The Region - News from June 30, 1987

Today is the last day for biking the mountainous back country of Santa Catalina Island. As of July 1, the only way to enjoy the areas outside the tourism port of Avalon will be on foot or on a bus. The Catalina Conservancy, the private foundation that owns 86% of the island’s 76 square miles, said in announcing the ban that it was needed because hot-rod bikers were a safety hazard to themselves and others and were damaging the fragile environment. However, conservancy President Doug Propst said his organization is considering ways of permitting limited biking, including the possibility of guided bike tours on weekends, and will soon set up a committee to explore this and other options. In the meantime, Propst said, the ban is on. Violators will first be warned and told to walk their bikes out. A continued violation will lead to a trespassing citation, he said.