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Re: [OM] Traffic in National Parks (was "eat your heart out...")

Subject: Re: [OM] Traffic in National Parks (was "eat your heart out...")
From: Gregg Iverson <giverson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1999 22:50:41 -0400
The solution used by Mackinac Island a State Park in Northern Michigan
is to have only bikes and horses on the island (rescue vehicles
excepted).  It makes for an interesting visit, but it is only about 3
miles in circumference.  Not practical for NPs.

Gregg

Chris Barker wrote:
> 
> George
> 
>
> But, how else do you change from what is clearly an unsatisfactory situation?
> Should it be backpackers only?  Better still, *ban backpackers* and re-instil
> the idea of adventure by having to break the law to enter the beautiful 
> Yosemite
> (I'm only half-joking BTW ;-)).  I don't know the answer.  You should see
> Rothenberg in Germany (on the Romantische Strasse), a beautiful small walled
> town in Bavaria which allows no cars (good), but allows all the huge buses 
> with
> tourists to disgorge their passengers to their hotels with their engines 
> running
> (100%) in the centre of the town.  The streets are tiny...
> 
> We have only visited a few NPs in the West (saw Yellowstone in May 1990, still
> black in places), but one of our dreams is to save up for a holiday visiting 
> the
> NPs that we missed first time round.  Can anyone assure me that that will be
> possible in 3-5 years' time?  Is the North-West (Washington) any easier?
> 
> Sadly
> 
> Chris
> 
> > Yeah, it can be.  I'm sure it'll be much better, though, after the "Grand
> > Plan" goes into effect.
> >
> >  Let's see, get rid of the cars, bring in the buses. The smelly, noisy,
> > stinking, polluting, diesel-exhaust spewing buses. Yeah, that's the ticket.
> > And we'll need lots of em, we're replacing a lot of cars.
> >
> > And we'll need staging areas - need lots of room for those buses. In fact,
> > one is already planned to be built in El Capitan meadow. What's that, use
> > existing parking lots? No, we're gonna let those go back to nature.  But El
> > Capitan Meadow is already natural. Well it's a good location.  And we'll
> > require that only 1/2 of the buses there at any one time have their engines
> > idling.  Gotta be able to see the climbers thru the haze, eh?
> >
> > Next question?   Bus breakdowns?  Maybe we'll need a maintenance garage here
> > in the valley. No? We'll just tow em back to Mariposa?  Yeah, right, in the
> > winter?  Well, we'll just have to restrict visitation in the winter.  We're
> > gonna pull out the inexpensive, rustic tent cabins anyway.  The ice rink
> > too. Why would people want to ice skate in Yosemite with a view of Half Dome
> > anyway? That's for the bourgoise. We've already decided that 3 of the
> > flood-damaged campgrounds will never be reopened.  Well, that leaves
> > Yosemite Lodge and The Ahwanee for winter visitors.  Can you say BIG
> > $$$$$$$$$$?
> >
> > Gee, I wonder how your average Ahwanee guest will enjoy transferring to a
> > bus 30 to 60 miles from Yosemite?  Not having a car available to them while
> > they're in this majestic place?   Hey, what are we gonna do with all those
> > cars the visitors are forced to leave behind, anyway?  Well, we'll just have
> > to build huge parking garages at some staging areas on the three routes into
> > Yosemite.  Yeah, big garages, that's it.  Nice and neat. $20 a day or so per
> > car oughta do it. And orderly, too. When a bus that carries 30 people shows
> > up, there'll never be 100 or more waiting, will there?
> >
> > No, we'll use a reservation system.  Maybe BASS or Ticketron.  They'll only
> > charge a $20 or so surcharge on every bus ticket.  Good for the economy, you
> > know.
> >
> > Wait! You! Where do you think you're going with that photo backpack?  You've
> > already got a suitcase. You can't bring that too!  These buses have a
> > limited capacity. And it's gonna get worse when we switchover to the
> > electric ones.  It'll take 2 1/2 hours to go the 30 miles to the park.  And
> > you'll only bring one carry-on.
> >
> > Besides, have you got a photography permit from Mr Ranger, sir?  You know
> > you can't use anything but a point'nshoot in Yosemite without a permit.
> > $1600 the permits cost, I believe.  Just fill out these forms and mail em
> > in.
> >
> > For this visit, just leave your camera gear here.  The motel handyman, Mr
> > Staynor, will take good care of it.  Yeah, the guy who was by the pool
> > talking to your wife this morning.  Where is my wife anyway, she oughtta be
> > ready by now. Honey!  Where are you anyway? Still in the pool?....
> >
> > George,     who doesnt think its a good idea.
> >
> >
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> >
> >
> 
> ~~ ><>
> Chris Barker
> Mailto: cmib@xxxxxxxxxxx or mailto: cmib@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> 
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