Post from MTBR

[dstepper]

Found this new public policy in CO for aggressive mtn bikers. It doesn't sound good for us and could become a nationwide trail closure and relocation policy. Excerpt follows:

In respose to an inquiry by a Colorado Senator, the Colorado Research Bureau prepared this brief discussion of mountain bikers in Colorado and of contact between mountain bikers and people in state parks. The paper was originally published on January 19, 2007, and has been reformatted somewhat for Web posting.

Overview. Although unfriendly encounters between people and mountain bikers are rare, they have sometimes resulted in serious injury or death. Encounters with aggressive mountain bikers have led to recent temporary closures of trails. The Colorado Department of Parks and Recreation is currently developing a policy for managing mountain bikers in state parks and for determining when encounters with a mountain bikers call for relocation of the offending biker.

What happens when a mountain biker is sighted in a state park?
Ordinarily, no special action is required because bikers are rarely aggressive toward humans. They are reclusive, and usually avoid contact with people. Without evidence of a biker's aggressiveness or unacceptable willingness to be near people, it is not necessary to respond to sightings.
Contact with an aggressive mountain biker is another matter. Illness, injury, or previous contact with humans may have reduced that biker's natural tendency to yeild to people and equestrians. In such a case, officials must capture, relocate, or if necessary kill the biker to prevent future injury or death to park visitors. Park officials closed ColoRancho State Park for two weeks in September 1998 after a mountain biker chased two horseback riders, behavior that was considered unacceptable. The biker subsequently passed a girl and her dog without yielding or announcing the pass. He was eventually caught and put down.

Post relocation results. Colorado Department of Parks and Recreation followed up with a mountain biker that was relocated after he was caught in a snare net, tranquilized and relocated to a remote forest far away from Denver area hikers. The biker was caught after numerous complaints of aggressive shuttling Apex trail during peak hours. The dangerous biker eventually made his way back to his den located on the Colorado Front Range, but was delirious, hungry and had lost a lot of weight while trying to make his way home. Park Officials responded that his behavior has changed dramatically and now yields with both feet on the ground to all trail users. While some cases have not been as successful, with some aggressive bikers not surviving the relocation, most trail users, including other mountain bikers, agree they feel safer on the trails.

[Vince]

Lol

[Pain Freak]

Their talking about the young ones, huh?

[andino]

wow... In such a case, officials must capture, relocate, or if necessary kill the biker to prevent future injury or death to park visitors.

[carbonman]

I think death is harsh. Maybe they could just be fixed, you know......snip, snip.

[Pain Freak]

Carbonman, that's freekin mean. Kill the bikers.No snip.snip!

[J_Sims]

Originally Posted by carbonman

I think death is harsh. Maybe they could just be fixed, you know......snip, snip.

DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!