Southern California Message Boards

What should the County have done to prevent his death? Killed all the mountain lions? Erect a tunnel of barb wire over the top of all trails and fireroads to prevent mountain lion attacks?

Why are you blaming Mark Reynolds?

Come on.. You have got to be kidding me ! This can be motivated by nothing more than greed. I didn't know Mark personally, but from the info I have read about him he seemed to be a guy who was a seasoned rider who loved riding in the foothills and was probably well aware of what creatures inhabited the places where he rode.

I seriously doubt that Mark would approve of such a lawsuit. If the parents of Mark Reynolds win this lawsuit (slim chance), the ramifications could be staggering. This could potentially put an end to riding in places where Mark himself spent much of his time. From what I read about Mark, he focused both his career and recreation around sports and the outdoors. The fact that his family is attacking the very thing that their son loved so much is beyond pathetic.

Looks like Mark's Parents are the individuals who run the Mark Reynolds Memorial Bike Fund (see info below). After hearing about this latest litigation, I imagine that many people will no longer want to support the events that benefit this fund (rim nordic) , but lets hope that the funds sent to this worthy foundation can not be used for other purposes (which is probably the case). The foundation has raised a lot of money to provide bikes to kids, so lets hope that the absurd actions by his parents will not tarnish the future of this foundation. Take a minute and visit http://www.markreynoldsfund.com for more info.

It's hard to believe that his parents are too stupid to see the fact that their actions might indirectly effect funds donated to Marks foundation. As hard as it may be, lets try not to jump the gun on this and assume that money from this foundation could go towards this frivolous litigation.

I'm just as pissed off about this lawsuit as anyone, but we all should try and separate our anger about this lawsuit (which is justified), from the fantasic charitable work done by the Mark Reynolds Memorial Bike Fund.

Anyway.. here is the info from http://www.bikeleague.org/mediacenter/e-news021405.htm

It’s easy for us to spend a lot of time posting about trails, bike parts and adventures, but it’s difficult sometimes to put effort into getting involved. This is a time to get involved however.

I think I’m pretty consistent on standing up for access issues, and sometimes that takes the form of e-mails, phone calls, letters to badger the County Parks and the County Supervisors; or by showing my face at the meetings to let them know these issues are not forgotten. But in this case I think we need to stand firm with the County and send letters of support to the County Parks and the Supervisors stating our personal positions on this law suit.

I believe that the County has zero liability on this issue and has demonstrated legitimate due diligence in all of the wilderness areas by making the hazards known to the park users.

Please take the time to write polite letters to the Reynolds family letting them know that this was simply an unfortunate and unusual incident and no one is to blame; and also send letters to the County to demonstrate to them that we are here to support them in this case. I think it would be difficult for anyone to win a case against the County if there were hundreds or thousands of local trail users who were willing to stand up and state that we are all clearly aware of the dangers of the wilderness areas and feel that the County has fully warned us of these dangers.

We need to put just as much effort into this as we do into badgering the County to get off their duff and get the RMP review for Aliso-Woods started. We should always try to stay consistently involved in the issues that pertain to our sport and trail access.

Get your letters out to the Family and to the County by the end of the week.

I too am distressed at this frivolous law suit. I met mark on numerous occasions on the trails near Whiting, and I’m sure he was well aware of the inherent risks of riding alone in a wilderness area as most of us are. Even with all of the warning signs posted at the park entrances, and the postings of recent lion sightings; many of us still proceed to ride and train alone knowing that it is still extremely rare to even catch a glimpse of a lion in Orange County. Every single time I enter a Federal, State or County gate past the wilderness warning signs; I put the responsibility for anything that may befall me solely on my shoulders………..as did Mark.

As mountain bikers, we are at a much greater risk of injury or death from our own actions than of those from any wild predator. Mark’s unfortunate incident was a rare and unusual event that no one could have predicted; and no one can be blamed for except Mark. We all make our own choices in life and Mark made the precise same choice that many wilderness users make every day throughout the county (ie…to enter a known wilderness alone for personal pleasure with the full knowledge and information that there is an inherent risk to do so).

I grieve for Marks untimely death, and sympathize with his family’s loss; but his family needs to realize that no one was to blame here, and they need to rescind this frivolous law suit and stop making a mockery of the judicial system. Good things and bad things happen in life, and many times things happen that are out of the control of everyone.

I would appeal to his family to please stop this insanity and let the good that Mark did in life be remembered, and the good that continues through his foundation continue to thrive. Mark was by no means a self-centered greedy person; and this law suit simply is not the way Mark would want his memory to be represented.

However, while I don't agree with Dona's actions in the least, I do believe that what we did that day, January 31st, 2004, was for a good cause and that money has come back and helped our community this past year.

The money was split evenly between Mark's family and Anne, Mark's share being spent on something near and dear to his heart; bikes for kids. It was done just before Christmas '04 and bikes were given to children of needy families in Orange County, furthering the worthy cause that Mark held close and helping kids to love bikes the way we all do.

What I'm trying to say here is that your efforts last January were put to the right cause; kids and Anne's bills and recovery. Let's not degrade the amazing event and community that you all became because of one person's lack of understanding and perhaps misplaced ill will.

No matter how much of a nightmare it was to put on, I would do it again if the money were going to needy kids and Anne's medical bills. However, going forward, I would ask organizations related to cycling be informed as to how this chairity that Dona runs is affecting our sport and passion and hopefully make a wise decision as to the status of their donations. I'm sure there is another local program that does the same thing...

Oh yeah, SHARE did it last year with twenty bikes unrelated to Dona's giveaway.

Back into my salad years...

Our intention was not to upset his friends, fellow bikers, biking clubs and National Biking Associations, biking related companies, nor the trails in which the enjoyment of biking prevails..

The Reynolds Family felt safety issues were a prime concern.

Legal Council will be instructed to dismiss the filing in Orange County, California

Sincerely,