Popular advertising features more off trail riding than on. It is foolish to empower our own demise. There is no Land Manager left in this country who supports cross country random travel. There is no outdoors lover who supports the constant damage of random off-trail tire marks from bikes. We can no longer support a destructive approach to our sport.
T here is also NO excuse for a mountain biker to intentionally ride off trail.
If we truly love singletrack, we are fools to destroy it through constant widening from errant tire marks. If we want new trails and new access we cannot be viewed as the thorn in the side of the great outdoors. I love the outdoors, I love riding my bike out there. If I as a mountain biker cannot use singletrack without destroying it, then why should I be allowed to use it at all. I better learn to use it without negative impact, or I am my own enemy.