The DCR claims that bike trails are in better shape than hiking trails to justify increased introduction of biking at the Fells. However, if bikes are using both trails as shown in this series of photos, this conclusion is unjustified.
A collection of photos taken on the Reservoir in 1998. Bike use has been common here and unregulated. The draft RMP proposes opening this trail legally to biking. The DCR claims that bike trails are in better shape than hiking trails in the a lame attempt to “prove” that bikes are less damaging that hiking. As you can see, however, this hiking only trail has been heavily used by bikes. Without enforcement of regulations bikes have used every trail in this park. You can’t make conclusions about bike impact compared to hiker impact using trails that are used by both groups. And yet that is exactly what the DCR has done.
