MOUNTAIN BIKE FIGHT VS

A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE IN SACRAMENTO IS BEING ASKED TO DETERMINE WHETHER MOUNTAIN BIKERS KEEP ACCESS TO PLANNED TRAILS AT NISENE MARKS STATE PARK, OR IF THE MARKS FAMILY INTENDED OTHERWISE. THE 10,000 ACRES OF LAND WERE GRANTED TO THE STATE IN 1963, WHEN MOUNTAIN BIKING WAS NOT A SPORT. BUT ORIGINALLY HERMAN MARKS BANNED HORSES FROM THE PARK, BECAUSE HE FEARD EROSION. STATE PARKS OFFICIALS APPROVED A PLAN LAST YEAR, THAT INCLUDES CONSTRUCTING MULTIUSE TRAILS ON A PARK SECTION WHICH WOULD ALLOW MOUNTAIN BIKES. A GROUP CALLING ITSELF CITIZENS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE FOREST OF NISENE MARKS STATE PARK SUED TO PREVENT NEW TRAILS FROM BEING BUILT FOR MOUNTAIN BIKE USE. ANOTHER GROUP CALLED THE MOUNTAIN BIKERS OF SANTA CRUZ ARE FIGHTING THE EFFORT.