Copyright The Boston Globe
We at the New England Mountain Bike Association were disappointed to read Phil Primack’s Oct. 13 op-ed, “How thrill-seeking mountain bikers are ravaging our shared trails.” His portrayal doesn’t reflect reality as we know it in the Middlesex Fells or across Massachusetts, and it misrepresents the mountain biking community. NEMBA is proud to be part of the solution, not the problem. We value our partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation and our shared stewardship of the Middlesex Fells with other stakeholders. Together we’ve worked hard to educate users, maintain trails, and promote responsible recreation. Over the past decade, we have seen conditions improve significantly. Of course, conflicts and rogue trails still exist — in a park close to Boston with thousands of visitors, that’s inevitable. What matters is that we continue working together to address these challenges. In collaboration with DCR, NEMBA prioritizes improving the limited number of trails that are open to mountain biking. We volunteer thousands of hours of trail work annually. Our volunteers bring decades of experience and regularly lead trail work crews in the Fells. Recreational trails exist to protect the surrounding environment, and all trails — used by hikers, runners, and bikers alike — require maintenance. Many of what Primack calls legacy trails in the Fells predate modern design standards, and our work with DCR focuses on applying sustainable design to protect and enhance the park for everyone. As he notes, the Fells has many trails, many of them never intentionally planned. Unauthorized, or social, trails appear for many reasons and can be created by any user group. Often they arise when existing trails don’t meet user needs or connect desired landmarks. We believe that well-designed, inclusive trails reduce unauthorized use, giving all users a better experience. Advertisement None of this is new to those who’ve been actively involved with DCR, as we have been. The Fells’ current network of authorized and social trails has existed for decades. We invite Primack and anyone else who cares about the Fells to join one of our trail work days. We’ll supply tools and training. People can see for themselves how dedicated this community is to protecting the lands we all love. Adam Glick President New England Mountain Bike Association Acton
