Multi Use Trails

[Dave_B]

This has been the case in too many places. If every place the bicyclists have taken this tactic were layed out in examples, the list would be 10-1 where this does happen vs. not happening.

I think that these specific cases is the information Linda was/is looking for. So far, nobody has been able to provide hard facts or statistics or any actual examples of a trail taken over by bike clubs.

Don't get me wrong, I'm with all of you regarding the preservation of the trail as a designated snowmobile trail. It just seems as though we are giving these bikers a little too much credit for their ability and resources to "take over" an existing trail system. It may happen, but nothing has been presented here to back this fact up.

I think it's important, in this particular case, for the club to make sure this section trail remains under year round club control.

 

[xcr440]

I think that these specific cases is the information Linda was/is looking for. So far, nobody has been able to provide hard facts or statistics or any actual examples of a trail taken over by bike clubs.

This is the problem with our "small" forum this time of year, not enough of us are here knowing (Or even paying attention) that this is going on right now.

Not looking to make this forum "political" by any means, but, maybe this is something the JD Admins could send out to all members, just to try and get the word out that this is happening.

 

[tealracing16]

Sorry to make you mad

I didn't want you to get mad at me, its just I don't understand how this is that hard of a topic to be against. Talk to the clubs in northern MN where the trails were taken away, talk to the clubs in lower MI. Not everybody on here is in a club and not everybody in a club is on here. Try other websites, search for clubs in other areas etc. And the reason I wouldn't come back is not only because of this, somehow they wouldn't have to pay any fees and get all the work done off of our trail permits and grants from green clubs i.e. sierra club etc.

For the record, I did join a club when I lived in Houghton and brought up my snowmobile, I wasn't able to help out much because I was in school, but I did pay my dues.

This is a great topic, but I feel that your club (as in everybody) needs to take an area of the Midwest and find the clubs and see if they are having the same problem. In Michigan you have the MSA, contact them and they can get the word out. Clubs are slow right now, but not out.

Again, sorry to anger you and I will be up there camping at Gogebic sometime this summer.

 

[mrsrunningbear]

I didn't want you to get mad at me, its just I don't understand how this is that hard of a topic to be against. Talk to the clubs in northern MN where the trails were taken away, talk to the clubs in lower MI. Not everybody on here is in a club and not everybody in a club is on here. Try other websites, search for clubs in other areas etc. And the reason I wouldn't come back is not only because of this, somehow they wouldn't have to pay any fees and get all the work done off of our trail permits and grants from green clubs i.e. sierra club etc.

For the record, I did join a club when I lived in Houghton and brought up my snowmobile, I wasn't able to help out much because I was in school, but I did pay my dues.

This is a great topic, but I feel that your club (as in everybody) needs to take an area of the Midwest and find the clubs and see if they are having the same problem. In Michigan you have the MSA, contact them and they can get the word out. Clubs are slow right now, but not out.

Again, sorry to anger you and I will be up there camping at Gogebic sometime this summer.

I am sorry too, I was sad not mad and just wish more people knew what it takes to keep the trails open so I'm trying . We are looking in all areas not just here, MSA and other clubs, business owners. This is just part of the quest for facts and info....so thank you and I am sorry! And if your camping at Gogebic I hope we can meet Gogebic is only 25 minutes away

 

[Professor PC]

yo...mrs runningbear...theres only one place that i know of that this multi trail system works...so far...but the locals are ****** to sledders so i dont go their any more...guided a group of 10 there once...what was cool was jammin down the trail with an ATV on groomed trail behind us and a motorbike in front...once we hit the forest there are signs posted for each vehicle to turn off in which direction...that was cool doin the split thing at 50MPH...bike went right...ATV left...sleds straight ahead.....then picked up speed in the forest....heres a pic with map and the length of each trail for each vehicle

BLAK RIVER FOREST WISCONSIN


http://www.travelwisconsin.com/travel_item_detail.aspx?travelitemid=263&menuid=73

PS....wisconsin sargs now big time....since speed limit and the dumbass andy tree debacle we never have set foot in wisconsin....no loss...trust me on that

oh o...here comes the regular town criers after my post again....too bad....sack it up and enjoy them

 

[beakjones]

As a mountain biker I think these roadies are a bunch of pansies. You can ride US45, do it. Otherwise get cyclocross 700c tires for your rig and enjoy the dirt like all us real bikers do. Sorry, mostly a rant and not very helpful but I thought I'd add the opinion of bikers who do it right.

 

[fusionfool]

If this goes through, I think we need to make sure that the bikes have $35 stickers, that they have to stop at ALL stop signs (I would say on a bike, a stop is defined as having two feet on the ground and the spandex off the seat), and the DNR will be required to spend as much effort enforcing this as they do to snowmobiles.

They should have a sticker fee. Most trails Bike trails in WI used to be $3.00 / day, and I believe $25.00 / year. We used to ride at least 400 miles a year, then I got fat and lazy
I think there are two types of bicyclers: Ones like we used to be, we rode from town to town and stopped to a bar or restaurant to have a beer, sandwich, ext. We spent money, and supported the towns we traveled through. Then there are the bikers like this story.
I heard this once from the Guy that owned the Pit Stop on the trail 2 east of Iron River, WI. It was Dec 1st that year and we had enough snow to ride. We stopped in to the Pit Stop, and the owner was behind the bar saying thank god your back, Snowmobilers I mean! He said I am so sick of carrot eating health nuts that stop in, ask for water to fill their bottles, then take out their own carrots, and eat them right here never order a thing, and leave. He was a funny guy, but I do not believe he was exaggerating.

 

[mrsrunningbear]

Just an update.... talked to the president of the bike group tonight Jim Thomas (we know each other) and he was very happy to here from me and that we had formed a committee to work on this he felt things were out of hand and was very happy for a reasonable meeting with us. So we now have a meeting set with him and another man from the group. Question and answer kinda of format. This is a positive step.

 

[qber]

motorized-unmotorized "oil and water"

I have an ATV, snowmobile, road bike, trail bike, crosscountry skis and rollerblades . Motorized and nonmotorized trail mixed use doesn't work in winter and it really does not work in summer. Like Dave said earlier- they are "oil and water". Bicycle riders and other non-motorized do have a different mindset, usually expecting trails to just be there and seldom belonging to clubs that have anything to do with the actual setting up of a trail (property agreements, insurance etc). They are not usually involved in any major trail work nor do they pay direct license and trail fees that go toward trail maintence. They say that they pay taxes but we all do that. Several snowmobile trails in Minnesota that I used to ride on, became a bit snowmobile unfriendly once thery were topped with asphalt at the request of bicycle riders and rollerbladers.
Cooperation between motorized and unmotorized organizations is good and each needs to respect the other group, but the trails need to be separate. Snowmobile clubs with the help of ATV clubs providing year round maintenance, will help keep their trails motorized.