Jim Hasenauer

Re "Go wild," editorial, Sept. 13 The Times' editorial supporting new federal wilderness perpetuates the common misconception that bicyclists are allowed in wilderness areas. We should be, but we're not. [See correction, lower left.] For that reason alone, the Pleasant View area of the Angeles National Forest should not be designated wilderness. There are two long north-south trails that provide mountain bicyclists with a unique mountain-peaks-to-desert backcountry experience.

Re "Snow turns to dust in the West," May 24 The article says that excessive dust is contributing to the West's water shortage by causing snow to melt too early and too quickly, and that "scientists say it is now more likely to be caused by off-road vehicles, mountain bikers or energy exploration." In the same issue of The Times, a travel story glorifies riding extra-powerful off-road vehicles extra-long distances in the California desert. So The Times reveals a problem with terrible consequences, then tells readers how much fun it is to contribute to this problem?

Re "Lost Coast Finds New Guardians," Feb. 20: As a mountain bike advocate and environmentalist, I have spent more than 18 years trying to build a coalition between mountain bicyclists and the environmental movement. On most things we agree, but designated wilderness is certainly our most thorny issue. The 1964 Wilderness Act did not ban bikes, but when 1984 regulations did, they positioned mountain bicyclists and wilderness advocates as opponents. This need not be the case. Bicyclists love and want to protect wild places, but wilderness is not the only way to do it. Such alternative designations as national conservation areas or protection areas can provide all the environmental protection of wilderness and still allow bicycles.

Re "Go wild," editorial, Sept. 13 The Times' editorial supporting new federal wilderness perpetuates the common misconception that bicyclists are allowed in wilderness areas. We should be, but we're not. [See correction, lower left.] For that reason alone, the Pleasant View area of the Angeles National Forest should not be designated wilderness. There are two long north-south trails that provide mountain bicyclists with a unique mountain-peaks-to-desert backcountry experience.

Thanks for the thoughtful Sept. 21 editorial on sharing trails with bicycles. I'd be careful about overestimating the level of user conflict, though. I've been hiking and riding the trails of the Santa Monica Mountains for 20 years. Most of the people on the trails get along just fine. There's an abundance of research that says that perceptions of user conflict are exaggerated by the frequent, multiple complaints of a small number of people. On the bike issue, I've seen this time and time again.

I belong to an organization that could save Al Martinez (Sept. 14) a lot of trouble. COBRA (Concerned Off Road Bicyclists Assn.) is dedicated to safe and appropriate use of mountain bicycles in shared-use recreational areas. At present, most of the Santa Monica Mountains restrict mountain bikes to fire roads only. We are not allowed on the single track trails. The bicyclist Martinez encountered was wrong if on a trail, but was in the right place if on a fire road. The bicyclist should not have been speeding and should have been anticipating the possibility of a hiker, equestrian or another bicyclist around the blind corner.

In Jeff Meyers' otherwise fine article on Sycamore Canyon on July 7, he claims that hikers are gravely threatened by mountain bicyclists who have no regard for safety. This characterization and the quote from Ranger Brit Horn asserting that there have been accidents and lawsuits involving bicyclists are the only mention of bicyclists in the article. This is a one-sided view of mountain bike use. It is worth noting that bicyclists are legitimate users of fire roads in Sycamore Canyon; that the vast majority of bicyclists ride carefully with high regard for the safety of other users; that CORBA's (Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Assn.

Re "Snow turns to dust in the West," May 24 The article says that excessive dust is contributing to the West's water shortage by causing snow to melt too early and too quickly, and that "scientists say it is now more likely to be caused by off-road vehicles, mountain bikers or energy exploration." In the same issue of The Times, a travel story glorifies riding extra-powerful off-road vehicles extra-long distances in the California desert. So The Times reveals a problem with terrible consequences, then tells readers how much fun it is to contribute to this problem?

In "Beef Added to Usual Helping of Pork in '99 Budget" (Dec. 13), the special-interest projects set forth were disgusting to me as a taxpayer, and it is appalling that "the 4,000-page bill was so packed with pork that most members of Congress had no idea what was in it when they voted on it--and probably still don't know." By passing this budget, I would say members of Congress abused and violated the trust of the American people and failed to conduct themselves in the best interests of the country.

As a member of the committee that helped plan Cal State Northridge's Peace Expo, I am disturbed by the April 15 article by Bob Pool. The Peace Expo was not a "rally," nor should it be reduced to an attempt "to make an administration more accountable to the people." While a few Expo programs did criticize the Bush Administration's stance on Central America, to characterize the Expo as a protest of that policy misses the point. There were many more than the claimed 200 students in attendance, and they were joined by several hundred others--faculty, staff and especially community members.

Re "Lost Coast Finds New Guardians," Feb. 20: As a mountain bike advocate and environmentalist, I have spent more than 18 years trying to build a coalition between mountain bicyclists and the environmental movement. On most things we agree, but designated wilderness is certainly our most thorny issue. The 1964 Wilderness Act did not ban bikes, but when 1984 regulations did, they positioned mountain bicyclists and wilderness advocates as opponents. This need not be the case. Bicyclists love and want to protect wild places, but wilderness is not the only way to do it. Such alternative designations as national conservation areas or protection areas can provide all the environmental protection of wilderness and still allow bicycles.

Thanks for the thoughtful Sept. 21 editorial on sharing trails with bicycles. I'd be careful about overestimating the level of user conflict, though. I've been hiking and riding the trails of the Santa Monica Mountains for 20 years. Most of the people on the trails get along just fine. There's an abundance of research that says that perceptions of user conflict are exaggerated by the frequent, multiple complaints of a small number of people. On the bike issue, I've seen this time and time again.

In Jeff Meyers' otherwise fine article on Sycamore Canyon on July 7, he claims that hikers are gravely threatened by mountain bicyclists who have no regard for safety. This characterization and the quote from Ranger Brit Horn asserting that there have been accidents and lawsuits involving bicyclists are the only mention of bicyclists in the article. This is a one-sided view of mountain bike use. It is worth noting that bicyclists are legitimate users of fire roads in Sycamore Canyon; that the vast majority of bicyclists ride carefully with high regard for the safety of other users; that CORBA's (Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Assn.

I belong to an organization that could save Al Martinez (Sept. 14) a lot of trouble. COBRA (Concerned Off Road Bicyclists Assn.) is dedicated to safe and appropriate use of mountain bicycles in shared-use recreational areas. At present, most of the Santa Monica Mountains restrict mountain bikes to fire roads only. We are not allowed on the single track trails. The bicyclist Martinez encountered was wrong if on a trail, but was in the right place if on a fire road. The bicyclist should not have been speeding and should have been anticipating the possibility of a hiker, equestrian or another bicyclist around the blind corner.

Despite the threat of AIDS, many college students lack an effective communication strategy for negotiating safe sex, according to a report released this week by a Cal State Northridge speech communications professor. The report by CSUN associate professor Jim Hasenauer was presented Sunday to a conference on "Innovations in Teaching Interpersonal Communication" in Boise, Idaho.

Re "Crackdown Halts Bike Officers' Training on Dirt Trails in City Parks," Jan. 9: As a member and a supervisor of the LAPD's bicycle training cadre, I must say that Christine Peters' "alarming example" is an embellished account of our training. [Peters lives on the eastern slope of Elysian Park.] I attended bicycle training first as an officer in 1995 and then became an instructor and supervisor in 2000. I have never witnessed any unsafe training as a student or instructor. Quite the contrary, the training is probably the safest thing next to firearms training.