Off-road mountain biking is a good example. Relatively unheard of before the 1980s, involvement in this activity in the 1990s has grown, by some estimates, by as much as one-half million people. While this is a small fraction of participants compared to the number of people who hike on trails, interactions between off-road mountain bikers and hikers have led to conflict between users and even displacement of some users. At the same time, the impacts of mountain biking on trails not designed for that activity has led to degradation of the resources. Thus, while relatively small numbers of people participate, off-road mountain biking has commanded significant attention from recreation participants and resource providers.
Horseback riding is another example.
Newly passed legislation may, however, drastically change participation rates. The new law places the liability for injuries with the rider, not with the stable owner. This could pave the way for additional riding stables, which will need trails to ride on. By better anticipating these sorts of changes in recreation in the future, managers could create opportunities to improve outcomes. Thus, some activities with lower participation rates merit special attention.