Trail Advocates - Are they visible enough

I've been biting my lips on this one,but I have no more lips to bit!!!

Yes we are visible,but people do not agree and or they figure that what we say is for somebody else,that it does not affect them,until, a trail is closed in their riding area and "call IMBA, HAVE THEM FIX THE PROBLEM..."
So we are working in our ownn little world.
Look at the reaction in the "Would you ride on this muddy trail" thread...
"Riding in the mud is cool it improves my technics..." BUZZZZZ wrong answer,it wrecks the trails is what it does,but somebody else will fix it.
I challenge everybody that thinks that way to pick up a pulasky(if you know what it is) next time a trail maintenance day happens in your area, it will change your riding habits,believe you me.
I have heard many times from people,"sorry dude,I have to train,got a race coming up and I won't be able to help you guys out",or "I just had a race the other day and I'm dead..."
How many rides have we missed to do maintenance on trails or have meetings regarding trail closures and whatnots? But that's ok,you are advocates...

"it wrecks the trails is what it does,but somebody else will fix it."

I'm curious because I have heard multiple viewpoints on this. Some say prevent ruts ride around, others say prevent trail widening go through. The best solution of course is to fix it. But if your not the land manager then you can't always fix it.

So what is the answer from someone who has obviusly worked on trails?

First off, is this a "LEGAL" trail system and by that I mean, do you have the authorisation to ride there,has the land owner given a right of way to his or her land? If the answer is yes, then there has to be a group that maintains the network.
I would suggest that you find this group and talk with them about improving the trail. A good way to find out if there is an organised group is to go to the LBS(Local Bike Shop) and ask them, it's amazing the wealth of imformation these guys have, or contact your nearest IMBA rep. If this trail is on gouvernment land and it is legal to ride, get in touch with the land manager and maybe talk to them about the fact that some repairs need to be done to some portion of the trails, it will show them that you care about the trail. If you want,you can also volonteer to help fixing it, they might have the tools but not the know how,that would be a major + for the MTB community.

Back to through or around, the best thing to do is like you said is to fix the problem, but if you HAVE to ride, ride throught it, keep it as narow as possible.

I am little cofussed about the question, "Are we getting the word out" what is the word you refer to? "Radical like me"? I have been riding for a long time, I have seen the sport ramp up amd taper off, a good thing I think. Lots of great trails to ride,less people using them than 4 -5 years ago. Good organizations in place to advocte for trial systems and maintaining them. Better educated users as well. One thing to be mindful of is to many people using something always messes it up. When we advocate or sport it is sometime at our own peril. The good thing about Mountain Biking is that it is "Hard" and a litttle risky, that always will hopefully limit it to those willing to accept those things about the sport.
As for those who are so dumb as to not recognize the problem with tearing up single track in the mud, they don't get it,never will. They probably won't be around the sport long. (I hope)

...but until then,we have to pay the price.
Hmmmm,dero :scratching his head:

I think the word is,"CARE" as in,I care about the trails.
That would cover everything,wouldn't it?

I think Care works for me in terms the question above. Some folks think advocating means every trail is a Mountain Bike single track, I do not agree with that thinking. Some places need to be foot traffic only, or no trail at all, just a place for the critters to hang. Cross training is good, anybody out there a triathalete?
Where I live I have been working toward a better system of bike paths to, from and around town. We have miles of great mountain bike trails but you are competing with cars to ride into town to work or pick up a bagette and a bottle of wine.What is wrong with this picture?