CMC Position

CMC Position

Bicycle Use in National Parks=

January 25, 2009

The Carolina Mountain Club supports the current National Park Service policy for bicycle route designation [36 CFR 4.30] ensuring transparency and public participation in processes that affect tra= il use and designation. We suppo= rt the full involvement of the public, especially stakeholders who enjoy our natio= nal parks on foot, in policy development, funding, and planning and management decisions that potentially impact access to and the conservation of public = lands and the hiking experience.

The Carolina Mountai= n Club believes that designation of any trails for mountain biking must take into consideration: 1) the capacity of park staffs to effectively manage mountain biking and ensure visitor safety; and 2) associated impacts on wildlife, ve= getation, overall trail conditions, and the experience of other park visitors, especi= ally hikers.

We oppose the use of mountain bicycles in designated wilderness areas and also in areas under consideration for wilderness designation. Any changes to the regulation should include explicit prohibit= ion of bicycles from areas under study for potential designation as Wilderness.=

As hikers, we have first-hand experience with safety iss= ues related to multiple types of trail users.&= nbsp; The considerable safety, environmental and management issues involve= d in bicycle use in national parks deserve the careful study and stakeholder participation required in the current regulation.

Background<= /p>

Bicycles are currently permitted on park roads, parking areas and routes designated for bicycle use. Under current regulations, a “special regulation,” specific to the individual park, must be adopted to designate a trail for bicycle use. Adoption of a “s= pecial regulation” allows for full public input and requires Park Service ap= proval at the national level. Analys= es and a written report are required that show that bicycle use is consistent with= the protection of the park area's natural, scenic and aesthetic values, safety considerations and management objectives and will not disturb wildlife or p= ark resources. Although the “special regulation” process averages more than two years, the process is transparent and the Park Superintendent has the benefit of public review and comment before making a decision.

The proposed regulati= on eliminates the requirement for a “special regulation” to designate an exis= ting trail for bicycle use. The le= vel of public input and extent of environmental analyses under the proposed rule w= ould be more limited. The proposed= rule does not change the requirement for a “special regulation” for = new trails, trails not currently on the ground.

The current regulation prohibits bicycles from wilderness areas established by Federal statute, su= ch as Shining Rock Wilderness Area, but it does not prohibit bicycles from a l= arge number of areas under study or proposed for wilderness designation. Changes in the usage of wilderness areas, such as allowing bicycles, could jeopardize whether those lands are eventually given permanent wilderness protections by Congress.

Biking may be an appropriate use of some national forest trails, but the purpose of national parks differs from that of national forests. National parks focus more on preservation and conservation than on multiple types of recreation.

The National Parks Conservation Association bel= ieves that “The current National Park Service mountain biking rules, which = have been in effect since 1987, have been working well in offering all visitors = to our majestic national parks a safe and enjoyable experience, and should not= be changed by the Bush Administration… NPCA strongly believes national p= arks should offer full transparency on important park management decisions, including this one…”

The American Hiking Society’= ;s website includes this statement: “American Hiking Society opposes the use of mountain bicycles = in designated wilderness areas and areas under consideration for wilderness designation. We support the current National Park Service policy for bicycle route designation [36 CFR 4.30]. “