Here the news article published by Burnabynow
Bikes bad for nature?
City streamkeeper doesn’t think bike race should be held in conservation area
By Jennifer Moreau, Burnaby Now July 5,
Alan James, a longtime member of the Stoney Creek Environment Committee, is worried about the cumulative effects that races like the July 13 “Cardiac Classic XC” have on the trails and delicate salmon habitat. The conservation area is on the east side of the mountain, where the race will take place.
“It’s meant to be a wildlife refuge area. It’s not meant to be for commercial, recreational activities, and the headwaters of Stoney Creek, Silver Creek and Eagle Creek are all being crossed by the paths these bikers are going to be running on,” he said. “It’s not just this one event. It’s the cumulative effect of all of these things on the mountain, and I don’t see how they are going to be able to devise a sustainability strategy for Burnaby and carry on with that activity.”
James is mostly concerned that heightened activity in the conservation area leads to erosion of trails and sediment washing into creeks and smothering salmon eggs. As a member of the Stoney Creek Environment Committee, James, along with other volunteers, has worked for years to bolster local salmon populations in the creek by monitoring water quality, removing invasive species and releasing tiny salmon into the water.
James is also concerned the race will damage vegetation along the trails and disturb wildlife.
“This one race by itself probably isn’t going to do a tremendous amount of visible damage at this one time, but this kind of race over and over again over a long period of time is going to do damage,” he said.
In a promotional description of the race, organizers say “a few hundred cyclists and volunteers will descend on Burnaby Mountain with bikes, food and swag in tow.” The city’s parks department is supporting the race, along with the Burnaby Mountain Biking Association and Cycling B.C. James wants the city to protect keep the conservation area as a place for wildlife.
“It’s a money issue for Burnaby tourism,” he said. “We just think the city should be more diligent protecting this as a wildlife refuge area rather than a commercial recreation area.”