Comparing relative impacts of various trail user groups--No Surprise,

OK, now it really is getting boring. Yet another article about how 
mountain bikers cause less trail damage than hikers and equestrians.

"http://www.americantrails.org/resources/ManageMaintain/WKeenImpacts.html"

Can we finally begin to work on public policy changes that work to 
reduce trail impact by reducing the number of hikers and equestrians, 
and that encourage more mountain biking? The facts are clear and 
indisputable.

There's never been any study that showed more damage from mountain bikes 
than from any other non-motorized trail users. You had a lot of hikers 
and equestrians not wanting to share trails that they felt they owned by 
"being their first" as if that was justification for banning other 
users, and they made a lot of outrageous and totally wrong statements 
about trail impact.

The issue of trail usage needs to be raised at the highest level of 
government. There are many trails in National Parks and National 
Recreation Areas that should be open to mountain bikers.