I'm not fighting e-bikes battle for them and potentially risking normal non-motor mtb access. Again, not what I signed up for, not my job. The industry needs to stop taking advocacy groups and clubs for granted, because our energy for this unpaid work is not unlimited.