Study examines trail damage from biking, hiking

[Sharon]

http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/view?/news/2001/08/17/bikehike010817

Study examines trail damage from biking, hiking
Last Updated Fri Aug 17 11:43:18 2001
GUELPH, ONTARIO - Hikers have long argued the deep treads of spinning mountain bike tires tear up more dirt on trails than a pair of hiking boots. But a University of Guelph study says this isn't true.

[bullit_kid]

success:rolleyes:

[wilkez]

tell them to do some trail maintenence then. the baden powel is brutal for doing anything lol

[ATN]

Not only do we rip up the earth less, we also do trail maintenence... yay for bikers.

[Ribs]

Take that Green Peace!!!!!!!

[Taylor_P]

sweet, biking rules. and how many times do you see a hiker out repairing their favorite route??

[Ah-Choo]

Sharon...any link to the actual study...being from near Guelph I'd be interested to know how their study parameters apply to local conditions and terrain. Perhaps a study of our own may be in order...

[Andrew]

mail that to every person who is againist bikers in van like the city council. the green peace people. the hiking stores. etc.. west van authoities

[Sharon]

Originally posted by Ah-Choo
Sharon...any link to the actual study...being from near Guelph I'd be interested to know how their study parameters apply to local conditions and terrain. Perhaps a study of our own may be in order...

http://link.springer-ny.com/link/service/journals/00267/bibs/1027003/10270397.html

Thurston, E., and Reader, R. J. 2001. Impacts of experimentally applied mountain biking and hiking on vegetation and soil of a deciduous forest. Environmental Management 27: 397-409.

This paper shows that destruction of vegetation by mountain bikers is no greater than that caused by hikers, contrary to popular belief.

http://www.uoguelph.ca/botany/people/faculty/reader/

I might be able to get a copy of the article from work, but I don't have my UBC library info here. If you email this guy, he may send you a copy.

[ATN]

Sharon, what article do you need? I may be able to get in touch with the reporters... I have a helluva lotta connections in CBC.

[Ah-Choo]

Thanks Sharon...I better learn to google better...

[Ah-Choo]

There was a study done in the late 90's in NZ that had similar results...

[Kevan]

Any trail, whether it be biking or hiking, if not properly built is gonna get far more damage from erosion, and most biking trails, look out for that kinda thing.

[243_ht]

ahh always good to hear stuff like that.

[Sharon]

Originally posted by burkebuilder
Sharon, what article do you need? I may be able to get in touch with the reporters... I have a helluva lotta connections in CBC.

Thanks! we'll keep that in mind :)

This article is availabe online through UBC. I can get it from work since that is where my UBC info is.

[davet]

Originally posted by Sharon
http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/view?/news/2001/08/17/bikehike010817

Study examines trail damage from biking, hiking
Last Updated Fri Aug 17 11:43:18 2001
GUELPH, ONTARIO - Hikers have long argued the deep treads of spinning mountain bike tires tear up more dirt on trails than a pair of hiking boots. But a University of Guelph study says this isn't true. Unfortunately all it takes is one mountain biker to lock up the rear and skid his way down (we've all seen it) to change the outcome of that study.

[Mountain Dewd]

thats what i was thinking.
It really depends on hundreds of variables.
but on a lame trails a bike has no more extra damage. just dont tell them about cool trails:)

[243_ht]

yeah as isaland rules said "if you find one stufy that proves one thing, i'll giv eyou 10 that prove it wrong"

[gimped]

Grouse Grind = bloody mess.

Remember a few years ago Whistler held great bike races? Before the Bike park? I remember the rumour going around that Intrawest shut down bike racing there because they claimed that there was erosion causing damage to the hillside and the subsequently the village. Now they have thousands of riders doing thousands of runs with wide trails that are made by tractors. What a joke! Now that MTB is bringing in money, they're embracing a bike park and future races.

The mass majority of these organizations claiming erosion by MTB'ers is eronious.

[barry]

hikers also tend to stray off the paths more than bikers...nuff said