Closed.. closed closed CLOSED!

[gopherhockey]

People - Murphy is CLOSED until this fall to biking!!!!

I'm sure most if not all of you who are reading this already know and obey this rule.

Some mountain bikers, however, just can't follow the rules. I don't know why.. perhaps it is that they are so far above the rest of us that they are worthy of being allowed to do as they wish.

I don't quite understand this MENTALity. We're trying real hard to get some great new trail and prove to the park district and land managers that we are worthy of their trust. We're THIS close to making Murphy into its very own mini-epic ride... yet there are still bikers poaching the trails all year round.

I spoke to one in the parking lot at Lebanon the other day. While I (try to) understand his frustrations and I know there are bikers out there that hate singletrack and love gravel climbs and drops (like Lebanon used to be, and how Murphy is right now) - what I don't understand is how a person can sit there and tell me to my face that they ride at Murphy all year round...

Leaving trail debates out of it, I know all of you will agree that disobeying the rules makes us all look bad. How would you feel if trails like Murphy were closed entirely to bikers just because one or two individuals felt training for some race in Wisconsin gave them a free pass. (this race course must really be in need of repair if it takes riding Murphy to train for it...)

The good news in all of this? While we were out with the IMBA crew today flagging a new section of beautiful "test" trail, we got to the parking lot to find the park ranger there asking what we were doing and looking for bikers. He apparently has recently fined (here we go again) a few individuals $300 each for riding on the closed trails.

DO NOT debate the fine. This is not open to debate. If it were up to me, these guys would get their bikes taken away permanently and be banned from the sport forever. Hey, lets not stop there.. with an IQ that low... well.. I won't go there.

IDIOTS. They get what they deserve. I only hope more riders out poaching Murphy get the same... although I doubt guys that stupid are capable of receiving the message.

(Yogi jumps off his soapbox with a THUD)

:mad:

[Kingbozo]

Boneheads like that deserve a fine. Saying that I can also say that just about everybody here has probably poached a trail at one point or another. The thing is Murphy is such an OBVIOUS no no, and it is in such rough shape in the first place, that anyone with half a brain should be able to figure out that they shouldn't be riding there.

Taking a shortcut through the Cedar Lake trails is a little different than traveling to a place (Murphy isn't really "on the way" to anything for most folks) with the express intent to ride it when you know it is closed.

No sympathy from me whatsoever-even if they had lost their bikes as well.

[martini]

I agree. Murphy is no where near to being conveinent for most folks. And it should be plainly obvious that the trails there are in tough shape. When parts of the trail are underwater(as I'm sure there are), it should be more than abundantly clear that the trail is closed. How many years have we been told that Murphy simply DOES NOT open till autumn?

I think that we need to make it abundantly clear to the powers that be that there are the 'bad apples' that simply skirt rules when ever its conveinint for them with little regard to other like users, or user groups.

I'm not afraid to say that I've poached trails either, but I do it in a manner that is not so obvious as to leave a car in a parking lot that screams BIKER! These fools deserve a ticket, and rather large one at that.

[zerpy]

I don't know anything about the tail in question, and it sounds like the bonehead that John was talking to knows full well that the trail is closed. However, I was wondering if the trail is marked as closed?

I'm looking at this from a newbie standpoint, I've only ridden the beginner loop at lebanon and terrace oaks and both of them I didn't ride until I saw other people were on them. I didn't even know about this site at the time. Terrace Oaks is a pretty eroded trail, but I don't know how it compares to this Murphy place. Without proper posting, I wouldn't know - except for the reports on this site.

Now common sense tells me that if you go to a trail and it is wet (like it sounds like Murphy is this time of year?) you don't ride. So these morons don't have an excuse, but I am just wondering if it is well posted at the entrance to these trails that they are closed.

jas

[SickBoy]

According to some people I've talked to, there are some multiuse trails in a different part of the park that are open year round. I have never been on these trails, though.

The part that everyone here is talking about is definitely closed. I have no sympathy for anyone who gets fined for poaching this trail. I don't necessarily understand/agree with all of the reasons why this trail is closed, but I'm no fool and a fool and his money are soon parted...

[JayT]

Sorry to step in as moderator and right off the bat end up paring a thread down, but when they spin off into oblivion...

Getting back to Murphy Hanrehan: as a Three Rivers Park District employee, I can address the two main reason's Murphy Hanrehan is closed until August each year.

The #1 reason is erosion. The system of trails at M-H is a series of double track trails that where developed for Nordic ski use. They are laid out in a manner that go up & down fall lines and do not work well as mountain bike trails. These trails were developed in the late 70's and were intended for winter use only. Numerous efforts have been made by the Park District to stabilize the worse spots with a varying degree of success. Non-use is, and continues to be, one of the most effective.

The #2 and far lesser known reason for M-H being closed until August is the fact Murphy is a bird sanctuary - this is something I learned about just recently. Murphy Hanrehan is home to some rarer Warblers and is one of the very few places that they nest and it's only after mid July that the birds are done nesting. This goes unnoticed by most and may even seem unimportant, but considering the fact that the Park District is a natural resource based organization and conservation is a key mission, things like this are very important to the Park District.

I know it frustrating to hear that positive things are starting to happen as far as sustainable trails go, but then to hear it might take more time. The Park District is sorting through more details than you might think and the "test" trail just built will be very important. Staff members from Wildlife, Forestry, Water Quality, Park Maintenance, and Administration will be all accessing this section of trail and will be determining the next steps. I'll do my best to answer any questions and to keep you all posted.

In the mean time nothing has changed at Murphy Hanrehan and it will remain CLOSED until August. My hope is to report to you by that time (promising nothing) that the "test" trail will be completed and useable.

It was great to meet some of you on Monday and Tuesday and I can say it was a couple of the funest *work* days I've ever had. JayT

[gopherhockey]

Excellent information, JayT - great to have you on board as moderator... sometimes what bikers need is more information... exactly what you provided!

The bird thing definitely can come as a surprise to many. I enjoy nature myself. I spend hundreds of $ on bird feed each year and love watching ducks grow up in the pond behind my house... so as a mountain biker and someone who appreciates nature - I can respect the whole bird issue.

We could take care of that small issue though... hehe... (just JOKING everyone!!!)

Seriously though, it just goes to show you how riders out there on closed trails are not thinking of anyone or anything but themselves. It also shows how complex these types of projects can become and why things sometimes take longer or don't turn out quite the way we had hoped.

Keep up the great info and updates. The relationship that seems to be forming with Three Rivers is wonderful. You guys were great to work with (everyone should have seen these guys working with a huge rock that was on the trail - I've never seen a more determined group... that thing must have been like 2000 lbs. at least!), and I know I speak for many in saying we hope the relationship is given an opportunity to continue.

Maybe we'll have more of those fun work days ahead... (said while crossing fingers)