Horses dig, and paw and chew on things, shit all over the place... On soft ground their footprints can leave craters that remain for months. I don't know why you think horses distribute ground force better than a bike. Considering the horse is primarily on 2 feet at a time during gait and you have to account for their immense weight in addition to gear and rider, the psi for a horse hoof is many multiples of a bike tire.
The debate is academic. You may very well be right. Doesn’t change the fact that electric motorcycles will not be allowed on most non-motorized trails and roads that close seasonally.
I enjoy mountain biking and, while I don't own an E-bike, I've been around enough of them to be familiar with them. If your tire is "spinning out" you're doing it wrong. Yes, they have a motor, but they aren't shooting rooster tails of dirt behind them like a typical motorcycle. IMHO, the damage from an E-bike is being way overblown. They would certainly have an added an impact on the trails, especially as the popularity increases, but they aren't spinning out everywhere they go. My dad also owns horses, it's pretty crazy the amount of damage a string of horses can do to a muddy trail.
I dont even think of them really in the same category. The end result is similar in that it gets people into the back country or, just provides an assisted method of getting there.
I read through most of the thread and realized...I can't unread this...
There are plenty of people that might want to read or have an opinion about this topic. You are welcome to go read and particiate in a different thread that you find more meaningful or interesting. I like to read peoples opinion on the matter though because for me it sheds light on what public opinion might be.
Public opinion will support it, it makes it easier. It is a progressive way to think.
Unfortunately things tend to head that way. i have always like hardwork being a barrier to entry for wilderness or other hard to reach areas. @wind gypsy laid it out pretty well in post a couple back from my perspective.
At the risk of sounding like a heartless asshole, to be honest I struggle with this. Life is not fair and we all have things that limit us from doing things. We all have some form of disability that doesnt allow us to do things to the level that someone else does. So, while I feel for you and your son, part of life is adjusting to the curve balls it throws at us. I am color blind and struggle to see animals. I overlook animals every time I go hunting and I will say that it affects my success. I have never once advocated for something be done to help me. It would make my life way easier if Fish and Game painted deer bright orange...I can sometimes see that depending on the back ground.
That isn't heartless imo. I struggle with it as well and ultimately think the rules should probably stay as they are or have only very strict exceptions. Special rules just open the door for others to take advantage of them. If my son were allowed, then others would be as well so I probably wouldn't want to take him on those closed trails anyways. He gets a few perks in the hunting world that many others don't so in the end it probably balances out.
I see what your saying but I’m sure many have said this before as trails were opened up to more means then just hiking, it seems kind of like the argument the compound bow ruined archery and made archery such an easy method of hunting once it came about and was legal.
