Mike Vandeman[_4_]
November 25th 12, 07:04 AM
Good luck!
Mike
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/20/national-park-service-urges-mountain-bikers-to/
National Park Service urges mountain bikers to slow down
By Cheri Carlson
Ventura County Star
Posted November 20, 2012 at 5:17 p.m.
A couple of mountain bikers ride the trails in the Cheeseboro area, which includes sites that are popular with park visitors.
National Park Service urges mountain bikers to slow down
Park Ranger Melanie Turner responded to a mountain-biking accident in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area about six months ago.
One rider had to be flown out of the park with a broken collarbone and other injuries. A second bicyclist suffered a broken arm.
The crash was one of several in the Cheeseboro area of the park in the past year. Officials say they are seeing more complaints and crashes on trails throughout the area, and speed has become a big concern.
The maximum bicycle speed limit in the mountains is 15 mph, Turner said.
"But there are places where 15 or 10 mph is too fast. There are places where you should be going 5 or 2 mph," she said.
On a new cycling website, however, some riders have boasted of speeds up to 35 mph, Turner said.
"I would like it to be family-friendly, a place where people can have a good time," Turner said of the park. But that means everyone must exercise common courtesy * something lacking at the moment, she said.
The National Park Service is working with biking groups, plans to schedule a town hall meeting for next month and is posting warning signs in some areas.
Volunteers with the park's mountain bike unit also help, officials said. They regularly ride the trails, acting as the eyes and ears of the National Park Service. They also can provide first aid or call for more help.
While the majority of bicyclists ride safely, excessive speed "has always been a problem with a few bikers," said Stacey Best, coordinator of the unit..
One trouble spot is Sulphur Springs in the Cheeseboro area. On one trail, "It's very steep, very rocky, very washed out," Turner said. Going down is "a complete blind drop."
The area is popular with park visitors and has a lot of blind corners, which can cause problems, said Vince Gest, a Thousand Oaks man who rides a mountain bike regularly in the Santa Monica Mountains.
While he usually is on a bike, his daughter and wife ride horses on the trails, and all three of them also hike. Everyone has a responsibility to use the park safely and be considerate, he said.
Accidents can occur if a cyclist or horseback rider is going too fast or a group of hikers is walking shoulder to shoulder across the trail, not knowing whether someone is coming around a corner, he said.
To spread the safety message, the National Park Service has teamed up with the Concerned Off-Road Bicyclist Association, a nonprofit founded 25 years ago to represent mountain bikers in Los Angeles and southern Ventura County..
"You have to keep in mind that speed is subjective," said Mark Langton, president of the group. What one person thinks is slow may be too fast. Even at 10 mph, a bicyclist can startle someone on the trail.
"Most people know they shouldn't be going fast around other people," he said. "The vast majority of people are riding responsibly."
But while the number of accidents is still relatively small, Langton said, any increase raises concern. The organization is using its resources to promote safety.
"Whether it's on a bike path down at the beach or in a park, if you're going too fast on a bicycle around other people, it can be dangerous," he said.
For safety tips from the National Park Service, go to http://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/bikesafety.htm.
Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/20/national-park-service-urges-mountain-bikers-to/#ixzz2CulwVp8p
- vcstar.com
Mike
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/20/national-park-service-urges-mountain-bikers-to/
National Park Service urges mountain bikers to slow down
By Cheri Carlson
Ventura County Star
Posted November 20, 2012 at 5:17 p.m.
A couple of mountain bikers ride the trails in the Cheeseboro area, which includes sites that are popular with park visitors.
National Park Service urges mountain bikers to slow down
Park Ranger Melanie Turner responded to a mountain-biking accident in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area about six months ago.
One rider had to be flown out of the park with a broken collarbone and other injuries. A second bicyclist suffered a broken arm.
The crash was one of several in the Cheeseboro area of the park in the past year. Officials say they are seeing more complaints and crashes on trails throughout the area, and speed has become a big concern.
The maximum bicycle speed limit in the mountains is 15 mph, Turner said.
"But there are places where 15 or 10 mph is too fast. There are places where you should be going 5 or 2 mph," she said.
On a new cycling website, however, some riders have boasted of speeds up to 35 mph, Turner said.
"I would like it to be family-friendly, a place where people can have a good time," Turner said of the park. But that means everyone must exercise common courtesy * something lacking at the moment, she said.
The National Park Service is working with biking groups, plans to schedule a town hall meeting for next month and is posting warning signs in some areas.
Volunteers with the park's mountain bike unit also help, officials said. They regularly ride the trails, acting as the eyes and ears of the National Park Service. They also can provide first aid or call for more help.
While the majority of bicyclists ride safely, excessive speed "has always been a problem with a few bikers," said Stacey Best, coordinator of the unit..
One trouble spot is Sulphur Springs in the Cheeseboro area. On one trail, "It's very steep, very rocky, very washed out," Turner said. Going down is "a complete blind drop."
The area is popular with park visitors and has a lot of blind corners, which can cause problems, said Vince Gest, a Thousand Oaks man who rides a mountain bike regularly in the Santa Monica Mountains.
While he usually is on a bike, his daughter and wife ride horses on the trails, and all three of them also hike. Everyone has a responsibility to use the park safely and be considerate, he said.
Accidents can occur if a cyclist or horseback rider is going too fast or a group of hikers is walking shoulder to shoulder across the trail, not knowing whether someone is coming around a corner, he said.
To spread the safety message, the National Park Service has teamed up with the Concerned Off-Road Bicyclist Association, a nonprofit founded 25 years ago to represent mountain bikers in Los Angeles and southern Ventura County..
"You have to keep in mind that speed is subjective," said Mark Langton, president of the group. What one person thinks is slow may be too fast. Even at 10 mph, a bicyclist can startle someone on the trail.
"Most people know they shouldn't be going fast around other people," he said. "The vast majority of people are riding responsibly."
But while the number of accidents is still relatively small, Langton said, any increase raises concern. The organization is using its resources to promote safety.
"Whether it's on a bike path down at the beach or in a park, if you're going too fast on a bicycle around other people, it can be dangerous," he said.
For safety tips from the National Park Service, go to http://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/bikesafety.htm.
Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/20/national-park-service-urges-mountain-bikers-to/#ixzz2CulwVp8p
- vcstar.com