I’m responding to Bill McEwen’s Oct. 25 column about the Interior Department’s decision to not allow the Tour of California bicycle race in Yosemite National Park.
Mr. McEwen’s position that not allowing bicycle races that attract large crowds visiting the park solely to cheer on the riders is closing off the park to everyone but government bureaucrats and environmentalists is a ridiculous stretch.
Large crowds of people standing on the sides of park roads require the expenditure of scarce park resources and personnel for security, crowd control and environmental protection.
They disrupt the normal flow of traffic, and restrict viewing opportunities for those visitors there to enjoy the park for what it was created for — enjoying its scenery and natural wonders.
The idea behind the creation of the national parks — preserving unique natural wonders that all Americans can enjoy and providing people the opportunity to experience nature on its own terms — is not at all inconsistent with national parks prohibiting spectator sports that have many other possible venues.
Mark Reedy
Sunnyvale
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