Militant bikers take matters into their own hands to get a bike path....

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/5523188.htm
ryarger@rypn.org

Good to see communism alive and well in the United States.

> Militant bikers take matters into their own
> hands to get a bike path....


tnold@northtexastransport.org

> Good to see communism alive and well in the
> United States.

Actually, I think that this is an example of pure libertarianism, or anarchy. The people in the story are true entrepreneurs as they are using their own tools and taking action on their own volition. If only our system of tort would recognize personal responsibility with such zeal. What most people would call communism would be where the track would be state owned and state operated, or it would be mothballed for future use. In such a system, if somebody wanted to use the ROW then they would have to apply to the state for a permit.

rrhistorian@hotmail.com

If you check, you will see that this is in California, which is quite a bit left politically than the rest of USA. Me, I'll wait until a trail is paved. ANY activity on an active track without proper authorization is not very smart.

> Good to see communism alive and well in the
> United States.


acp19809@yahoo.com

I sure hope the UP follows through on thier threat. Arrest them all. Then sue them for the costs they incure in the process. OH and sieze there dumb A@# bike and throw it in the nearest mill gon going to the scrap yard.
These people need to wake up and smell the coffee. this is Private property and the owner can do with it as they see fit. Maybe someone needs to turn the bike owners property into something "usefull" like a landfill. Hey I need some place to dispose of my garbage.
What about the jobs at the cement plant that could be lost due to lack of rail service. I guess it's more important for a few bikers have a place to ride then the workers have a way to feed thier family's

irss@eriecoast.com

I have just written the journalist and his senior editor a sternly written letter. Paragraphs on these people's desire to unilaterally take over private property and dangerous industrial infrastructure, and all their rationailzations for their illegal and unethical acts. Three sentences from the undisputed legal owner of that property. Paragraphs for the vandal, 3 sentences from the victim. Rrrrrrrrr.



eledbetter@rypn.org

I certainly hope that all the railway museums have thier property posted against this activiaty and have thier railway police patrolling the tracks, being ever so vigilant, straining too see any illegal activities. Or better yet, maybe ask for J. Ashcroft for some satillite surveylance. I mean, what if some terrorist uses a locomotive and gets out onto the mainline of some major RR.
Perhaps ask for a new FBI office to be located nearby, they are asking to expand into other countries, so why not here ?

Frankly, having traveled the Santa Cruz area on a regular basis, the most I've ever seen is people crossing the tracks (heaven forbid!!) to get to the beach. You all make it sound like there is so much illegal activity that this will soon take over the nation. This is a branch line that sees 3 to 4 trains a week.

Yes, this is tresspassing, but let's not make a mountain out of what appears to be an ant hill. Give wieght where wieght is due. Frankly I be more worried about these folks crashing into one another. This would be a major issue. Who or what is resposnable for the signaling system? What, the UP did not add signals to the R.R. for these things ?

Thank fully this is April fools, other wise, I'm not sure I could take this all seriously. Really, labeling people is a sure way to make others see your point and see who you really are.

Karl Johnson



karl_johnson@ci.sf.ca.us

> Good to see communism alive and well in the
> United States.

Sigh... When the name calling starts, the listening, and especially the thinking stops. You don't have to be a communist to covet your neighbor's or public goods, lands or natural resources. There's plenty of legislation on the tables in backrooms in Washington and various state capitols intending to remove your right to redress of grievances and deny our rights of involvement in public policy... and it's not being sponsored or pushed by people you'd call communist.

Anyhow, back on topic: I suspect this is the web page referred to in the newspaper article.

http://rrbike.freeservers.com/

Beyond reminding people to only ride on "ABANDONED" rail lines, I didn't see much info addressing the issues of safety or legality.



Washington Steam Railroads and Locomotives
brianf425@yahoo.com

BryanF, I will try to remain within the confines of good RYPN etiquette by replying to your flaming privately, through email. Please check your inbox folder after reading this.

As for my original comment, I think railbiking is a great thing and I would like to see more routes open for access. But some selfish activist advocating trespass on active railroad property is wrong and dangerous.

Main Entry: com·mu·nism
Pronunciation: 'käm-y&-"ni-z&m
Function: noun
Etymology: French communisme, from commun common
Date: 1840
1 a : a theory advocating elimination of private property b : a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed

Regards,

Andy Nold

> Sigh... When the name calling starts, the
> listening, and especially the thinking
> stops. You don't have to be a communist to
> covet your neighbor's or public goods, lands
> or natural resources. There's plenty of
> legislation on the tables in backrooms in
> Washington and various state capitols
> intending to remove your right to redress of
> grievances and deny our rights of
> involvement in public policy... and it's not
> being sponsored or pushed by people you'd
> call communist.

> Anyhow, back on topic: I suspect this is the
> web page referred to in the newspaper
> article.

> http://rrbike.freeservers.com/

> Beyond reminding people to only ride on
> "ABANDONED" rail lines, I didn't
> see much info addressing the issues of
> safety or legality.


tnold@northtexastransport.org

Whatever happened to the guy in New Hampshire who was building and selling railbikes about 15 years ago? I recall he created quite a hubub then. Is he still in business?

ryarger@rypn.org

> Whatever happened to the guy in New
> Hampshire...Is he still in
> business?

Could that be Rons Riders in Franklin New Hampshire? Link is below.

Here's another: The Amazing Bentley Railbike
http://railbikes.freeservers.com/

Rons Riders
kalbrandt@rypn.org

Ron Forster is the one I was thinking of. Looks like he has gained some credibility and is operating on the former Wolfeboro RR, which also has a motorcar group to maintain it.

> Could that be Rons Riders in Franklin New
> Hampshire? Link is below.

> Here's another: The Amazing Bentley Railbike
> http://railbikes.freeservers.com/


ryarger@rypn.org

> If you check, you will see that this is in
> California, which is quite a bit left
> politically than the rest of USA. Me, I'll
> wait until a trail is paved. ANY activity on
> an active track without proper authorization
> is not very smart.
This is in Santa Cruz which is usually crazier than the rest of the state, any farther west and you get wet. I worry that some fool on a rail bike will challenge the right of way of a 1000 ton train and the local press will moan about his needless death at the hands of the terrible railroad.
Tom

ironbartom@aol.com

They're one step closer to doing so...

Proposal to buy U.P. line on a new track
71446975@quixnet.net