Wha-? "If," as though the notion of off-road motorized vehicles is a hypothetical, a theoretical proposition?

I mean, all those endangered nesting shore birds plowed over at the coast recently? Perhaps this has less to do with modes of recreation than it does with basic concepts of recreation. If people think of nature as a playground they'll trash it with cars, snowmobiles, bicycles, boots, whatever. I'll posit it's a cultural problem more than a subcultural problem.

If someone had driven a car through Forest Park like that, there'd be hell to pay. Let's see what happens, if anything, with our bikers.

I totally misunderstood the insinuation. Well, here's hoping they're all held to the same standard.

Because the trail didn't involve the city and millions of tax dollars it's abhorant.

Now watch, they'll spend a wad of money removing it then build a new one down the way a bit and call that smart.

"Let's see what happens, if anything, with our bikers."

Same thing that happened to all the zoo-bombers and their junk sculptures on street signs.

What I find most amazing about this is that the majority of commenters on bikeportland.org don't see a problem with this illegal trail, and the different justifications they have for it.
Here is a video of OPB catching some riders on the unauthorized trail:
http://news.opb.org/article/6785-unauthorized-forest-park-bike-trial-seen-vandalism/

Yeah, and mountain bikers were recently lobbying for more access to Forest Park. "Bikes don't hurt trails more than walkers" they said.

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/10/push_to_open_up_forest_park_to.html

A mile long trail takes some time (and effort) to develop -- and no one notices? I suppose if a father and daughter can live there for four years without being noticed (remember them?), anything is possible. I am guessing no one really patrols up there. Imagine what else we would find.

I worked in the Portland parks, spending as much time as possible in Forest Park.

Most off road bikers viewed going where they chose in the park as a civil right (same w/Mt. Tabor). Nearly impossible to catch, they were really offensive in their conduct and absolutely did not care that in a Portland nature park like Forest Park they were in a special wildlife habitat. The destruction was terrible.

The only people who outnumbered the bikers for self-righteousness and abuse of the parks were off-leash dog owners.

I could profile the bike and dog people easily - under 40, just moved here, and right thinking greenists.

In the Washington Park/Arboretum area the woods are littered with illegal bike trails. Bikes are specifically prohibited in the area and it is well posted as such. Whenever I see one of thes d-bags cruising through there I let them know that it is illegal and they need to get back on the nearest road. As with many interactions with bikers committing egregious law breaking I am usually given the finger and told to "f**k off". Nice folks those bikers.

Here's a modest "green" proposal: make pedestrians the top of the local transport priority list, not bicycles, cars, or motorcycles.

Imagine: pedestrian access being more important than bicycle access. No bicycles or motorized vehicles on sidewalks, walking trails, or crosswalks.

Imagine: Spending over half a billion dollars on pedestrian access improvements in the city. More than sidewalks and street crossings; real spaces for pedestrians to roam, sit, look and transport goods.

Imagine: Spaces dedicated solely to people who want to walk.

Imagine: Mayor Twitter standing up and proclaiming a "2030 Pedestrian Plan" that will spend over half a billion dollars over 20 years to make Portland the most walkable city in the nation.

Imagine the Bicycle Transportation Alliance supporting it.

The people who did this probably have SUVs or 4WD Outbacks. Pretending that they're some sort of bike purists is ignoring the problem. The kind of people who would cut trees down in a city park are no different than the people who'd run their ATVs through clear springs and turn them into a mudhole.

Well, the damage has been done. That pristine habitat will never be the same. Time to fire up the bulldozers and start building some condos.

In the Washington Park/Arboretum area the woods are littered with illegal bike trails.

During the summer, you can see these guys with full-suspension bikes treating MAX like a chair lift, getting on at Goose Hollow, and getting off at the Zoo to ride down again.

This is one of many reasons we need licensing and registration of bicycles and bicyclists. Every bicycle should have a visible plate identifying the owner...Bicycles identified in videos should be seized and impounded. Bicyclists caught in the act should be tried for vandalism and required to make good on the damage. All of it.

It might be fun to organize some folks to hang out in Forest Park, near the Arboretum, etc. with video cameras, and see how many folks could be caught riding illegally - then see if they can be identified, as well, so as to press charges.

Where's Office Humphries or whatever his name may be?

We should erect a concrete wall around the entire perimter of Forest Park and protect it for the exclusive use of wildlife.

I'm an avid cyclist and I resent a few d-bags making me look bad, if for no other reason than it makes it less safe to ride. Some folks have violent reactions to cyclists and the mentality of the guys flipping people off in Washington Park and hacking their way through Forest Park is a big reason why. If it's any consolation, it's my understanding that when the authorities catch cyclists in the act they confiscate their bikes. As they should. @darrelplant and @LL: you're exactly right about the profile...the only person I know who rides in Forest Park off trail moved to P-town in the last 4-5 years and drives an Outback...to be fair that's a lot of people though

Umpire, that's not a bad idea, but we'll need more proof, as well as a way to mark the perp. I recommend collecting scalps instead. A few dozen hipster pelts thrown in front of Mayor Creepy might get him to notice.