Shenandoah National Park Needs to Hear from You
Your input needed by end of day Friday April 4. Please take 5 minutes to tell the
Shenandoah National Park that you want to see bicycles on the administrative roads in the park. While this document will not include actions or management strategies, it is important for the park to hear from area cyclists. Keep in mind that bicycles are currently only allowed on paved roads within the park which limits usage to the Skyline Drive. We have some of the key points that we would love for you to emphasize in your response:
- Importance of the Skyline Drive to the region as a key attraction to make our area a bicycle tourism destination.
- Opportunity for the Shenandoah National Park to provide safe and car free places for families and children to ride on existing and gated administrative roads.
- Need for safe bicycle connections between the Shenandoah/Page counties and the VA Piedmont. Especially as the region becomes known as a cycling destination.
- Request bicycle access to suitable administrative roads that exist within in the park that are currently closed to bicycles.
- Tell your own story about why you would like the park to open administrative roads to bicycles and how important it would be for you and your family.
- Write in your Comments Now
Take Action NOW and comment on the SNP Foundation Document
From the SNP Website:
Shenandoah Foundation Document Questions
The National Park Service is starting the process of preparing a Foundation Document for planning and management for Shenandoah National Park. The Park would like to invite the public to join in this effort.
A Foundation Document involves revisiting the Park’s core purpose and significance, most important resources and values, and the interpretive themes that tell Shenandoah’s important stories. The Foundation Document is not a decision-making document and does not include actions or management strategies. It describes a shared understanding of what is most important about the Park. In this capacity, the Foundation Document will reestablish the underlying guidance for future management and planning decisions for Shenandoah National Park. Because many of the Park’s original planning documents are out of date, preparing the Foundation Document is the first step for considering Shenandoah’s future planning and study needs.
The National Park Service invites you to play a role in charting the Park’s future by sharing your thoughts on what is most important about Shenandoah National Park, and to help identify its most pressing threats and its greatest opportunities. Park staff will take your thoughts and feedback into consideration as they prepare the Foundation Document.
Tell the Shenandoah National Park that you want better bicycle access to administrative roads.
9 Responses
Shenandoah National Park is a destination known for it’s beauty and majestice views. As a cyclist in the area and a member of the larger regional cyclist community throughout the mid-atlantic, north and south east it’s important to protect this national treasure. The SNP is used regularly by road cycling groups and needs to have roadways and facilities to accomodate safe cycling such as cycling lanes and rest stops. Also the SNP is has some of the BEST single track trails for mountain biking on the east coast. This is due in large part to the strong mountain bike community in the Valley and the hard work and rffort the has been put in the build and manitian these trails in a way that is not disruptive to the natural environment. Considerations should be put in place to maintain the balance of recreational multi-use and protected wildlife areas. The ideal scenario does not allow for industrial use of the land what-so-ever but, only conservation and recreational use to protect the water, land, and wildlife.
Hi Jenny,
Thanks so much for this thoughtful comment. If you haven’t already, we’d love it if you would tell SNP your opinion, so they can take it into account in their future plans. You can tell them here: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?documentID=58069 – See more at: https://svbcbackup.dreamhosters.com/shenandoah-national-park-needs-to-hear-from-you/#comment-2927
Good day,
I grew up in page county and have a residence on tanners ridge: the park has been an integral part of my life. However, as I spent more and more time cycling i find myself being pushed away from the park. When friends visit for the valleys cycling we are never near the park–if we could gain access to greater portions this dynamic would completely change, the park would cecum an integral part of our cycling experience. Please please please open more of the park to this segment of our community!
Thank you!
Keith
Hi Keith,
Thanks so much for your comment! If you haven’t already, we’d love it if you would tell SNP your opinion, so they can take it into account in their future plans. You can tell them here: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?documentID=58069
Please consider allowing bikes along the gravel roads within the park.The old Turnpikes thru gaps.Thanks,Will
Hi Will,
Thanks for taking part in this effort! If you haven’t already, we’d love it if you would tell SNP your opinion, so they can take it into account in their future plans. You can tell them here: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?documentID=58069
Gravel would be great! Seeing more of the park would also be a treat! It is a special place to many people.
Hi Nathan,
Awesome comment! If you want SNP to hear your opinion, you can add your voice to the discussion here: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?documentID=58069
Mountain biking in Shenandoah National Park was one of the greatest experiences and highlights during a mountain bike expedition we made a couple years ago with mt bikers from Sweden, England and Guatemala.
Shenandoah National Park has so much to show and offer to cyclists and mt bikers of the world in terms of nature, forests, geology and scenic views.
The local mountain bike community that guided us in our bikes thoughout SNP, not only cared for the protection of the natural environment, but they also educated us about the types of forest there are and explained to us the exciting geological history of how SNP was formed as we reached one of the most scenic views in the Park.
The long term sustainability of a protected area will only be acquired by reaching a balance among environmental, economic and social sustainability.
The local mt bike community is interested in the conservation of SNP, they are allies who will defend its conservation generation after generation.
The US is known worldwide for its experience in National Parks management, conservation and visitor management.
I am sure you will all find convenient measures in order to meet the objectives of conservation taking into account the spiritual value this Park has for the local people as well as the importance it can acquire internationally as a good example of sustainable tourism management.
I wish you all the best!