Rep. Brian Cronin’s, D-Boise, mountain biking license plate is one step closer to appearing on the cars of Idahoans after clearing the House Monday.
The plate, which will feature a human figure on a mountain bike on the left side, now heads to the Senate for consideration. The revenue generated when drivers select the plate will be split between the Idaho Transportation Department, which receives a standard $13 for every license plate sold in Idaho, and $22 going to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. Cronin said the funds generated will be used to provide maintenance for portions of Idaho’s more than 12,000 miles of hiking and biking trails.
Cronin estimates the specialty plate could generate as much $10,000 a year for Parks and Rec for trail upkeep. On the House floor Monday, Cronin noted that the plate project will have no effect on the general fund because the plates are printed upon demand of drivers and not purchased or printed bulk.
The measure was passed on a 49-18 vote. The dissenting votes included one from Rep. Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly, who, in the committee hearing on the plate, said he isn’t against mountain biking, but the ever-increasing amount of plates offered by the state.
“I’ve voted against custom license plates for years and I’m not going to change now,” said Roberts in committee. The state offers 40 custom plate designs, which can be seen here.
What nonsense! Allowing bikes on trails is a good way to DESTROY the trails.
Bicycles should not be allowed in any natural area. They are inanimate objects and have no rights. There is also no right to mountain bike. That was settled in federal court in 1994: http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/mtb10 . It’s dishonest of mountain bikers to say that they don’t have access to trails closed to bikes. They have EXACTLY the same access as everyone else — ON FOOT! Why isn’t that good enough for mountain bikers? They are all capable of walking….
A favorite myth of mountain bikers is that mountain biking is no more harmful to wildlife, people, and the environment than hiking, and that science supports that view. Of course, it’s not true. To settle the matter once and for all, I read all of the research they cited, and wrote a review of the research on mountain biking impacts (see http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/scb7 ). I found that of the seven studies they cited, (1) all were written by mountain bikers, and (2) in every case, the authors misinterpreted their own data, in order to come to the conclusion that they favored. They also studiously avoided mentioning another scientific study (Wisdom et al) which did not favor mountain biking, and came to the opposite conclusions.
Those were all experimental studies. Two other studies (by White et al and by Jeff Marion) used a survey design, which is inherently incapable of answering that question (comparing hiking with mountain biking). I only mention them because mountain bikers often cite them, but scientifically, they are worthless.
Mountain biking accelerates erosion, creates V-shaped ruts, kills small animals and plants on and next to the trail, drives wildlife and other trail users out of the
area, and (worst of all) teaches kids that the rough treatment of nature is okay (it’s NOT!). What’s good about THAT?
For more information: http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/mtbfaq .
Good for you all in Idaho! I hope you raise more funds using the plate than expected.
Also, it’s best just to ignore the rantings of Mikey V.
We tried to do something similar in CA, and it never happened. Glad to see your success with this great idea, and I hope we get something similar in the future.
Mikey sounds like he needs more love.. Bitter dude
Always amazed at the battles people choose to fight. Put that energy into fighting something worthwhile. I am always curious how these people live? Do they drive a SUV? recycle? Live green? Found that most are just self indulged hypocrites.
Poor Mr. V. Even in his text, even when he tries to sound reasonable, you can see him jumping up and down mad and frothing, protesting too much. He continues to be a joke and doesn’t disappoint.
To Mike Vandeman – Many studies, including some by the Sierra Club in hopes of proving that MTB use is more destructive than hikers and equestrians have repeatedly proven just the opposite. There is nothing you can do to change that no matter how badly you need it to.
Every single one of your seriously faulted conclusions can be attached to equestrians as well. Yet, for some reason, you never address that issue either.
“Those were all experimental studies.” DOH! All studies are experimental.
After reading your cites, it is readily apparent that the faults you claim to have found in so many other studies are glaringly more apparent in your own summary.
When groups hold trail maintenance days, why is it that more times than not, most of the volunteers are from the biking community? Even on trails that are off limits to cyclists?
Perhaps a little more truth and less hysterical hypothesis on your part would lend more credence and credibility to your rantings and your arguments.
Then again, maybe not.
But we digress don’t we?
The real point to this exercise is to create an additional funding source for trail maintenance as well as let a particular segment of the populace proclaim their support. That is the most important thing here isn’t it? Keeping trails properly maintained and funded?
http://outside.away.com/outside/culture/201003/wilderness-bicycle-ban.html?utm_source=Outside&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Dispatch
[...] a full Senate vote. They have already been approved by the Idaho House of Representatives. Read IdahoReporter.com’s coverage of the mountain biking plate here, here, and here. The text of the mountain biking plate legislation is available here and the [...]