Man convicted of illegal mountain biking

[BrewMaster]

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Fairfax man convicted of illegal mountain biking at Point Reyes

A Fairfax man who had to walk 25 miles home after a ranger at Point Reyes National Seashore seized his mountain bike has been convicted of riding on an off-limits trail.

Steven Gravenites, 45, was found guilty of a misdemeanor Wednesday by U.S. Magistrate Bernard Zimmerman in San Francisco. A $275 fine was reduced to $25, Gravenites said.

A park ranger cited Gravenites on June 21 on the Lake Ranch trail in the wilderness area, according to court records.

A federal law enforcement officer leaving a search-and-rescue operation wrote that he had seen six mountain bikers riding on the trail, which "has numerous clearly posted signs that say, 'No bikes.' "

The officer stopped Gravenites, explained the regulation and impounded his bike, court records show.

At his trial, Gravenites admitted that he had previously been issued a citation for illegal trail riding in Marin County in 2001.

But in an interview, Gravenites said he believed the park ranger and federal prosecutors had overreacted. He said he has never owned a car and complained that he had to walk 25 miles through the hills of western Marin to his home after his bike was confiscated.

"I'm very upset," Gravenites said. "I use my bike for all my transportation needs."

Gravenites said the magistrate ordered that his bike be returned.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Scott Schools said his office will "continue to prosecute these offenses as illegal mountain bike trail rides contribute to soil erosion, cause wildlife disturbance and interfere with the enjoyment of the park by hikers and others."

I hope the 25 mile walk taught him a lesson.

[dstepper]

$25 fine...not bad. I'm glad Wavy got his bike back...I am sure it was not a cheap bike.

Dean

[Waldo]

Fine/Impound is one thing, but leaving the guy stuck to walk 25 miles home is not cool. Seems like there could have been a better resolution.

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by BrewMaster

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I hope the 25 mile walk taught him a lesson.

Yeah, carry a gun and leave no witnesses.

[Tedroy]

Originally Posted by dstepper

$25 fine...not bad. I'm glad Wavy got his bike back...I am sure it was not a cheap bike.

Dean

... Wavy Gravey? HaHa.

[Amon Amarth]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

Yeah, carry a gun and leave no witnesses.

The best response ever! Ditto

[dirtmistress]

Originally Posted by dstepper

$25 fine...not bad. I'm glad Wavy got his bike back...I am sure it was not a cheap bike.

Dean

Yeah, that's the famous wrench from NorCal isnt it?

[chongoblanco]

contributing to soil erosion, disturbing wild life. come on! and patroling around in a pickup eating donuts insnt, and the first devloper with money that comes along gets to doze the place down and put a lodge. Plus i bet if they had gotten hurt i would have been impossible to find them for help. but yes poaching is bad

[Pain Freak]

Originally Posted by dirtmistress

Yeah, that's the famous wrench from NorCal isnt it?

Yeah, that's him...and he does have more then one bike. Still sending him walking was not in the best interests of law enforcement. If anything had happened to him from that point until he got home, they were liable.

Why is the anti-biking sentimate so stong in NorCal especially Marin County?

That's so stupid of that reporter to publish a bs line like soil erosion. When will these special interests groups ever become liable for the bs they spew? In this litagation happy state I think we should start suing people who go around spewing lies.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by dirtmistress

Yeah, that's the famous wrench from NorCal isnt it?

Yep! famous wheel builder...forget the shop but it was in San Anselmo.

[BrewMaster]

There has been a push to open up more trails in Point Reyes to mountain biking, but poaching certainly isn't helping the cause. Regardless of the reasons, be they soil erosion, animals, or other trail users, there are closed trails all around us and poaching is certainly not the answer.

If he hadn't been out there illegally, he wouldn't have had to walk 25 miles. Plus, in that area he could have hopped a bus or a cab. I don't really feel bad for him.

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

Why is the anti-biking sentimate so stong in NorCal especially Marin County?

That would be Barbara Boxer territory. If she had her way, there would be ZERO access to any forest, open space or wilderness areas.

[GP_pilot]

The guy was out solo for a 50+ mi MTB ride w/ no cell phone? Me thinks there's some details miss'n to this story. First problem is breaking rules on National Parks land, fines & penalties are MUCH MUCH stiffer.

[kentonn]

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Scott Schools said his office will "continue to prosecute these offenses as illegal mountain bike trail rides contribute to soil erosion, cause wildlife disturbance and interfere with the enjoyment of the park by hikers and others."

Hmmm... Maybe we should outlaw rain and wind as they contribute to soil erosion. Additionally, I find the "interfere with the enjoyment of the park by hikers and others" to be a little disturbing.

This is just another example of the man trying to keep the mountain biker down.

[Geronimo]

I want to be free! ........Free to ride!.........Free to ride, without being hassled by the man!

[dudevf1]

I don't have any sympathy for the rider in terms of having to walk back. So what, if that's too far of a hike then perhaps he shouldn't have ridden on the trails as such. So it was his only mode of transportation? Then all the more reason not to risk losing it by using it illegally.

The other part that's outrageous is the claim about bikes cuasing trail damage. The real reason is the last one stated, i.e., elitist hikers who have a collective bowel movement if anything out of their view of the ordinary happens while they attempt to expereince their shangrila amidst their pretentious concerns for their attire ahem I mean mother earth of course.

[dirtmistress]

I cut my singletrack teeth on Mt. Tam. Talk about insane, rabid people. They make the PV access problem look tiny!! Years ago we were going to move up north and access issues were the reason we didnt. They are smug,arrogant entitled b*stards that live up there! When the Boy Scouts built Tamarancho on their own land, the HOHA's (hateful old hikers assoc.) fought and threatened the Boy Scouts. Luckily they lost and that area is great to ride! Mtn bikers will never win up there. After all this time, it sure doesnt seem like they will!

[deusxq]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

Yeah, carry a gun and leave no witnesses.

Genius!