At recent public meetings, some members of the mountain biking special interest group have introduced themselves as doctors. They have stated that it is of utmost importance to allow mountain biking in parks, in order to help stem the epidemic of childhood obesity. While childhood obesity is a major public health issue, the argument has no merit. We question, as the writer of the following letter does, whether the doctors who make such claims are "putting their own self interest in biking ahead of public health interests."

The following letter was sent to Maggie Brooks, Monroe County Executive. A portion is excerpted here, with the author's permission.

Shared Use of Trails (Simultaneous Hiking and Biking) is a Very Bad Idea.

Mountain Biking is Not a Viable Means of Addressing Obesity.

I attended the November 25, 2008, Public Outreach Meeting concerning updates to the Master Plan for the Monroe County Parks.

Unfortunately, a number of doctors--who happen to be mountain bikers--shamefully used the childhood obesity issue as a vehicle to promote the opening of trails within our county parks to biking. Shameful is not strong enough language, for the doctors surely know better. They, in fact, put their own self interest in biking ahead of public health interests. Since the Master Plan seems to have picked up on the health theme, I feel it important to set the record straight.

• Walking or light jogging, plus weight training and appropriate diet, is the recommended most effective means of achieving weight reduction and maintenance of overall health.
• Insufficient exercise is a problem that spans all age groups, not just young people.
• People who are obese and very far out of shape likely would not use trails that go up and down hills. In fact, attempting to do so with high blood pressure, fat deposits in arteries and compromised balance can prove very dangerous.
• Existing paved trails such as those in Turning Point Park, Durand Eastman Park, the Erie Canal Path, the Genesee Greenway, and various other local bike paths are much safer for obese people. Off road biking really only becomes appropriate once someone already has a certain level of conditioning.
• Obese people whether they are children or adults can realize significant health benefits by walking though the parks. (They should, of course, get a doctor’s approval before stating such activity. And they should pace themselves.)
• Senior citizens are frequent users of the parks, and exercise is just as important if not more important for senior citizens as it is for younger people. The difference between moving and not moving, exercising and not exercising, can literally be the difference between life and death. But senior citizens often have compromised vision or hearing. Some have balancing difficulties. Many have osteoporosis, and many have arthritis.
• Weight bearing exercise, such as walking, helps stave off advancement of osteoporosis.
• Daily walking helps stave off advances in arthritis.
• Compromised hearing, compromised vision, and compromised balance make it more difficult to jump out of the way of an overly zealous bicyclist. And the result can be broken bones or worse.
• Very young children who wander and don’t really look far ahead, and who haven’t yet developed quick reflexes, are also less able to jump out of the way of overly zealous bicyclists.
• Walks are peaceful times that help relax the mind, reducing stress and promoting health. Such benefit applies to people of all ages.
• Walks also provide great learning opportunities as new things can be learned on almost every walk. Such mind strengthening applies to all ages.
• Unfortunately, with shared use trails, such benefits would be lost. The solitude would be compromised or eliminated, depending on the relative amount of bike traffic.
• When trails become a danger, many people just quietly stop hiking in the parks, thereby missing out on the health benefits.
• Close encounters with wildlife such as a doe or fawn, a squirrel, a flock of turkeys, etc., is a very important part of the park experience – as evidenced by the many nature hikers, birders, and photographers. Bikes tend to spook wildlife, causing the animals to constantly be on the move or to avoid the areas of the trails. As a result, the caring, thoughtful users of the park miss out.
• It is also quite possible that increased bike traffic in the park will result in more animal vehicle collisions on surrounding roads.
• Broken bones, be they arms, legs, or necks, are not good for bike riders. People should not be riding bikes on trails that were not made for bikes – no matter how big the thrill. (The county cannot afford the legal expense if a bicyclist on a county approved, but dangerous, trail gets hurt.)

• Build safe paths or sidewalks linking neighborhoods to county parks, playgrounds, sporting fields, etc.
• Consider establishing bus routes to and from parks, playgrounds, and sporting fields.
• Develop park-based summer recreation/exercise programs.
• Provide certificates for those who walk 100 plus miles at a particular park over the course of a season.
• Provide certificates for those who paddle 100 plus miles.
• Provide certificates for those who cross-country ski 100 plus miles.
• Install exercise platforms (for sit-ups, chin-ups, etc.) within the parks.
• Offer instructional nature hikes, where people also get exercise.
• Establish a youth cross country skiing program at appropriate parks.