North Vancouver - 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.
North Vancouver - 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 mefeel 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 ofmountain 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 SharpeNorth Vancouver
