Mountain bikers in the United States are threatened by designated Wilderness areas more than anything else. These are areas of land designated as wilderness, which means they are strictly protected, and they do not allow mountain bikes on any trails. But there's a lot of problems with banning bikes from all trails in designated wilderness areas:
1. The mountain bike community has been having to fight wilderness designations all over the country since the bike ban came into place, and recently a lot of pro-wilderness organizations have been victorious. Entire mountain bike trail systems have been closed off. If appropriate trails in Wilderness areas can allow mountain bikes, it turns a large group of people who would be opposed to wilderness conservation into being pro wilderness conservation. This would greatly strengthen support for protection of America's beautiful natural landscapes.
2. Horseback riding is allowed in wilderness areas, and studies have shown that horses do a lot more damage to trails than mountain bikes. Wilderness is supposed to be a way to protect the environment. Why should mountain bikes be banned from wilderness areas when horses do a lot more damage and are allowed in wilderness areas?
3. It is unfair that all trails in wilderness areas are closed to mountain bikes, even when some would be appropriate for that form of recreation.
Sign the petition! Get bikes allowed on some wilderness trails!
