By Mark Langton
CORBA has spent 25 years fostering a positive image for mountain bikers based on the fact that the vast majority of mountain bikers are responsible, and that irresponsible actions are few and far between. Yet in just the last year it seems that irresponsibility has increased, and 25 years of goodwill and effort are about to be undermined by disrespectful, selfish individuals who only care about going fast. In the last week the NPS has issued a press release stating that the increase in unsafe riding will be met with citations, and the Gas Company has closed Sullivan Canyon to all users because of incidents involving mountain bikers.
The problem with this situation is that the people riding irresponsibly know that it’s wrong, but they do it anyway. They are jeopardizing bicycle access to the trails, not to mention the safety of all trail users. I know that just saying it here won’t solve the problem, but my hope is that a few of the people who are riding irresponsibly do the right thing, and maybe spread the word. If you want to ride fast, go do it in a race or at a place where it’s set up for it, like Mammoth Mountain. Enjoy our local shared use trails in a way that is pleasant for everyone. Otherwise the actions of a few will mess it up for the majority of people who do ride responsibly.
