Editor,

A group of us ride our mountain bikes in the Putney Woods on a weekly basis and have noticed that someone has been cutting roots out of the trails. I can only assume that the purpose of this is to make it easier to walk or ride on the trails. I find this to be disturbing as it is not only damaging a living tree but will also most likely contribute to erosion in that area. If the person is cutting these out to make their passage easier, I would like to point out that there are many other more accessible trails in the Putney Woods and on the South End of the island that are mostly root free or completely root free. Another thing to note is that while some trail users find these roots to be a hassle to navigate, others of us enjoy the challenge of trying to navigate over them.

Ed Stringer

Langley