This article leaves out a key factor about bikes.  Bikes can offer safety.  Bikes can be used as a weapon.  They can be placed between you and the bear.  They can be thrown at a bear.  They can be held above your head to make you look large and scare the bear away.  Hikers don't have these options.  I'm not surprised that Sinnott left this obvious fact out.  Anything he writes is unbalanced and has strong personal bias.  He has long had a hard-on against bikers.