Please let me vent........

Just one post to allow the frustration I am feeling out!! Living in southern Ontario the mountain bike trails are limited. Only a handful of parks have trail systems and only a couple have climbing. That being said we can not afford to lose any riding areas. Well apparently in Lasalle, mountain bike riding is of little importance and the one trail system that mountain bikers built and maintain has now been banned. Brunet Park woodlot is prohibited from cyclist. Jay and I (along with approx. 15 other bikers) attended a town council meeting where the proposal to ban mountain biking from the town owned park was being put forth. They (one man in particular) claim there is damage being done to the woodlot. A couple of bike clubs and individuals have put many hours in the maintenance of the trails and the conservation of the woodlot that surrounds the trails. A code of conduct has been widely spread and it is to be followed in order to preserve the trail and environment. It is these responsible cyclist that clear the obstacles and fill in the holes that have been made on the trails by the small handful of disrespectful 'kids'. This trail hooks up to a main trail system that runs throughout the town and attaches Lasalle and Windsor parks. A safe environment for kids to ride their bikes and enjoy mountain biking. 2 cyclist spoke on behalf of the cycling community at the meeting in hopes of shedding light and bringing reason as to why these trails should remain cyclist friendly. Their argument seems to have fallen on deaf ears. Why does it have to be so complicated? We go to the States often to ride and somehow manage to share the trails with hikers, horseback riders and cyclist! There's never been a conflict and we all win, enjoying nature in a variety of ways. In a time when physical activity is at a low with children we should be encouraging and providing a safe and fun environment. Teach them to respect nature not ban them from it!! So now the town will put up barriers and post signs so no cyclist can ride on the Brunet off road trails. That handful of 'bratty kids' will still go in and create obstacles and dig their holes (because this restricted riding will not effect them), there will be more damage done to trails as they jump the barriers and create new cut through trails and in the end there will be no responsible riders there to help clean up and fill in the trails because remember we have been banned!!

Cheers,

Sue