Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125687
CALIFOR lA'S FORESTS~ what you brought in" is' out of date. In its place, read "Try to take out bvice as much as you brought in." This makes uP tor those tew slobs who can be COU'lted on to make a mess and leave it. Some things that clubs and individuals can do are obvious. Others must be discovered. We pointed out to Ranger Morris that one or two trails that are well used should be made "one way" because they are dangerous (poor visibU1ty and nowhere to go make head-on collisions likely). Ranger Morrisagreed but said he had no manpower or money to spend on such projects. That would make a good project for a club. One of the most difficult problems is that of noise. Much has already been written about it and its apparent that there is no ready solution. One thing is for sure: there is rleither a god-given right to silence nor a god-given right to make noise. However, going out of your way a little bit to respect the sensibillties of silence-loving neighbors will probably make the world a little better place for both of you. The forest is a very complicated .system. In Ranger Morris' jurisdiction, for instance, is a large agricultural experiment, a wilderness area where no vehicular traffic whatever is permitted, a condor sanctuary where thatnearlyextinct species is struggling for survival, and much gazing land used by neighboring ranchers. Some ofthetorest is used by hikers, fishermen, skiers, hunters and cyclists. Seemingly insignificant things within this system can have large eftects. A road that_a species of animal won't cross can cut his food significantly and endanger the whole ~ :<: poputation. Indiscrtminate use ot motorcycles in a grouse fielq can eliminate the birds trom the area. The grouse use specially constructed watering spots which are on the ground and easily ruined. In view of the complexity otthetorest, the one thing that motorcyclists must not do is become a single-interest pressure grouP. This is the trap that many groups such as the Sierra Club, the Audoban Society and the National R1tle Association have fallen into. By ignoring the welfare of the whole and using every means to push a single interest, both effectiveness and credibU1ty are lost. With the number of motorcycles that exist right now, if we were well organized.we would. be able to exert tremendous influence. The Sierra Club has that abillty right now and uses it quite regularly. They recently launched a fight for a State Park in the Redwood trees area. They won the fight and the park is now being built. But the money to built it is coming from off-shore oil leases. By not knowing exactly what they were doing they have harmed more than they have helPed. In our own case, if there is a dispute about whether we can ride in a particular area or not, we have a right to ask for reasons and to challenge the decision if it is politically or economically motivated. It would be very poor judgment to challenge those decisions that are honestly made in the interest of the land. After all is said, if a ranger makes a mistake and keeps us off a piece of ridable land, we have lost some riding fun tor a while (Not permanently. Mistakes are usually uncovered). It how- t.:I ..:l U ;:.... U '. This undisturbed forest land has an almost primeval look. ever we challenge his decision and it ranger.s. Thus even though that part of turns out that we are wrong, .the consethe torest could be used by the pUblic, it quences are' disastrous. Once 10,000 isn't because there is no access to it. acres of trees and wildllte has burned uP, The public includes motorcyclists and it's a little bit inadequate to say "I'm Ranger Morris showed me a part of a sorry, I guess I made a mistake." By trail that he plans to open to bike riders using our influence to aid the forest as when and if access is obtained. This trail a whole, we will det1n1tely in the longrun is the 30 mlle loop that tirstarousedour be generating the most good for ourinterest. It consists of easy to moderately selves as motorcyclists. d1tficult terrain with quite a bit of dirt Here is a case in point. Ranger Morris road connecting sections of the trail. It's took me on a long drive through the forest. not terribly exciting; no one would drive We went through several locked gates to from LA just to ride that trail. Does that get to the forest. These gates are locked mean that cyclists should ignore the situby the "ranchers" who own the land imation? I don't think so and neither does mediately adjacent to thetorest. By keepRanger Morris. ing out the public, these landowners have The real question is whether or not the what is essentially aprivatehuntingpark public (including cyclists) should have tor themselves and their friends. access to public lands. Whether the par_ No entry is permitted except to the ticular trail that is involved is your cuP .,..---T7--------,7'li----......~""';:----------------.-- . .-.:...--------=---__, of tea or not, is really irrelevant. Perhaps in opening uP this particular piece of land, the only people to really benefit would be trout fishermen or condor watchers. It might also turn out that there's miles of really great trails that can be used by cyclists but aren't recognized yet. Ranger Ed Morris can't tell the d1tference between a good cycle trail and a poor one. We could tell him if we ever got a chance to look• .Do you believe that the public should have access to the torest? You might write to Ranger Morris at the Cuyuma Ranger Station, New Cuyuma, Cal1tornia, and tell him so. ,He acts in response to need. To get an access road he'llprobab}y have. to go through condemnation proceedings and the landowners will fight him all the way. It there's no evidence that the public cares, he's not going to bother. There's lots of other projects crying for attention. Besides, most of (Continued on page 37) Riders& , Racers. Los Prieto. SANTA I our machine shop can answer your needs ... ~~=D~ARBARA !c~!ze Map of Cuyuma National Forest. Note long Northern border with no public access. Dots indicate cycle area now open. Dashes show proposed trai I. ADJUSTA'LE MAI"- JET (213) 894·92J8· • WARREN WILSON MOTORS • HEll-ARC WELDING IAWMIUJIIl STEEL) MOTORCYCLI IAlIl-IIRVICI • FORK TUBE STRAIGHTENING South of :-Oordoff in s,·puh~da. ('alif. • CYLINDER BORING 9000 SEPULVEDA BLVD. .This adjustable main jet means. 1. MAXllIUM HORSE POWER 2. EASY ADJUSTMENT FOR ALTITUDE CHANGES 3. 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