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Conference noted::bicycle

Title:	Bicycling
Notice:	Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:	JAMIN::WASSER

Created:	Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	3214
Total number of notes:	31946

3105.0. "Disaterous ride to Silver Lake Park (Hollis, NH)" by QUAKKS::BURTON (Jim Burton, DTN 381-0272) Wed Jun 19 1996 09:00

Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday), we decided to ride our mountain bikes from
Nashua to Silver Lake State Park in Hollis, NH and take a picnic dinner.  When
we arrived, the park was deserted except for one family and two park rangers.
As soon as we rode into the park one of the rangers came running over and said
"no bikes are allowed in the park. You will have to lock them outside". We
brought no locks and had planned to just lean them on the picnic table or a
nearby tree.  I asked him where is said no bikes and he told me right on the
sign at the park entrance.  We walked over and looked at the sign but there was
no mention regarding bikes.  He claimed someone must have stolen the sign.  I
told him since there is no sign, there is no ordinance and we were going to
take our bikes into the park. 

He left and came back with his boss, the chief ranger who said there was no
written rule prohibiting bikes, but they make up the rules as they need them
and bikes are not allowed in the park for "safety reasons".  He threatened to
call the police if we didn't leave immediately.  My response was there is no
rule prohibiting us from being here with bikes, so what are the police going to
do?  I pointed out a bike (probably belonging to one of the rangers) that was
leaning against the ranger station. After 5 minutes of heated argument, he
finally said we could lean the bikes against the picnic table and eat our
dinner.  The park was totally deserted at that time.  We quickly ate and left
the park. 

This is a prime example of too many 'chiefs' and too many rules and laws in
today's society.  It turned what should have been a nice family outing into
a disaster.

Jim

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
3105.1		WMOIS::GIROUARD_C		`Wed Jun 19 1996 09:31`	6
	Too many chiefs? I would prefer to call it idiots in charge. I applaud you for your insistance. I would have probably invited the phone call to the police. Chip
3105.2	Thankfully, a lot of Rangers are Mountainbikers	ENQUE::MCGOWAN		`Wed Jun 19 1996 12:57`	8
	How does the saying go? "Give a man a hat" isn't it? Fair dues to you for calling his bluff. You should have offered to make the call yourself! Peter
3105.3	TRY WALLACE GROVE	MKOTS3::JARZOMBEK		`Wed Jun 19 1996 15:46`	17
	This happened to me quite a few years ago. I was turned away by the park "police". It was Sunday and they said I could park my expensive road bike in the parking lot. Instead, I went to the other side of the lake to Wallace Grove - the owners there treated me great. They let me park my bike inside by the beach area. I informed them that I was training for triathlons, and was granted permission to swim round the lake from their area as often as I like. I no longer live in Nashua and now swim at Lake Horace, but for many years while in Nashua I swam out of Wallace Grove. Coming North on 122 from Rt 130, you can access Wallace Grove by taking the last left just before the lake. It is just a short distance down on your right. ENJOY! JJ
3105.4		UHUH::LUCIA	http://asaab.zko.dec.com/~lucia/biography.html	`Wed Jun 19 1996 18:02`	5
	Hollis is becoming very anti-cycling, from all the stuff I've heard of late. I don't know if the cops would be very helpful... They've shutdown the old NVC ride, more or less, on Tuesday night. Tim
3105.5		WMOIS::GIROUARD_C		`Thu Jun 20 1996 07:26`	5
	Must explain why they don't hold the Hollis Road Race anymore. I loved that race. Chip
3105.6	Hollis Police	MKOTS3::WTHOMAS		`Thu Jun 20 1996 17:38`	4
	Don't know of other's experience but, when in that area, I stop by the Hollis Police Dep't (also off 122) for using the bathroom and water refills. They've always been friendly. Next time I'm by there I'll ask them about the park gestapo.
3105.7	been there, heard nothing	EDSCLU::NICHOLS		`Fri Jun 21 1996 10:56`	7
	> Don't know of other's experience but, when in that area, I stop by the > Hollis Police Dep't (also off 122) for using the bathroom and water I go on a group ride Monday nights that waits for stragglers in their parking lot. No one has ever said anything to us (that I know of.) --roger