MOUNTAIN BIKING - ISSUES AND ACTIONS FOR USDA FOREST SERVICE MANAGERS

Managers of National Forests are faced with many challenges related to the growing use of mountain bikes. To determine the issues and manage ment actions associated with this growth, USDA Forest Service managers from across the United States were surveyed. Managers from at least t wo National Forests from every Region (except Alaska) reported annual use of trails by 10,000 or more mountain bike riders. On the basis of this use, managers reported concerns and impacts related to the natura l resources (degradation of trails, wilderness), social institutions ( safety, education), and social policy (planning, legal claims); and of fered management actions for resolving these problems.