Posted by: Brocklanders
Hate to say it but this thread makes us look like a bunch of entitled whiners. It was only six steps, so we had to jump off our bike for 3 seconds. Is it worth annoying the crap out of the DNV? I'm sure Digger and Co were on top of it.
I agree that in 'the grand scheme of things' this was only a minor inconvenience, definitely a prime example of a 'first world' problem, and that there are probably any number of more pressing DNV related advocacy issues facing the NSMBA.
However, the main reason I felt like I personally should address this is what the decision to replace a multi-use bridge with one that is essentially pedestrian only says about the DNV's priorities, focus and understanding of the mountain biking user group. The DNV has previously spent money studying how the multi-use nature of these sections of the Baden Powell could be improved and has committed to working in that direction. However, when it came to this bridge replacement, they decided it was not a high enough priority to plan for a multi-use replacement given the difficulties involved. To me that means that one or more people at the DNV who were involved in this decision (and who would also likely be involved in other mountain bike trail related issues) probably needed a bit of a reminder that mountain bikers as a group are here to stay, that the decisions the DNV makes that impact us are noticed, that we care, and that we will make our voice heard on issues (large or small) that affect us. If I need to be a little annoying to accomplish this so be it.