Attack the man….not the FACTS

Received a number of responses to Mr. Vandeman’s short article on the Truth about Mountain Biking. Unfortunately the responses did not address the facts listed by Mr. Vandeman. Instead they where all focused on insulting, slandering and attacking the individual stating the facts. Not one of the obvious Mountain Bikers who responded addressed a single fact lists. But they sure had lots to say about Mr. Vandeman.

I could go off on a rant here, but I would only be lowering myself to the level of these people who think the natural world should be an amusement ride that we all pay for. Just for them. It is pitiful that no one addressed the facts of the destructive nature of repeated pounding of trails, the erosion and the fact that once Mountian Bikers hit a trail, ALL other trail Users go away.

Lets hear from someone who can tell me why all of this destruction and the forcing of others from a trails system, while all of our taxes pay for these systems is a correct way to do things. Or would it just be easier to attack me as a person so you would not have to deal with the facts?

The Truth about Mountain Biking

The mountain bikers won’t tell you the truth:
1. The presence of large, fast-moving pieces of machinery (bicycles) on trails drives away all other trail users — a net harm.
2. Mountain bikers travel several times as far and as fast as other trail users, thereby causing several times as much damage to trails, wildlife, and wildlife habitat.
3. Contrary to their claims about the healthfulness of mountain biking, it is actually an extremely dangerous sport. Serious injuries and even deaths are common. Recently a 12-year-old girl DIED during her very first mountain biking lesson!
4. For more infomation, see http://mjvande.nfshost.com/mtbfaq.htm.

By all means, please protect our scanty remaining wilderness, but as official Wilderness — the highest protection available, and the only one that does the wildlife justice.
Thank you,
Michael J. Vandeman, Ph.D.

Lets Observe something

The DNR recently announced it is looking for a full-time Promotions person. Something the DNR has needed for some time, but due to the great lack of funding these past years, have not been able to afford one. Now that the first year of the new PASSPORT system is in, and successful, the money appears to be there.

It will be interesting to watch on just what the new Promotions director will be focusing on. It will not be he or she’s choice, but what the upper management wants to be promoted in our state.

I got a response from the DNR about it’s new PASSPORT video and how only PATHWAYS where promoted in the video and not TRAILS. You know those things……the dirt trails the weave through our state lands, carrying the vast majority of outdoor enthusiasts into our Parks. You know those TRAILS…..the ones that are used by Hunters, Hikings, Birders, Geocachers, Mushroom hunters and most of the people looking for a nature experience or are using the natural resources in our state without destroying anything. Ya…..those TRAILS. Well….they where not mentioned in the new DNR video. Instead…..PASSPORT moneys will go to support PATHWAYS, as well as other things in our state.

When asked about this, the DNR responded by saying that only 7% of the PASSPORT monies would be used to fund Campgrounds, Recreation and PATHWAYS. They then defined PATHWAYS as not necessarily a Linear Bike Path, but it can be a Linear Bike PATH. It can also be PATHWAYS designated for Non-motorized, Multi-User use.

So lets see if I understand this…….PATHWAYS are Non-motorized, Multi-User Paths. Where is the Multi-User end come in. How many people can share a trail with a Mountain Bike? Horses? NO. Hunters? NO Birders? NO Geocachers? NO Hikers? NO…..But wait…..the PATHWAYS are promoted as Hike?Bike PATHWAYS. So that means there must be many Hikers who want these things and feel they will not be run down by Mountain Bikers or can get the same nature experience in a PATHWAY as they have for 50 years on a TRAIL. NO  There are NO Hikers, Hiking Groups or anyone on foot, clamoring for more PATHWAYS. That leaves Mountain Bikers as the only driving force behind spending money on new PATHWAYS. But I thought by the DNR’s own description of a PATHWAY, that it was a Multi-User, Non-motorized Path? One USER group does not make for Multi-Use,

So lets see how the new Promotions director plays this one out. Lets see who will be pushing him or her to promote PATHWAYS as a Multi-User means of a Natural resources experience, or Recreation. Will you hear Jim Radabaughs name mentioned? Please watch this one play out and see just how the ball rolls in our state. Straight down the hill?……or in a weaving manner?

QUESTIONS and facts?

A great way to confuse someone asking questions about the new PATHWAYS being created up north in our state is by swirling the facts with mixed in falsehoods and peppering them with survey results and personal opinions. The person asking questions either gets confused, or no longer asks a question because there is no real answer. Just opinions based on nothing.

Take some of the Linear Pathways that have been created in S.E.MI.  Some of these PATHWAYS are just fantastic places and are great ideas for local communities. Congested areas get a green belt running through them for many people who cannot travel a great distance to get some green going in their lives. These Pathways also serve as exercise paths, alternative travel paths and YES, and some local businesses do get additional revenues from the users of these Pathways.

I say some businesses get a payback from users because it is only a few in comparison to how many different businesses line these pathways. But that is not the purpose of these kinds of Pathways anyways….right?

There has not been any direct reports yet on how the different communities where some of these Pathways go, have faired with the costs added onto their city budgets to maintain and handle these Pathways. Some cannot handle the maintenance costs. Others have implemented plans for getting the annual money needed to maintain their section of Pathways. It would be very honest of all the promoters of these Pathways to get the actual budget facts from these communities on how they are fairing with their sections of Pathways.

Now…..is all of this the same thing as buying new lands and corridors up north in remote ares to connect existing State Parks, using our tax dollars and new PASSPORT money? Is this the same thing? Of course it is not. You cannot mix the information from Linear Paths connecting congested cities in the southern parts of the state, to purchasing new lands and corridors up north and creating and maintaining Linear Bike Pathways. So why do this? I would think EVERYONE would have that question for the DNR Trails division and Parks & Rec. division. Why create a Plan such as this and fund it and continue to fund and maintain it, when so much of our existing Parks, Trail systems and Campgrounds have been abandoned for so many years with little to no funding. Would you not start out, as an organization created to look after and maintain our State Natural Resources, by catching up on the infrastructure and maintenance of those Natural Resources that have been underfunded for so many years?

Natural Resources. That is what the DNR is suppose to be about. How do you have a nature experience or any experience on our state lands without cared for natural resources?

With little natural resources remaining in heavily built city areas of southern Michigan, it is a good idea to have greenways connecting the few natural resource areas remaining. It is a great idea. Even though many communities still cannot afford this idea. But to purchase new lands and corridors and create a whole new way of getting from one remote state park or land in the upper parts of the state is just foolishness. Why should the majority of users of our Natural Resources in Michigan, be forced to pay for what a few people and users have created as a new idea for our state?

Surveys will say that this is what the people want. I can skew a survey by only asking the right people their opinions on what you want to do. The statistical facts tell the real story. Can our DNR afford all of these new Pathway plans? Can the local communities that these Pathways will be traveling through afford some of the additional annual costs that come with these Pathways? What are the annual cost that we the people, with our PASSPORT money support of the DNR will pay for maintenance and upkeep of these Pathways? If the 1st year results of the PASSPORT finding of the DNR drops off, what will happen to the budgets on the maintenance of these Pathways? Will other funds be diverted to maintain these new Pathways instead of supporting our Natural Resources in the State? Or are Pathway now considered Natural Resources by the DNR and their Lobbyist Bike supporters?

These are all just questions. Do the people pushing these Pathways have any of the answers? Or are we just to except these things at face value, or on someones opinion, not facts?

The big CON begins in Public

Later this week we will be giving you Links to various DNR fixed reports and skewed findings to promote this insane agenda of Michigan PATHWAYS connecting everything in Michigan. Using PASSPORT dollars and matching state and Federal grants, they plan on going crazy with this notion of connecting everywhere. All under the guise of…..For the people. What they mean is…..for the few people who get to keep their over-payed Non-Profit jobs or overpaid Sate employee jobs, keeping this lead balloon rolling. IT IS PITIFUL!

On the DNR’s recent trails Report, online on the DNR web site, they start the 25 page report with the words….CONNECTING MICHIGAN. Along side a picture of a Mountain Biker. Lets see…..the whole Mountain Biking MMBA membership is just over 2,000 members. There are more Hiking groups with memberships that total individually more then that. Are they being consulted with on these PATHWAY connectors that will cost Millions? NOPE. That’s because they would not agree with this complete nonsense of Linear Bike trails leading hundreds of miles around Michigan. For who? MOUNTAIN BIKERS!

They supposed facts listed in the DNR report are all conjecture, or based on opinions or the infamous SURVEY. Lets see…..If I wanted to get good opinions on criminal behaviour, that was positive for my motives, I might do some surveys in our local jails or prisons. I bet I would get quite the skewed and positive survey results in my favor. Well that is just what much of the DNR, the MTGA and the MMBA have done and are doing to sell this propaganda to the people of Michigan. Most of these Non-Profit groups I listed can barely make it on their own or have come close to closing. Until they found a new source of moneys through the silly actions of Jim Radabaugh, the DNR Trails head and his boss, Ron Olson, the DNR head of Parks & Recreation. Time for retirement guys. Before you hurt our state any further. I am so sorry I left out the Greenways Initiative and Nancy Krupia. Her idea of a Southern Michigan Pathway across the entire state, failed because no one would back it and the money ran out. OH…..Horay!, the DNR has stepped in with our PASSPORT moneys to help make this dream, for a few, happen. Guess Nancy will keep her private sector, Non-Profit job in Lansing, where she does speaking engagements with Jim Radabaugh and MMBA people at various Bike conventions. Glad the family could stay together on the moneys supplied by Michigan residents in supporting what they thought was Michigan Parks and Waterway.

But there is no CON going on here. Is there?

PATHWAYS……Get used to it…..or NOT

I was wondering when the term Pathways was going to roll officially out of the DNR. It is all over the PARKS SEARCH maps now. Campgrounds and Pathways. I was very curious on how Jim Radabaugh, DNR Trails Head would get that term out to the public so that they would get used to it, and actually embrace something they knew nothing about. Well here it is. The debut of the PASSPORT system video. The term PATHWAYS just comes blurring by, like a Mountain Bike on a trail, in the video.

The new PASSPORT video tells of just what our dollars will pay for when we opt. in with the Secretary of state. Your PASSPORT dollars will support State Parks, State Recreation areas and State Campgrounds. Sounds pretty good. But then, and very quickly, the words Supporting state PATHWAYS whizzes by on the screen. Not Trails, the things Hunters, Hikers, geocachers, Birders, Horseman, Mushroom Hunters, and others use most often, but rather PATHWAYS.

Seems like it shouldn’t matter Ehy? But not if you know specifically what the term PATHWAY stands for. It stands for LINEAR BIKE TRAIL. Now….Linear Bike trails are reported to be for all those people on foot as well as Bikers. Only problem is how many of you have had a quality Nature experience on a shared trail with a Mountain Biker? And then there is the fact that these are Linear trails. Not Trails loops like most of the existing Trails systems are in our Parks and Recreation area. Straight Pathways. ONE WAY. Or back if you are on a Bike and can cover 25 miles that day.

I do not want a penny of my PASSPORT money being spent on more Linear Bike Paths in this state. We already have more Linear Bike Paths then any other state in the USA. And the DNR wants more. Why? Why? Mountain Bike Lobbyists(John Gonaway) selling the agenda of Eco-Tourism and how having a Linear Bike Path through your community will bring business prosperity to your community and all types of out of state visitors to the Bike Path. Has that worked anywhere in the USA except in very specific areas in and around a very few National Parks?

If this is not the plans of Jim Radabaugh of the DNR and his friends the M.Bike Lobbyists and Greenways Linear Pathways people, then how is this happening? Not on it’s own. Someone somewhere is steering this ship. Feeding the public little bits of info at a time, while a whole program of Pathways and inter-connectors are being built and connected together. We will all hear of this, when it is time to unveil the whole big picture. By then, much money will have been spent on these things and the “Spin” will be so going, that it will be very hard to tell what is what and what is the truth.

Stop it now. Email or Call Jim Radabaugh, Rodney Stokes (DNR head) or any other Lansing DNR official and tell them NO money for PATHWAYS. Trails YES. Pathways NO.

Photo OP instead of serving the public

So why, on a well organized, pre-planned New Years day Hike at Pontiac Lake Recreation area, to support the Park, would Park supervisor, Tom Bissett and District supervisor Luba Sitar change all the pre-planning and take over a well organized activity? Lets see……A possible Photo Op for Luba and Tom, to show there really are people who come to Pontiac Lake Rec. area and Hike the Horse trail. (the only real trails available for people on foot) Hikers cannot walk the M.Bike trails without being rundown or injured in some way.

Could this change in pre-arrangements at this gathering have anything to do with the new Linear Bike Trail being installed this summer, connecting Highland Recreation area with Pontiac Lake Recreation area? Could these supervisors want to show the public (falsely) that Hikers actually use the Park, and will be using the supposed Hike/Bike Linear trail slated for this summer? Horses not allowed of course.

Not really sure what Luba Sitar;s thoughts and Tom Bissett’s take over of a Hike he has never led or does not even understand would serve the publ;ic in anyway. Walking on Asphalt, as guided by Tom & Luba was the course here. Their inexperience with both the trails at the Park, coordinating a group of varied level Hikers and their total lack of consideration for the many volunteers who had spent their own time and money to arrange a quality afternoon for the general public, was all completely ignored and shuttled by Tom & his boss Luba Sitar.

I do believe that Park supervisor Mr. Bissett and District supervisor Luba Sitar both need to be reminded they work for us. The people of the state of Michigan. These are our Parks, and they are hired to maintain and watch over these places for us. We are not to be used as Photo opportunities or advancements of personal agendas or career moves. Their actions bordered on shameful.

Luba Sitar has a long record of harassing the organizing group there, Hiking Michigan. She has tried on a number of occasions to demand that this Hiking Group pay extra money for specific USER Permits when Hiking at the park as a group of friends. Something she has done to the Horseman’s group there, but does not seem to care what the M.Bikers do. More of this new DNR Bike Pathways and John Gonaway’s lobbying for the MMBA? (MI. Mountain Bikers) It gets hard to tell just what is going on between these few DNR personal and the M.Bikers. They all interact so closely, are at the same inner meeting together and do speaking engagements together, sometimes as a team. No collusion here, Ehy?

Ask yourself this question…..why would Luba Sitar, DNR district supervisor, appear at a schedule Hike from Hiking Michigan, a group she has harassed for many years. Did she think she would be loved there? accepted in some manner. Or did she want the large draw of people Hiking Michigan produces for their friendly Hikes, and her picture taken with them for other purposes. She did not attempt to be friendly with the leaders and volunteers at HM. Instead she had her picture taken with a group of new comers and children with dogs. AHHHHHHHHHHHH  isn’t she sweat?

Similar Problems

It is interesting how the different states have very similar problems with their State Parks and some of the people manipulating the systems. My friend from California, where many of the State Park problems there, are coming to a head, just wrote me on a letter he sent to Governor Jerry Brown. I thought it was very similar to some of the problems here in Michigan. Some of the Trails staff at the DNR, and local Politicians  who are trying to maneuver the Park systems for Eco-Tourism and Linear Bike paths through out the entire state. All under the guise of helping the PEOPLE of the state of Michigan. When in reality, only serving a few select groups, businesses and people who will benefit from these actions. Here is Mike Vandeman’s letter to the California Governor:

“Ruth Coleman, Director of Calif. State Parks, has received a vote of “No Confidence”  from the State Parks Administrators”
It’s about time! She is a politician interested only in her own power, not someone who cares about protecting our parks and the wildlife whose homes they constitute. Please replace her with someone who actually cares about our environment and its wildlife. Ruth Coleman supports any use of the parks that people can think up, including mountain biking and mountain bike racing! She obviously doesn’t understand what the state parks are for, nor the laws that govern them.
Please share with all appropriate and interested parties.
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://mjvande.nfshost.com/mtb10.htm . 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://mjvande.nfshost.com/scb7.htm ). 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://mjvande.nfshost.com/mtbfaq.htm .

These are the kinds of sudo logic being used by mountain Bike lobbyists and Trailways people here in Michigan. It is being promoted by the head of the DNR’s Trails department to spend DNR moneys on more mountain biking trails and to now invest in more Linear Bike trails. Like we need more of these kinds of trails. Michigan leads the USA in Linear Bike trails already. It is time to spend the money on repairing the infrastructure at many of our long neglected Parks and Forest Campgrounds. Not close them and build more Linear Bike trails. A favorite line for Bike Lobbyists and Trailways people is that these trails are for hikers and bikers. Yet the little use these trails do get, are by bikers only. Because a hiker CAN hike those trails, does not mean they do. Why would anyone go up north in Michigan and hike a 6′ wide Linear Bike trail that only goes one way, when they could hike a natural area or real forest pathway. It makes no sense. But this is the line.

What is a Forest Pathway????????

What would be your definition of a “Forest Pathway”? A nature trail through the woods? NOPE…….A way to reach a natural resource destination through the Forest? NOPE again. It’s a Linear Bike trail. The “Forest Pathway” is the DNR’s new name for the Linear Bike Trails business.

I just could not believe my eyes as I wandered around the state DNR’s web page for Parks in our state. I was cross-referencing Parks and Forest Campgrounds, when I noticed all the original maps have been updated to reflect these new Bike Trails.

Let’s look at Linear Bike Paths. The Rails to Trails can be a good thing in certain areas of our state. But as a whole the Rails to Trails and the Greenway Initiative people have failed in getting the funding through the private sector to do much more then they have already done in our state. And by the way…..that adds up to more Linear trails then any other state in the USA. Good enough? NOPE again.

Apparently, rather then repair unmaintained trails, who for the last 10 years have either been reduced in length, or ill maintained due to the lack of funding at the DNR, they have decided to invest money into these Linear Bike Trails and call them “Forest Pathways”. Is this where are support at citizens in Michigan, for the new PASSPORT system is going? Do we need more Bike Paths? Does the DNR realize that NO ONE can share a trail or path with a Mountain Biker? Just try and hike any of the shared trails in S.E. Michigan with a Mountain Biker. A horrible experience of whizzing Bikes, no notice they are coming up behind you, and a complete ruin of any type of nature experience. All for the thrill of conquering the trails.

Horses cannot share a trail with Mountain Bikers, and neither can Hikers. So just how does this small group of people get so much attention and money spent on what ends up being their own private trails? A Mountain Bike Lobbyist, of course. Yes…..the MMBA (MI. Mountain Bikers) have a full-time Lobbyist in a Mr. John Gonway. His job is to get more trails for the Mountain Bikers. Interestingly enough….he sits as the head of the Trails Advisory Committee, along with Nancy Krupiarz, from the Grennways Initiative. The DNR part of this Committee representing ALL the supposed trail users, is none other then Jim Radabaugh. Part-time guest speaker for various Greenways Conferences and Conventions. Does this all sound right to you? Does it sound like the Horesman, Hikers, Mushroom Hunters, Birders, and Geocachers are being properly represented out on are trails? Well we are not. Why Not? Because we do not have a full-time Lobbyist like the Mountain Bikers. Simply unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If this is how the DNR now works, maybe supporting the new PASSPORT system is not a very good idea. These Linear Bike Paths have reached their wall in the private sector and moneys there. So now they have their hands out to the DNR, for OUR Money in the way of PASSPORT system support for their Linear Bike trails. In the supposed name of “Eco-Tourism”? This is a fallacy that has no support in merit or sustainability. So the experiment will now continue through our state dollars?

Contact Ron Olsen, the head of Parks & Rec. at the DNR and express your concern about what is happening here. Also contact Jim Radabaugh, Trails Coordinator and tell him you want support for what is the prime users of our trails in Michigan. And that would be the Hunter, Hiker, Birder, Geocacher, Mushroom Hunter, Horseman and nature enthusiast, and not the thrill seeking Mountain Biker.

Ron Olsen -PARKS & REC. DNR email      OLSONR@michigan.gov

Jim Radabaugh-Trails Coordinator DNR email      RadabaughJ@michigan.gov

Rodney Stokes-New DNR Head email

WHAT!?

Check out this article on the DNR web site. Trails coordinator Jim Radabaugh is quoted a number of times in the article. Let’s see…..Jim sits on the supposed Citizens Trails Advisory Committee, a group of supposed regular citizens who are advising the DNR (primarily) the Trails Coordinator (Jim Radabaugh) on what we the people think the DNR should be doing with and about our Park Trails.

Well lets see now……who else sits on that Committee…….The MMBA Mountain Biking Lobbyist…..the head of the Greenways Initiative here in S.E. Michigan…..A Trails coordinator for one of the Greenways Linear Bike trails.  Mr. Radabaugh and some of this Committee just finished being guest speakers at the Michigan Convention for Greenways Conferance on Linear Trails, and the same thing in Illinois.

Now……The Greenways people have voted Michigan’s “North Central” Linear Bike Trail, number one in the region. Imagine that. Does this sound like people who have ALL the people of the state of Michigan’s Trail usage in mind? Or just the glorification of Linear Bike trails and Mountain Biking?

I guess if you the people, as nature lovers, Hunters, Mushroom hunters, Bird watchers, etc., do not have your own Lobbyists or can control Advisory Groups, YOU do not get properly represented. At least this is how all of this appears. It all could be one big misconception. Haven’t seen Jim at any of the state’s Hiking symposiums, or Audubon meetings, or Hunter gatherings. But I guess that doesn’t really mean anything. Does it? Ask yourself…..just who does Jim Radabaugh work for? The people of the state of Michigan, through his position with the DNR, or?

Read the interesting article below…..while you remember the facts you just read here, and then ask some questions.

Michigan Trail Wins AwardContact:  Jim Radabaugh, 517-373-1276 or Mary Dettloff, 517-335-3014  Agency: Natural Resources North Central State Trail Recognized as Best Example of Michigan’s Trail System Nov. 15, 2011 Grab your bike or your favorite walking shoes and check out Michigan’s 62-mile-long North Central State Trail. This crushed limestone trail that stretches from Gaylord to Mackinaw City was recently recognized by the Mid-America Trails and Greenways Conference as the best example of the state’s extensive rails-to-trails system. “This is a perfect trail to have been chosen,” said Jim Radabaugh, the Recreation and Trails Section manager for the Department of Natural Resources. “From the shores of Mullet Lake to the rolling farm fields near Vanderbilt to the birch trees outside of Gaylord, a day spent on this trail is a day spent experiencing a little slice of Michigan.” The North Central State Trail occupies what was once the northernmost segment of the Michigan Central Railroad. This Detroit-based railway, one of the largest and most profitable in the Lower Peninsula, constructed a land grant section of tracks northward from its primary service area to Mackinaw City in 1882. This spur line served what was then a booming area of old-growth timberland. When the Mackinac Bridge was opened for public use in 1957, passengers and freight in this area shifted to road-based vehicles, and the section of railroad line where the North Central State Trail runs today began to fall out of active use. The North Central State Trail was dedicated for public use in June 2008. That fall it was named one of the top five “Trails for Autumn” by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Michigan is home to the largest rails-to-trails system in the country with over 2,400 miles of trails available for use all across the Lower and Upper Peninsulas. “We have long been a national leader in both the quality and quantity of our trails,” added Radabaugh. “Michigan’s trail system is a hidden gem.” The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go towww.michigan.gov/dnr.