In the interest of not giving my numerous detractors the satisfaction of wailing on me for my blatant NIMBY ways, I have adopted the title of KingNimby. Plans are in the works for a website (Nimby.com – just a clique away); Vanity plates (kngnmby) and line of clothes (camo complete with hammer loop and collapsible rake pocket). At present, I merely have a philosophy bred of watching the masses bring destruction to beautiful things that I love, my deep sense of faith and optimism in humanity as a whole is repeatedly tarnished by the reality that people are shitty shepards of the land, or trail in this case. The ultimate act of environmentalism is to self immolate – leave no trace – arms are for hugging – Earth First! We’ll log the other planets later…it goes on and on and on. Through the ups and downs, and that philosophy that flows silently from the depths of the brain – induced by a spinning motion of the legs, and fine dark beverages – be they caffeinated or alcoholic - I have come to these conclusions.

The most basic central theme that I have been able to distill from the various heated interchanges on this topic – is that it all boils down to trust. There is no ownership out there on the trails – but there is responsibility. For sake of argument, this discussion revolves not around The Betasso’s and White Ranches of the world – but around the less frequented, more sensitive and marginally legal trails of the surrounding hinterlands. The trails that are governed by the riders – self-governed at best – and over ridden in large groups ride at the worst. The source of your intimate trail knowledge is irrelevant – but the stewardship that is associated with that knowledge is not arguable. Each time you take someone on one of those trails – you are responsible for the people that they in turn take on the trails – and so on down the line. Consider it a legacy. Do you trust the person you are about to penetrate sacred ground with? Would you show them where you hide your emergency funds or hooch? Do you trust their judgment when they are making decisions on a fine Saturday morning in May about whether they should take their close-knit group of 19 down the ‘secret’ trail that you shared with them?

Nimbyism defined, and applied to mountain biking.
Not In My Back Yard – ism – for those of you living under rocks. Examples: Let’s say there is a proposal with the local government to run a major trail through the lot next to yours, or your favorite piece of open space. As a NIMBY – you would lobby for all of the access issues, but you would oppose having the trail in your yard. Often seen as selfish, self-preservationists, the Nimby is a misunderstood, often maligned individual. Is this elitism? Wanting the trail to be there the following year? I think not. As the trails are erased, and closed, and re-routed due to traffic problems, these arguments only become stronger.

Nimbys tend to be retentive about where they ride, and with whom they ride, guarding trail stashes like they were priceless, invaluable, irreplaceable gems. Well, guess what – they are – and they should be treated as such. It is war out there, and just because someone is on a bike, it doesn’t mean that they have a strong ethic – or that they can be ‘trusted’ with links, connections and trails that run through sensitive areas. Give this a thought – some of the trails that are going to be closed next Spring (the work orders are already in kids) date back to Nederland’s mining days. Prostitution was illegal in Ned back then – but it was legal up the hill on Magnolia. After a two-week shift the miners would drink half of their hard earned wages, and then stumble up through Big Springs to Magnolia to do it for the nookie. These trails that they beat in 100 years ago are the trails that we have come to know and love. These are the trails that have gotten so much traffic that many of the residents in Big Springs have complained enough about volume that at least two of these routes are history. Who are we to defile that kind of legacy by carelessly skidding out into the road in a group of 10 and pissing off the folks that live in there?

Case Study A:
That new trail where the mine owner got all pissed this summer. A fine trail this is/was. A fine trail to cruise with a friend or two. Not a fine trail to cruise with 16 or 17 of your best pals. All was tranquil with this trail until an un-named group – associated with a certain shop here in Boulder that seems bent on closing as many trails as possible by bringing 15 – 20 folks on them on any given weekend day – ran into the land owner – while he was out for a casual hike. Said landowner – a former renegade trail builder back in the day who was totally cool with the trail across his property. Said landowner felt that his ‘goodwill’ towards the existence of the trail was being compromised for a commercial endeavor – namely the benefit of the shop that organized the group ride. Hence, and directly resultant from this large group, the trail is slashed to all shit – and the landowner is no longer cool with bikes crossing his land. Bikers: 0. Landowner: 1. I put the fault here on the leader of that ride – who coincidentally is rumored to be the creator of said trail. Even after all of the effort that went into the building of that trail – he/she risks the whole thing and tips the Karmic scale against all mtb’ers by taking so many people on such a sensitive ride.

Case Study 2:
The super twisty trail that goes nowhere that includes/included some ‘stunts’ in the North Shore sense of the word. As recently as 12 months ago, this trail was a mere shadow – the stunts pristine, challenging and difficult to locate. In the last year and a half the traffic on this trail has multiplied by 20 times; the stunts are beaten, abused and battered – some are completely gone, others are somewhat intact, but certainly feeling no love from the local community. Motorized 2 wheelers causing a depressing amount of damage to what was a really ripping trail have even infiltrated the trail. Whose fault? All of ours who brought one, three or however many people up into that system. Clearly, things got out of hand at some point and took on a life of their own – but that started with a handful of people who shared that trail without thinking about with whom they were sharing. I place myself in the guilt pool on this one. Sharing is great, but sharing indiscriminately is devastating – as is being proven in our own back yard! I pledge guilt – tear my intestines out so I can cry ‘freedom’ and wonder where the middle ground lies. I know where it will lie when that trail gets closed – the last stunt getting torn down by angry hikers or Forest Service workers.

So what’s the answer? Is there some sort of directory that tells us where or when we can ride with groups? Is there a universal tattoo that signals that someone has a good ethic when it comes to these precious resources? Time, trial and trust are the only answers. It is always a judgement call, and one that can be sketchy, and even mean. But in the end – if you’re local secret stash turns into the next ‘Boot Trail’ that gets closed due to critical mass – you will need to count yourself amongst those at fault if you penetrated without discrimination. Keep that in mind the next time you casually take a group of folks that you don’t know into a social or sensitive network. There are so many miles of trails out there that are open and accessible and appropriate to groups – go beat the tar out of yourself – and your group there – and ride the quieter trails early or late, or in the dark, or on weekdays – and give thought to who you ride them with. You might just save your favorite trail.