A few years ago I would of agreed with you. Now that my kids are riding, I have a different perspective. I would rather effort the kids are doing, be done on dirt, without the risk of being run over. Distance is not the issue for me. The kids do 4-5 hour rides down at Galbraith and they ride most of the climb.
I would prefer multiple option for parking as well. I really like the idea of a single track or double track climb up, from Dempsey.
I often ride with a group of parents and kids. We car pool. One parent drives and drop the kids off with a parent at the gate or the water tower. Since the kids don't exactly fly up the hill the driving parent usually catches up before the trailhead. Otherwise mom drops us off. If its just the 2 of us, I drop my 12-year-old off at the gate with a cellphone and he waits for me while I park the car down the hill. You have options. Your kids don't have to ride on the road.
How does that change with parking??? The road isn't being opened up to shuttling.
Yes it does … the Upper Part of Mountain Hwy will have more traffic. It would lead [assuming increased access=increased ridership] to the ridiculous scenario of traffic jams on the road to the parking lot and people waiting for parking spots to open up. Sure, add more parking … but keep the traffic out of the woods. Would they need to install pedestrian/bike crossings where the Baden-Powell and other trails that cross below the water towers? That would be sad …
If you like riding Fromme but can't get up the hill because of your bike, maybe its time to look at something a little more suited to getting you up the hill, just like you shouldn't ask Whistler Bike Park make a bunch of changes so you can ride your cyclocross bike on A-Line.