Collision Warning

Mountain biking

Motorcycle use on a stretch of trail featured recently in Classic Trips in the Inland Northwest could be a dangerous surprise to mountain bikers, says Esther McDonald, vice president of the Panhandle Trail Riders Assoc.

The “Silver Hill Mountain Bike Tour” (Outdoors, Aug. 25) begins on trails used exclusively by mountain bikers and heads into a stretch of trail that is frequently used by motorcyclists and ATVers, McDonald said.

“From the Big Pine Saddle Junction south, the mountain bikers will be leaving the security and safety of their exclusive bicycle trail system,” she said. “The mountain bikers need to know they will encounter motorcycle traffic.

McDonald said she’s particularly concerned with Trail 111, which is well-maintained by the Trail Riders. The trail encourages downhill speed that might be dangerous should a mountain biker cross paths with a motorcyclists speeding uphill. , DataTimes