Bob Magee: Backcountry Horsemen (and women) want bikes kept out of wilderness

Thank you for sharing the Los Angeles Times editorial “Mountain bikes don't belong in the wilderness” (Another View, Jan. 4). It highlighted some of the reasons Congressional Bill HR-1349 would negatively affect our use of federal wilderness areas. Modification of the 1964 Wilderness Act from its original intent could mean that future generations would no longer enjoy the immense solitude and tranquility of wilderness.

The purpose of the Act was to ensure that some of the nation’s public lands remained in their natural condition and are forever protected from intrusive mechanization that accompanies a growing human population. Preservation of wilderness areas ensures that future generations can continue to experience these landscapes in their relatively unimpaired condition on foot, horseback or via canoe.

We, the 385 members of the Mid Valley Unit of Backcountry Horsemen of California, feel HR-1349 represents a major threat to the public’s use and enjoyment of federally designated wilderness areas. It would amend the Wilderness Act to allow fast-moving mountain bikes and could represent a significant safety hazard to horsemen and women. In the continental U.S., less than 3 percent of all lands are designated as federal Wilderness. We need to ensure that this small portion of “wild” remains.

This story was originally published January 18, 2018 at 11:01 AM with the headline "Bob Magee: Backcountry Horsemen (and women) want bikes kept out of wilderness."