Dear Editor:
I attended the Nov. 18 meeting of District of North Vancouver council and would have spoken during the public input if I hadn’t felt intimidated by the majority of the audience. I apologize, but the “no clapping” rule would not have helped me feel more comfortable.
I have been a mountain biker for 20 years and much of the riding I have done has been on Mount Fromme and Seymour. About five years ago I stopped riding on those trails because of the difficulty and safety levels, and because of what I observed as considerable forest floor damage by erosion.
With the possible exception of Mayor Richard Walton — because I know he is a cyclist — have any other council members taken the time to closely investigate or ride the trails on either of these hills?
It is my opinion that the activity of mountain biking adds a serious threat to local hillside biodiversities and ecosystems. District staff even had a workshop last year on this very issue: that disappearing biodiversities are perhaps our single biggest environmental concern.
During Monday night’s regular council meeting it was suggested by Coun. Alan Nixon that the environmental trail assessment review of 2006/7 needs to be revisited and reassessed, and I would urge council to do that before there is any more expansion of mountain biking activity on the trails.
This review/assessment should be done by a completely independent body, with absolutely no association to the North Shore Mountain Bike Association or the district.
John Sharpe
North Vancouver
