Hell or wheels?

Claire Roggeveen

Our country’s National Parks boast some of the world’s most impressive landscapes and inspiring scenery preserved for our enjoyment, shouldn’t you want to explore them the best way for you? The pristine beauty of the natural formations and the opportunity to be immersed in wildlife draws millions of visitors each year. They come with the anticipation to experience a profound sense of grandeur through varying choices of activity and comfort. Standing as conservation and preservation symbols, these parks and their management should provide as many recreational opportunities as possible in order to appeal to visitors of all interests. If an individual has his or her ideal form of park exploration, the chances that they will enjoy and hopefully create a deeper connection with the environment, will be significantly higher. The scale of these paradises greatly enhances a visitor’s perception; a personalized and positive experience could ignite awareness for these treasured places and spread beyond their boundaries. I believe that the National Park Service should capitalize on this idea. How should they? Simple. Open the trails to a wider audience. Open the trails to biking!  

The most popular activities that trail bound visitors are allowed to currently participate in are hiking and equestrian trips. Limited to the paved roads, visitors who would prefer to experience the park on a bicycle are left incredibly restricted. Hiking groups claim that to allow mountain bikers on trails would greatly degrade trail composition and jeopardize safety. In contrast, organizations like the International Mountain Bicycling Association, believe strongly that bikers should be allowed access to the same routes. This dilemma is a forefront and controversial issue that the National Park Service faces.

Interestingly ironic, many of the first recorded cases of mountain biking occurred in our National Parks over 150 years ago with the 25^th Infantry Bicycle Corps under Major General Nelson A. Miles direction. Peddling through the back country paradises, these soldiers traveled the parks from Montana to Missouri to the Rocky Mountains. Personally, I cannot think of a better way to see our country than from the seat of a bicycle.

Even though the history of the National Parks includes biking, hiking and equestrian groups protest the sport’s return. In reality, their concerns can be neutralized by careful management. Park management can evaluate trails individually. Not all of the routes have to be shared, in fact, the majority would still be reserved for exclusive use, as designated by the Wilderness Act of 1964. This allows congress to protect and manage pristine wildlands under a titled classification. The trails that would most likely be opened to biking would be routes closer to the outside of park rather than the deep back country which most hikers tend to prefer. In regards to preserving the trails themselves, even the most aggressive bike riding could not possibly be as structurally damaging as current horseback riding does. Each form of activity has its impact upon the land, it is inevitable but the degree must be comparable to current standards.

Growing cooperation between bicycling organizations and park services has allowed the introduction of shared trails. In recent news, Mammoth Cave National Park designated trails for mountain bike usage beginning in October of this year. Excited visitors eager to bike proclaim that this ruling will allow enhanced recreation and promote the park to wider audience. This is the goal we should strive for in all aspect s of environmental education and studies. Biking is an incredibly popular sport that appeals to many individuals due to the low physical impact and great fitness benefits. The link between this activity and nature has undeniable influence over people’s attitudes for healthy outdoor recreation.

Instead of focusing on the different modes of transportation and park exploration, we should ground ourselves in the foundation that each individual is ultimately striving to gain the same central experience of these parks. A fundamental goal of our National Parks is to provide as many people as possible the chance to create intangible values from these tangible places.  Whether you ride or stride, appreciate the diversity of understanding and spreading of recreational enjoyment.

 

Reference:

Marquis, Amy L. "Wheels of Change." National Parks May 2012: n. pag. National Parks Conservation Association. May 2012. Web. 16 Sept. 2012. <http://www.npca.org/news/magazine/all-issues/2012/spring/wheels-of-change.html>.