We are delighted to report that Senator Mike Lee of Utah introduced the Human-Powered Travel in Wilderness Areas Act, S.3205, on July 13, 2016.

This modest reform will effectively revert the rules regarding bikes and Wilderness back to what they were from 1981 to 1984, when access was conditionally allowed.  This bill will reaffirm the original goal of Congress with the Wilderness Act which intended that non-motorized, unconfined recreation be allowed.

The Human-Powered Travel in Wilderness Areas Act also includes a section on maintenance that will allow the use of wheelbarrows and small scale motorized equipment (chainsaw), to insure that the trails in our Wilderness Areas are traversable.

We believe, and hope you concur, that this very reasonable and moderate change in the law represents the original intent of Congress, will improve recreational opportunities in our public lands, improve maintenance of our trail system, and allow quiet, low impact, human powered travel.