Despite the reference to Monica, I'd like to think that this topic could be addressed in a civilized manner….
A self-proclaimed XC rider and 2005 Green Party candidate has picked up where Monica Craver left off and written the following letter to the editor in this August 8th edition of the NS Outlook:
_Extreme sports
Editor;
With reference to 'Two extreme sports' (Outlook July 27). Monica Craver's letter seeks to find a solution or compromise between safety and the environmental damage versus the activity of mountain biking has upon it. She may very well have found the solution; isolate it like any other sport such as her example of skateboarding. Some may then argue that you then must isolate the other activities in our forests such as hiking.
Maybe, but I know hiking has a negligible effect on flora and fauna.
I love mountain biking, it is my favourite outdoor activity, it is fun, very social,exhilarating not to mention the health benefits.
My fellow mountain bikers may hate me for writing this but during my 12 years of XC mountain biking local hills I have definitely seen first hand environmental damage and serious erosion problems on the forest floor due to bad riding skills from skidding tires. Make no mistake about it.
Dirt bikes (motorcycles) have been banned in many forested areas such as the UBC endowment lands and other areas for safety and environmental reasons. I can tell you that many of the 'mountain bike downhill rigs' are little more than a motorcycle without an engine so make your own conclusions.
Banning the sport here I would not want to see but a more comprehensive management of it is definitely in order when there are environmental and safety concerns. If this means certain trails need to be closed then so be it because the environment comes first. Please don't misunderstand me, I know that the NSMBA puts many painstaking hours of volunteer trail maintenance and improvements and I applaud them for it but it's almost impossible for it to be anything but 'too little too late.' DNV council seems to bow to pressure from mountain biker lobbyists when it comes to election time but does this serve the best interests of the community as a whole? Why is there so much area on our mountains put aside and supported by district council for so few relative users. Makes you think it's a way of getting votes doesn't it? And most know Mayor Walton is an avid mountain biker as well.
Grouse Mountain Resorts and the GVRD should put their money where their mouths are with regard to the coveted and illusive "Alpine Plan" but so far they are not and so the district taxpayer ends up with the bill due to leniency and favouritism from DNV council. God forbid we should implement a fee or user permit for riders to use the trails like they do for golf greens, ski runs, and swimming pools.
We could use these fee monies for trail maintenance and mitigate further damage to the forests.
We need a strict plan in place for local mountain biking including strict maintenance of the trails we decide to keep open. The party at the expense of the forests is definitely over!
John Sharpe
North Vancouver _
Is it just me or is he a very uninformed political candidate and rider?
