Bicycles in Parks
The tragic death in a bicycle accident in Topanga State Park of financier George H. Michaelis, 59, brings into sharp focus what we have been saying all along: State Parks and the National Parks Service must reevaluate their “laissez faire” attitude about bicycles using trails indiscriminately in the Santa Monica Mountains.
The profession and the age of the victim serve to point out that accidents are not merely caused by young daredevils who are careless joy riders, but are the result of bicycles being allowed where it is not safe for them to be at all. The stewardship of the Santa Monicas rests with the state parks and the National Parks Service. It is time they took another look at their policies, so there will be no more fatalities.
DAPHNE ELLIOTT
Agoura
Elliott is vice president, Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council
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