By Charles Pekow — Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has once again proposed legislation to allow mountain biking in wilderness areas, shifting the current national prohibition to the discretion of local federal land managers. The Human Powered Travel in Wilderness Areas Act (S. 4561) has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, but as of mid-August, no other senator has co-sponsored the bill.
The bill aims to repeal an Interior Department regulation that bans bicycles in wilderness areas, which Lee argues are often difficult for people to access and enjoy without vehicles. The proposed legislation would enable local officials to establish rules regarding party sizes, speed limits, and seasonal restrictions.
Lee has introduced this legislation in every Congress since at least 2016 as part of a bid to strip protections of wilderness areas and open public lands to development. More details can be found at Sen. Mike Lee’s Official Website (https://www.lee.senate.gov/2024/6/lee-introduces-trio-of-bills-defending-access-to-public-lands).
In other news, Mike Lee is still an idiot.
