Help educate new mountain bikers
Access to Ledgeview threatened
April 29, 2021
Wildlife Awareness
May 12, 2021
As a mountainbiker, every time you throw your leg over that bike, you’re an ambassador for our sport. So, anything you do – positive or negative – represents everyone on a mountain bike. If you have been in the sport for a number of years, you probably already understand this. But, as we all know, there are a ton of new people on bikes – and that’s great.
The FVMBA encourages you to educate some of these new folks on some of the things we all might take for granted. Like not speeding through the streets of neighborhoods that have trailheads. Being careful how and where you park in those neighbourhoods. Packing out what you pack in. Take that flat inner tube or power gel wrapper with you, don’t leave it behind. And most of all, show them how cool it is to be on a bike by interacting with others positively even if it’s just a smile and wave.
We share the trails with many user groups and so showing consideration and respect when out there having a blast is part of making sure trails stay open and accessible to all.
1 Comment
As a homeowner for the last 15 years on three different parts of the mountain, I have seen the trails develop from basic to outstanding! We walk them daily and are more than happy to share the space with mountain bikers and hikers alike. I lived at the Ledgeview Trail entrance on McKee years before it became the go-to entrance to the mountain and saw it evolve. I am concerned, however, that these paths and trails are starting to be “taken for granted”. By people who are building new jumps, digging out massive areas and pulling down trees. By parents dropping their children off daily, using the mountain as a daycare with no thought as to the kids safety or responsibility for their actions on the mountain. By the dozens of cars and trucks parked illegally down the side of Westview Blvd, contrary to all the No Parking signage. This is topped off with the monthly attendance of a firetruck and ambulance to rescue injured riders who rarely know where they are on the mountain. I love the trail system and want to see it preserved for everyones use for as long as possible but I can see that all the good is slowly being undone by those who don’t appreciate the sytem for what it is – a gift that can be taken away at any time. If we want the landowners to continue to be generous and allow us to use the trails, there has to be a bigger presence of reps from the FVMBA on the mountain and at entry points, educating everyone on how to be respectful users. No one wants to have cars towed or be the Karen calling out parents for not supervising their kids – let’s educate them.