Re: RC: Disabled riders & trails

["Linda B. Merims" <lbm@ici.net>]

Karen Schwartz wrote:
> 
> Hi Don,
>   Hmmmm.  You just might be on to something here.
>   As someone who has some familiarity with the due process guarantees
> accorded by federal law to the disabled, I think this approach might
> be very powerful in quickly  capturing the attention and respect of
> both bureaucrats who manage the trail resources, legislators who fund
> the recreational areas we love, and the media who like to cover this
> highly vocal minority.  At worst, it could slow down the process by
> which trails are suddenly declared off limits to horses.  At best, it
> could open up access to almost any trail suitable for horses and
> mules...

I have seen this argument (I'm handicapped and I can't access the
trails unless I'm carried on horseback) used in the campaign to keep
Yosemite open for horses.  Nancy DuPont and the Heritage Trails folks
know all about this particular fight.  I believe that the Off-Road
Vehicle folks, particularly the extremely militant Blue Ribbon Coalition
(http://www.sharetrails.org), have tried using this argument as well.
I don't know if they've ever had *success* using it, but they use it.

However, the Americans with Disabilities Act is a two-edged sword.  Making
trails handicapped-accessible is one of the main reasons given for paving
trails, particularly old railroad right-of-ways.

Linda B. Merims
lbm@ici.net
Massachusetts, USA


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