Amid the larger restructuring plans for federal lands being debated now in Washington D.C., are some smaller efforts at expanding access to public wilderness areas. One proposal would end the ban on bicycles on some federally managed lands.
Last week, the House Natural Resources subcommittee on federal lands had a hearing about an amendment to the Wilderness Act. California Republican Tom McClintock is sponsoring the measure that would “ensure that the use of bicycles, wheelchairs, strollers, and game carts is not prohibited in Wilderness Areas, and for other purposes.”
The one dealing with bikes is H.R. 1349.
What it does not do is specifically open up the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge to biking. Refuge staff weren’t available for comment, but broadly speaking, a change in the Wilderness Act could be applicable to parts of the Refuge where about 1.3 million acres have been designated wilderness. But we’re a long way from that.
Some quick background, the Wilderness Act was first passed in 1964. Its main purpose is to preserve areas of federal land in their natural state. That means there are broad categories of recreation and commercial activities that are off limits. Including biking. And that’s always been the rule on the Refuge. Bikers are welcome nearby in the Chugach National Forest because that’s managed by a different alphabet soup of agencies, with different priorities and mandates.
“People who enjoy mountain biking have just as much right to use the public trails as those who enjoy hiking or (horseback) riding. Our wilderness areas were never intended by Congress to prohibit mountain bikes," McClintock said.
He has support from the Colorado-based, non-profit Sustainable Trails Coalition. The aptly-named Ted Stroll is the president of its Board of Directors. He answered questions that were generally tailored to his cause, but did have to explain how mountain biking is compatible with maintaining raw wilderness to Hawaii Democrat Colleen Hanabusa.
“But when the bicycles or the trail bikes or mountain bikes have evolved so that it can transverse places normal bicycles cannot, wouldn’t you say that’s actually going against the original intent of your organization?"
“We stick to the trails," Stroll said.
"Mountain bikers are known for doing this. It’s hikers who cut switchbacks and go off the trail. And frankly, commercial pack trains do the same thing.”
That little dis to hikers aside, this bill has a long way to go before previously closed-to-biking federal trails might be open to them. More hearings will have to be held first. California Democrat Alan Lowenthal wasn’t impressed with the all pro-biking panel.
“I have some concern that today’s witness panel does not represent anyone in the wide range of opposition to this bill, and there is a wide range of opposition. Given its controversial nature, it seems we should be able to hear from many of the bill’s opponents.”
There are currently no other hearings scheduled for H.R. 1349 and it remains in subcommittee. A similar bill was filed in the Senate last year by Republican Mike Lee of Utah. It’s been read twice and sent on to the Energy and Natural Resources committee, but to date, no action has been taken.