WASHINGTON — The Bush administration plans to make it easier for mountain bikers to gain access to national parks and other public lands before the president — an avid cyclist himself — leaves office.
The National Park Service confirmed Tuesday that it is preparing a rule that will allow decisions about some mountain bike trails to be made by park managers instead of federal regulators in Washington, a process that can take years.
A Park Service spokesman said the rule would be proposed no later than Nov. 15 so it could be final before President Bush leaves office.
If adopted, the proposal would likely result in more mountain-biking opportunities on public lands.
Currently, the Park Service has to adopt a special regulation to open up trails to mountain bikes, which requires the public to be formally notified. The same process is required for all-terrain vehicles and other motorized recreation on park lands.
“We are trying to give superintendents a little bit of latitude, especially for non-controversial proposals for bicycling in parks,” said Jeffrey Olson, a spokesman for the service.
Environmental advocate Jeff Ruch called the rule a lame-duck gift for the mountain-biking lobby from the “Mountain-Biker-in-Chief,” referring to Bush. He said the proposal would open up backcountry trails to mountain bikers. Mountain biking is blamed for erosion of trails.
