Education for responsible trails use
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Dmitri
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« on: April 21, 2008, 12:12:59 PM »
This is why we need to do a lot of it.... :-(

I know it will sound bad, but maybe it's not a bad thing to crash there, learn not to use rogue trails. The park is trying to reject inappropriate use!  Wink

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=404280

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Dmitri
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« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2008, 08:09:11 AM »
Tom,

Thanks for chiming in on mtbr, you did a much better job of explaning things without being preachy and abrasive, lunlike my post....

Thanks!
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Rico
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« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2008, 08:50:28 AM »
Dmitri,

I don't think you sounded preachy or abrasive at all.
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fishnchips
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« Reply #3 on: April 22, 2008, 09:19:50 AM »
yeah I thought it was pretty good too. You were the bad cop, and Tom was the good cop. He needed a bit of both and I'm sure he'll think about it next time.
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Kelly
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« Reply #4 on: April 22, 2008, 09:35:15 AM »
I'm slightly amused by the "if there aren't any signs, how am I supposed to know it's a rogue trail" defense. That particular "trail" goes up the side of an established trail and then over the edge onto a fall line, very obviously less-traveled route. That should throw up red flags, not to mention that it comes down into a marked intersection of trails with a sign that very plainly does NOT point up that hill.
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« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2008, 09:43:02 AM »
You did make a very good point D. But the way you put it...I was afraid would turn people off from joining us. Remember a lot of people ride this and those who can't ride it wish they could. I've hit that drop many times in the past, it's great, but the entrance to is so unsustainable it's a damn shame. I've closed off the entrace many times but it will just get reopened. I have convinced many riders in our immediate circle to stop hitting it because of what's happening on the hillside.

Only way to stop rouge trails like this is to build stuff like this in a sustainable way for the masses. 
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Tom Coyle
Dmitri
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« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2008, 09:57:28 AM »
Exactly, Tom! Thanks. You're way more diplomatic. Like Jess pointed out, I'd never make a good cop, but a very good bad cop!  Cool

He did have a positive response to your email, and pledged to be more considerate of the trails and the park.

Good team effort!
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fishnchips
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« Reply #7 on: April 22, 2008, 10:16:01 AM »
we also have to keep in mind that a lot of people have no idea they are doing something wrong, and sometimes, if they do, they still don't quite get it. No matter how people react we should always keep a measured tone.

There are still trails I ride that are not MTB trails, like the approach heading north to Kitchen's down the side of the hill. The original trail to the right was closed after it collapsed from the big rains, but I still ride that now because I can't do any worse to it. Meanwhile, the new 'mtb' trail is totally unsustainable and now ruining the hillside, so actually riding it is making things worse.

Also, if I have that particular location in the video right right, then entire legitimate trail that leads to that fall line trail is is a carved up unsustainable canyon.
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Kelly
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« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2008, 10:51:23 AM »
Good thread guys. D, I did think you came off a little harsh, kind of like you are the law in the Wiss, but I understand where you are coming from. Tom did a great job of balancing your tone with his message, so it's all good in my eyes. That guy is obviously a newbie: dropping off that rock on a hard tail onto a flat landing is not the smartest move, especially when you are as big as that guy. I would have put all my money on him getting rag-dolled like he did...

Anyway, we were successful in bringing to his attention the ramifications of his use of that trail. Until we have a dedicated skills area or trails that are sustainable, this will continue to be an issue. Those type trails are too fun to pass up for a lot of people who have the nut-sack to try them...

In a related note, Tom and I re-opened up the old yellow trail from the top of that hill as an alternate route which has definitely taken a lot of traffic off both of those fall line trails (legit one and rogue one.) I also made a sweet 10'+ drop under the Henry Ave bridge, but it is more difficult than that one so that guy might wad up harder...  Shocked
« Last Edit: April 22, 2008, 10:55:16 AM by dirtmerchant » Logged
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Dmitri
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« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2008, 10:57:39 AM »
I wish I wasn't as lazy as I am, and would go back, re-read and edit my post on mtbr...  Tongue
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Rico
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« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2008, 01:02:40 PM »
I actually met that kid and his g/f the day I went to Middle Run with Jon.  He seemed like a decent guy and freely admitted that he was new to MTBing.  I am sure he didn't take any offense to anyone's comments on the mtbr thread.
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bonkers
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« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2008, 06:00:32 PM »
I read the post & it really didn't seem that harsh. Dmitri was just more "brutally honest" with the guy & Tom smoothed it out further. But all in all the guy got the message right? I look at it like this, he's new to mountain biking & it's better he's told the way he was told so he learns that there's a level of responsibility to the trail system. Plus he'll remember this before tearing into unauthorized sections again. My friend just got yelled at a couple weeks ago at Belmont skidding around on the trail & he took it personally (which was good) but he realized tearing up trails like that only makes matters worse in the long run.
 
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