Why does everyone say that mountain bikers ruin trails?

[Colin]

Any good MTBer knows to stay off park trails when it's wet. And MTBs have about the same trail impact as hikers. I think the problem is horses. Their hooves ruin and clump up the ground, and people try to take them out when it's muddy so their feet don't get hurt.

Environmentalists need to look at the facts.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[jason]

Any human involvement will change the terrain. I think horses may have more of an impact, but mountain biking still has some.

 

[marky]

Perhaps it has something to do with the mechanical nature of mountain bikes that makes it so easy for people to blame? After all, backpackers and horses are more "natural", so perhaps people don't think they have as much impact as they obviously do.