Conundrum: Caught in the Horns of a Dilemma

I admit to being caught in the horns of a dilemma. What do you do when a politician that you don’t care for makes a good proposal that would greatly benefit persons with disabilities and their ability to access the backcountry for sport and recreation? Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act which would enable and empower persons with physical limitations access to our vast backcountry and wilderness areas using the mobility assistive equipment that helps them in their daily activities. If you’ve seen my previous posts, you know that I am no big fan of Senator Lee, however this does seem to be a step in the right direction. And, if you have followed this blog for any period of time, you know that I have advocated for allowing e-bikes to utilize the same trails as their non-electric counterparts, even though I do not own one. Yet.

At the same time, the Trump administration and the Department of Agriculture have proposed rescinding the “roadless area rule” which places serious restrictions on roadways in our national forests, parks, and BLM land. The rule has served a valid purpose, and continues to do so, but when viewed through the viewpoint of the above-mentioned legislation, it gives me pause, and it should give you pause also. Probably the best response to this proposal that I have seen comes from the website of the Blue Ribbon Coalition, and access advocacy organization based in Colorado. They quote the leader of the veterans organization, and said:

"Without motorized access, those with special needs and disabilities - including many veterans - will not have access to public lands because they do not have the ability to hike, jump on a bike, or ride a horse. Motorized vehicles are essentially an extension of their body; it’s their legs to enjoy the same great outdoors that able-bodied citizens can enjoy. If you eliminate motorize access to public lands then you take out two user groups that have zero chance to ever experience these public lands. These user groups are not asking to forge new trails, they just want to keep existing routes and trails open so that they can get the same therapeutic experience from nature that able-bodied citizens have access to. At Trail Hero we have had over 5000 veterans and over 1000 people with special needs join us on trails….” - Rich Klein - President/Founder, Trail Hero (Emphasis by myself.)

Organizations that I belong to and support such as Trout Unlimited and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers are actively campaigning against the rescission of the roadless rule, joined by a vast number of advocacy and wilderness organizations. On the other hand, there are groups like the Blue Ribbon Coalition, Outdoor Access Initiative, and a myriad of off-road vehicle organizations that feel the other way. I have openly disagreed with BHA’s position on e-bikes since it was first published several years ago, and with the US Forest Service policy that decided that e-bikes are motorized vehicles. The BRC’s position on roadless areas is much more in line with my own position that Type I (pedal assisted) electric mountain bikes are bicycles first, with the electric motor simply assisting in peddling, and should therefore be allowed on all trails which are open to mountain bikes.

Any time a trail is shut down or restricted for any reason, somebody’s access is going to be cut off. Admittedly, some of these restrictions are necessary for safety, habitat protection, or administrative purposes. However, public lands are supposed to be accessible to all Americans, including those with disabilities, impairments, or mobility issues. As a seventy-one-year-old who’s next bike will very likely be an E-bike, and who has endured three foot and leg surgeries over the past four years (the most recent of which was only last week) I see the need for open trails, logging roads, and other pathways (where safe, of course) that will provide access for me and people like myself to continue to enjoy our Public Lands unimpaired. So, I will continue to ride my Cogburn fat-bike as long as I physically can, or until the land managers change their policy and my yet to be purchased e-bike can be ridden legally on the same trails the Cogburn is. Therefore, I give qualified support to the rescission of the roadless rule, hoping that the land managers will be judicious and careful in their application of their new authority if and when it occurs.