Mike Vandeman

[Milosboy]

What does everyone here on these forums think of him? He's an extremely well known anti-MTB activist, who assaulted a few bikers on restricted trails with a handsaw. He got 8 days in jail after arrest and a month with the SWAP program.

[knoxuni]

I HATE him. i got to meet him once and ya.......

[uni57]

Yikes! I never heard of him. But if he's willing to assault a GROUP of mountain bikers back in the woods far from civilization and away from watchful eyes, then I think this would be a self-correcting problem.

[nick]

Originally Posted by uni57

Yikes! I never heard of him. But if he's willing to assault a GROUP of mountain bikers back in the woods far from civilization and away from watchful eyes, then I think this would be a self-correcting problem.

There are people like that in every sport. Anyone who climbs in the North East (USA) probably knows about Ken Nichols. Famous for a ton of first ascents, and also for chopping bolts. The climbing community is super divided, but generally people either love him or hate him (to the point of court cases and death threats).

-Nick

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by nick

There are people like that in every sport. Anyone who climbs in the North East (USA) probably knows about Ken Nichols. Famous for a ton of first ascents, and also for chopping bolts. The climbing community is super divided, but generally people either love him or hate him (to the point of court cases and death threats).

-Nick

Just like Ken, Mike is the enemy of outlaws who violate the environment and give everyone a bad name.

He is loved by true citizens who love the Earth and do right.

What do you think of him?

It brings up another point, though. Should chain saws be registered?

Should anyone be allowed to have a chainsaw in their home, if only for self protection?

Chainsaw manufacturers have lobbied against "chainsaw control" despite the numerous injuries and deaths chainsaws cause every year.

you've seen the slogan on bumper stickers everywhere.
"Chainsaws don't kill people, people kill people."

Facts and Figures about Chainsaw Injuries

According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission there were over 28,500 chain saw injuries in 1999. More than 36% were injuries to the legs and knees.
The average chainsaw injury requires 110 stitches and the average medical cost was $ 5,600.00 in 1989. Data according to The Davis Garvin Agency, an insurance underwriter specializing in loggers insurance. In year 2000 corresponding costs can be estimated to be over $12,000.00.
Medical costs for chainsaw injuries based on these facts amount to about 350 million dollars per year.

[King Of Suede]

Those look like some old stats, Billy =/

And sure chainsaws are dangerous. But so are electronic appliances, if not used correctly.
Should we have to register our microwave, oven, tv, clocks, computers, blah blah...

I don't know much about Mike Vandeman, but from a quick google search and a few readings, he seems like the Jack Thompson of MTB. I don't know of anyone who would like him unless they were an over-controlling parent who doesn't want to see their little poopsikin do anything that might hurt them in the slightest.

Found a good FAQ about Vandeman though:
http://evergreenmtb.org/php/show_page.php?page_id=32
xD

[nick]

I admire his ideals and hate his tactics. This could start a much bigger discussion with me...

I'm slowly building my view of the world. I'm starting with this fact:

I choose to live within society. If I wish to leave society, I can retreat to the wilderness. There are many places on the planet where I could disappear to and have little or no contact with any form of society for many years. There are many things I don't like about society, but I do enjoy things like unicycles, electricity, and other human beings who have also chosen to remain within society.

Originally Posted by BillyTheMountain

Just like Ken, Mike is the enemy of outlaws who violate the environment and give everyone a bad name.

He is loved by true citizens who love the Earth and do right.

What do you think of him?

It brings up another point, though. Should chain saws be registered?

Should anyone be allowed to have a chainsaw in their home, if only for self protection?

Chainsaw manufacturers have lobbied against "chainsaw control" despite the numerous injuries and deaths chainsaws cause every year.

you've seen the slogan on bumper stickers everywhere.
"Chainsaws don't kill people, people kill people."

Facts and Figures about Chainsaw Injuries

According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission there were over 28,500 chain saw injuries in 1999. More than 36% were injuries to the legs and knees.
The average chainsaw injury requires 110 stitches and the average medical cost was $ 5,600.00 in 1989. Data according to The Davis Garvin Agency, an insurance underwriter specializing in loggers insurance. In year 2000 corresponding costs can be estimated to be over $12,000.00.
Medical costs for chainsaw injuries based on these facts amount to about 350 million dollars per year.

[Into the blue]

Send him our way, we'll set Billy on him.

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by nick

I choose to live within society.

Then you have nothing to fear from Mike. He only goes for outlaws.

[uniaddict]

That guy is a dick. Nuff said.

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by uniaddict

That guy is a dick. Nuff said.

addicts and outlaws belong together

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by King Of Suede

Those look like some old stats, Billy =/

are you duped by the lobbyists that want EVERYONE carrying chainsaws in their holsters? Is there a constitutional right to own a chainsaw?

[johnfoss]

Is this the Mike Vandeman from Oakland, CA? Wait til Tom Holub sees this thread. He's had a few "run-ins" with that guy. In the end, he went to jail, and we got to race unicycles on several of his precious, multi-use trails at U Games last summer.

[nick]

Originally Posted by johnfoss

Is this the Mike Vandeman from Oakland, CA? Wait til Tom Holub sees this thread. He's had a few "run-ins" with that guy. In the end, he went to jail, and we got to race unicycles on several of his precious, multi-use trails at U Games last summer.

I was curious as to what he would say about Muni. Interesting that he'd had run ins with someone on one wheel.

[Milosboy]

Billy, it's not just outlaws he goes after, or people on restricted trails. As I said earlier, MV is an anti-mountain... cycling, activist. He believes that all trails should be restricted to cyclists, due to an increased level of erosion and environmental damage caused by cycling. However, that has yet to really be proven. A lot of studies have flaws.

The point is, he is trying to get multi use trails and turn them into single use trails, for hikers.
He hangs out on a lot of MTB forums. I'm surprised he isn't here yet, with our big MUni community.