The diversity of species affected makes the analysis more complex. Therefore, all four of the proposed alternatives for part one of the EIS ought to allow bicycling within roadless areas. The social values issue relates to diverse perceptions, opinions, and philosophies held by Americans. This is the reason bikes are banned in Wilderness under current interpretation of the Wilderness Act. The tenets of Wilderness management should not be applied to roadless areas.
Mountain bicycling is human powered, silent recreation.
It helps people appreciate and respect nature, motivating them to protect it. Nature needs a human constituency that includes mountain bicyclists. Smaller, Uninventoried Roadless Areas IMBA recommends that the agency adopt a rule or policy that encourages individual national forests to examine smaller roadless areas on a site-specific basis, with thorough public participation. A prohibition on road building in these areas could benefit bicyclists. The Notice of Intent specifically requested comment on the Tongass National Forest in Alaska.