Motorized destruction of BST and surrounding restoration area

I spent the last hour or so composing the following letter, then sent it to the Mayor of Bountiful, Utah, along with some councilman. Is this just a stupid letter that should go right to the spam folder, or is there anything legitimate about it? I'm 31 and I've never voted, not just because I've never felt informed enough, but because I've never felt like my voice mattered.

Subject: Destruction of Restoration Area by Motorist on and near Non-Motorized Trail

5/23/2015

Dear local government leader (Mayor Randy Lewis, et. al.) or trail user/maintainer,

This evening, while out jogging along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST) near the Bountiful "B" and Lions Club Rifle Range, I encountered a motorcyclist riding South-bound in this non-motorized area. After yelling several times "hey!" to get his attention, he stopped, then I requested that he cut his engine. After doing so, he said to me, unconvincingly, "oh, am I not supposed to be here?" to which I responded, in an admittedly heated tone, "turn around, go back the way you came, and turn left to get back to the motorized area!" For reference, this conversation took place at coordinates (40.906264, -111.855681) according to Google maps.

I then proceeded on the BST to the Southern-most end of the motorized area known, I believe, as the "Bountiful Bowl Area" where many motorcycle and 4-wheeling enthusiasts legally ride. I noticed motorcycle tracks rutted in the steep hiking trail the whole way. At coordinates (40.906497, -111.859519) I met up with this same motorcyclist who appeared to slow down at the sign which says, "No Motorized Vehicles, Restoration Area," then, disregarding the sign, he drove passed it. I then yelled "hey!" once again to get him to stop. He may have heard me, because at that point he turned West off the trail and down-slope, making his own trail through the grass for almost an eighth of a mile or more. Not getting where he wanted to go, he then made an about-face, buzzed East back up the grass to the BST, then continued in the wrong direction (South), away from the motorized area, presumably to get back to his vehicle. I followed on foot, and noticed the damage he'd made to the hill-side West of the BST as well as some motorcycle tracks that burned up the grassy hill-side to the East of the BST.

It is my hope, and I trust, that the relation of this incident is received with at least as much concern as I have felt, but more so, that those who are in a position to prevent the motorized destruction of our hiking trails and restoration areas are willing to do something in response to this incident. After many days of rain-fall, the trails and hill-side are especially vulnerable at this time to what a 4-stroke engine can cause while hill-climbing, and the damage to the vegetation and soil can linger for many, many years.

Now, what can be done? Years ago, I, myself, have enjoyed riding motorcycles in the mountains up the motorized trails “Bucklin Trial” and “Tuddle Loop Trail,” and so I'm not against ATV recreation, and I believe in maintaining motorized access where appropriate. However, when a user group begins to break rules and cause environmental damage and present a danger to those on foot, I believe that their privileges may need to be revoked, if not permanently, at least temporarily to send a message that out-of-bounds travel will not be tolerated. Please consider closing motorized access to the Bountiful Bowl Area for a lawful duration. Almost every connection point that I've encountered between the Bountiful Bowl Area and the BST has a sign clearly indicating which user groups are allowed onto the BST.

Lastly, let me say that another concern I have is the right for certain user groups to be able to enjoy and breath easy on a non-motorized trail without the need to compete with, or fear of encountering, motorized traffic. I personally disagree with the motorization of Mueller Park Trail. It has too much foot-traffic, most notably, families with small children, to justify motorization. In any case, I respect and will defend the rights of off-road motorists where it is allowed, including Mueller Park, but please consider doing something about the incident related above.

Sincerely,

Spencer T. Parkin,
Bountiful Resident

Is there anyone else I might send this letter to, or are my concerns completely unfounded or too trivial to matter? (i.e., am I making a fuss about nothing and should just shut-up?)

Yeah, you're a hypocrite, but I'm willing to bet the property owner was unable to notice that you had been on his property. Not that it makes it right, but the degree of impact is completely different. Nothing wrong with standing up for what you believe in.....unless it's guns.

Spencer: Now, what can be done? Years ago, I, myself, have enjoyed riding motorcycles in the mountains up the motorized trails “Bucklin Trial” and “Tuddle Loop Trail,” and so I'm not against ATV recreation, and I believe in maintaining motorized access where appropriate. However, when a user group begins to break rules and cause environmental damage and present a danger to those on foot, I believe that their privileges may need to be revoked, if not permanently, at least temporarily to send a message that out-of-bounds travel will not be tolerated. Please consider closing motorized access to the Bountiful Bowl Area for a lawful duration. Almost every connection point that I've encountered between the Bountiful Bowl Area and the BST has a sign clearly indicating which user groups are allowed onto the BST.

Lastly, let me say that another concern I have is the right for certain user groups to be able to enjoy and breath easy on a non-motorized trail without the need to compete with, or fear of encountering, motorized traffic. I personally disagree with the motorization of Mueller Park Trail. It has too much foot-traffic, most notably, families with small children, to justify motorization. In any case, I respect and will defend the rights of off-road motorists where it is allowed, including Mueller Park, but please consider doing something about the incident related above. Sincerely, Spencer T. Parkin, Bountiful Resident Is there anyone else I might send this letter to, or are my concerns completely unfounded or too trivial to matter? (i.e., am I making a fuss about nothing and should just shut-up?)


lol. . . "I respect and will defend the rights of off-road motorists where it is allowed".
Um, sounds like its allowed there.
Hey, a truck driver drove off road and thru a ditch. Let's ban all truck drivers until these people can get control of themselves.

Beautiful sunshine today! Hope you can enjoy it on some of the thousands of miles of non-motorized trail available to you.

Having grown up in Bountiful, and knowing the (historical use) of said area. Your post is laughable. There is always going to be the bad apples that disregard appropriate signage. I-15 speed limit signs through the Wasatch front continue to be disregarded by speeding motorists where there are more dire consequences than some trampled vegetation made by a motorcycle.

Since this is a climbing forum maybe checking out some of the sweet climbing that Bountiful has to offer would be a better use of your time. Lets see there is that crappy crag near the "B" with a couple of routes on it. Or that awesome boulder spot "on private property" off of 400 N.

On the bright side LCC is only 30 mins away if the traffic is light.

Start voting.... In every election