There are clear overlaps of interests between the organized cycling and hiking communities which should be enough for us to work together and protect our trails against ORVs, rednecks, ignorant politicians, etc. Elitist attitudes can be more destructive than an organized logging lobby, because stop coalition building before it even starts.
Narrow views lead to narrow achievements and narrow victories.
Whether that's good or bad, I don't know, but the longstanding foot-only history of the trail is what has kept it that way. Build a new trail today and there are simply more outdoor interest groups to deal with. Work with right ones and you'll get a lot farther than you otherwise would. Elitist attitudes can be more destructive than an organized logging lobby, because stop coalition building before it even starts. Narrow views lead to narrow achievements and narrow victories.