Local Youth Advocates For Bike Trail Area

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

Recreational user groups on one area of public land in the Moapa Valley have come at odds with one another lately. And one group is actually finding itself in danger.

A youth mountain biking team has been operating for the past couple of years in Moapa Valley. The team has been growing in popularity and has officially been formed under the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA).

There are a total of 20 athletes who ride on the local team: seven are high school age and the rest are middle school students.

A network of biking trails has been established on an area of BLM land located just north of Logandale. This trail system is accessed near the Republic Services Dump Site on Waterline Road. From that point, the trails spider out across the hills and gullies throughout that area.

For the past couple of years, the team has hosted the Moapa Valley Madness racing event. This race brings hundreds of youth mountain bikers to the community to compete in the opening race of a regional series.

In addition, the word has gotten out about this network of trails. People of all ages from Moapa Valley, Las Vegas and beyond have sought out the experience to ride on these desert trails.

Unfortunately, despite all of the success, this program and the new trail system is finding itself in peril. Conflict has arisen between this growing group of mountain bikers and an also growing group of target shooters who frequent the same area.

“When mountain bike riders are enjoying themselves out on the trrail, they are actually actively at risk of being shot,” said Knox Whipple during a public comment period at the Moapa Valley Town Board meeting held on Wednesday, April 13.

Knox is 14 years old and is one of the star cyclists on the local team.
“Riders may be happily riding along when they suddenly come into the line of fire,” Knox told the Board. “A student of the Moapa Valley High School was actually wounded by a shotgun when exploring the trails with friends. What should be a relatively safe method of recreation has been made hazardous to participants because of the shooters.”

Knox pointed out that the risk is not only to the mountain bikers. Also in the area is an active rock quarry, the major highway in and out of the community, utility infrastructure and even homes within range.
“Even worse is the presence of a bus stop near the shooting range,” Knox added. “Young children are right in the line of fire at certain times.”

Knox urged that those involved in target shooting anywhere on public lands ought to exercise caution to those who may be enjoying the lands nearby in other activities. This is especially true for this bicycle trail area, he said.

Knox also requested that another area be set aside for shooters, thus allowing the mountain bikers this area as a safe spot to do their sport.
“I recognize that shooters may have been there long before the mountain bikers,” he said. “But having a mountain bike specific area would not only be exponentially safer for all parties, it would also put Moapa Valley on the map for Mountain biking.”

Knox pointed out that the area of the trails is just one of many different locations in the area where target shooters could go. But this is the only area where the mountain bike trails are located. What’s more, that area’s hard and rocky soil make it an ideal spot for mountain biking. In other areas of the valley, the soils are too sandy or loose for mountain bike racing, he said.

Knox asked the members of the MVTAB for help and support in designating that area for mountain biking and finding a better spot to which shooting sports could be located.
“A simple solution to this could protect people from accidents even worse than what has already occurred,” he said.

MVTAB members praised Knox for his presentation and his desire to work through proper channels. They suggested that he contact officials from the BLM Las Vegas Field Office to discuss possible solutions.

“The BLM is in the process of developing a management plan for the Logandale Trails Area,” said MVTAB member Brian Burris. “Maybe we could get something included in that document that would recognize that area as a designated mountain bike trails area.”