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Bush to help open national parks to mountain bikes

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Bush administration plans to make it easier for mountain bikers to gain access to national parks and other public lands before the president — an avid cyclist himself — leaves office. The National Park Service confirmed Tuesday that it is preparing a rule that will allow decisions about some mountain bike trails to be made by park managers instead of federal regulators in Washington, a process that can take years.

A park service spokesman said the rule would be proposed no later than Nov. 15 so it could be final before Bush leaves office. If adopted, the proposal would likely result in more mountain biking opportunities on public lands.

Currently, the Park Service has to adopt a special regulation to open up trails to mountain bikes, which requires the public to be formally notified. The same process is required for all-terrain vehicles and other motorized recreation on park lands.

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Permalink Reply by Adam on October 28, 2008 at 6:49pm
#1 President
Permalink Reply by Danielle on October 30, 2008 at 2:48pm
That's pretty sweet, but not enough to undo all of the mistakes that have been made.
Permalink Reply by GabeW (not the other Gabe) on October 30, 2008 at 3:01pm
I'd say it sounds like he's repenting on his deathbed, but I'm not sure he's smart enough for that
Permalink Reply by root on October 30, 2008 at 3:20pm
I don't look at this as really repenting or trying to undo anything. That would really give him too much credit.

I would bet that if he had it his way, most of his time as Pres would have been spent legislating policy akin to new trails in national parks. That, to me, seems much easier than running a war.

Plus it's proof that bicycles really can unite the most unlikely types.. even if it happens to be you and a proper bastard like Bush
Permalink Reply by Michael on October 30, 2008 at 4:13pm
Smoke and mirrors. Bush is responsible for appointing Dirk Kempthorne, who consistently scored "0" with the league of conservation voters, to the post of Secretary of the Interior. Bush also appointed Mary A. Bomar, who failed to stand up to a Creationist initiative to teach, in National Park Service literature, that the Grand canyon was formed in Noah's Flood (while at the same time suppressing the teaching of the geological age of the canyon), to the post of director of the National Park Service.

Any Democratic administration should have a better record on conservation and protection of our national resources. Don't be fooled.
Permalink Reply by root on October 30, 2008 at 4:58pm
I think your argument is the only thing resembling smoke and mirrors. How do either of those examples relate to the article posted? It seems to me like you just want to undermine the initiative because it's not your politicians signing the papers.

Any effort to open up parks to the public is well worthy of praise, regardless of faction
Permalink Reply by Michael on October 30, 2008 at 6:26pm
If you read the article beyond the headline, you will find the following:

"Environmental advocate Jeff Ruch called the rule a lame-duck gift for the mountain biking lobby from the "Mountain-Biker-in-Chief," referring to Bush."

and,

"The International Mountain Biking Association, which is supported by some of the same companies that gave Bush bikes, said Tuesday it didn't believe the timing of the rule had anything to do with the president's penchant for pedaling."

"It is extraneous to this (rule) that the president has interest in mountain biking. I don't think that has been an influencer in this case," said Mark Eller, communications director for the group, which has been lobbying to change the rules since the early 1990s."

To not acknowledge that the Bush administration has been weak on conservation is fatuous. The initiative is much more a credit to the IMBA than to the Bush administration.

It was not my intent to undermine the initiative. Increased responsible access to national parks is a good thing no matter which administration pushes it forward. However, management of the national parks happens in the context of a larger political reality. Opening up a few new trails does not change that. They're throwing us a crumb.

My previous post is related to the original article posted because the people I mentioned are the ones directing federal policy as it pertains to national parks and access to them. It is important to know what else they are up to.
Permalink Reply by root on October 30, 2008 at 11:18pm
I agree with you on that Michael. It's important to have good people in office as a first priority. I don't defend them or their history at all, but I do appreciate that this made some news. Attention helps

h3, really? Michael mentioned a key thing when he posted "responsible access to national parks". Do you think that these trails couldn't be designed responsibly? I have a hard time with that.
Permalink Reply by Jon on October 31, 2008 at 7:19am
Whatever, people will find any reason to argue over everything. Hooray for national parks being open to people who want to use them. Believe it or not, not all people who want to mountain bike for free in big beautiful landscapes are yuppies. And even if some of them are, so what? They're making use of the land, getting out to ride, enjoying themselves and getting exercise! Or is that for the under privileged?
Permalink Reply by El Duke on October 31, 2008 at 12:16pm
Mountain bikes are cool.
Permalink Reply by vxla on October 31, 2008 at 4:50pm
Parks are cool.

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