BTCEB Buzz, May 2021

by Scott Bartlebaugh

Progress was made on getting a couple pilot bike bell stations set up with EBPRD.  REI committed to funding a grant to the East Bay Regional Parks Foundation.  Look for pilot stations to be installed in early summer at Crockett Hills and Briones.  The bike bell stations will have a tiny cowbell on a velcro strap that riders can hang on your handlebar or seat rails.  The bells are intended to be borrowed but you can make a donation if you’d like to keep the bell.  While this might not be the type of bell you want long term it will hopefully introduce riders to the positive impact bike bells have on sharing the trail with others.  The early warning a bike bell provides reduces the number of hikers and equestrians that are surprised by bikes which is a frequent complaint about bikes.

MBOMD (Mountain Bikers of Mt. Diablo) reached out and asked BTCEB to present at the Walnut Creek Parks Recreation and Open Space Commission meeting and  Chris Wikler presented.  The various calls for the mtb community to submit public yielded 51 pro trail committee recommendation comments  compared to 20 comments against the trail committee recommendations.  Thank you to all that submitted public comments.  Staff remained very positive on the trail committee recommendations and reported that environment evaluations were underway and expected completion of those by September.  Review of existing trails against the recommended criteria to allow bike use remains to be done regarding trails that are currently signed no bikes but routinely ridden.

Kevin Brown from Oakland is stepping up and taking on an active roll in communicating public comment opportunities particularly with EBRPD.  He’ll be posting reminders of meeting dates and how you can submit emailed comment or speak via Zoom.   His target is to have several public comments at each EBRPD board meeting and perhaps some of their committee meetings from a broad number of individuals to make the case that many park users desire access to narrow trails and more advanced bike trails.  Watch for posts on either the BAMBi (Bay Area Mountain Biking) or BTCEB Facebook pages.  Joel Shrocke is working on an email based call for public action communication platform and we’ll let you know when that’s up and running.  If you don’t use Facebook but would like to be plugged into notifications for public comment send an email to advocacy@btceb.org and we’ll get you plugged in by our email.

A joint proposal that was a product of work with hikers and equestrians  for a process to create a plan for improved access in Briones has been submitted to the EBRPD.  The process basically involves hikers, bikers, and equestrians working together to make proposals for trail access including adoption of bootleg trails to create better trail experiences for all three groups.   A short meeting was held with park district staff and the park supervisor and the are not satisfied with the status quo and want to offer better trail options to mountain bikers including advanced trails.  While this may seem counter to their current enforcement actions and trail closures they are engaging in discussion and discussing advanced trails.   Advanced trails have not been explicitly defined but they have an understanding that there is interest in more technically challenging trails with drops and jumps.  They understand that if advanced trails are not part of the offering that bootleg trail building is likely to continue.  This is in the very early stages and there is cautious optimism.  

By Friends of China Camp

On May 2nd, the El Cerrito Middle School Mountain Bike Team had a trail grooming event in China Camp State Park.  The strong showing of 78 volunteers was divided into three more-manageable groups. 

These teams groomed just over two miles of trail.  China Camp trail coordinator noted the kids’: “enthusiasm, attention to detail, respect for instructions, lets-do-it attitude and fun conversations”. 

For more pictures, check out the Friends of China Camp photo gallery

Thank you little shredders and to all of you out there that help keep our trails in good condition. 

by Scott Bartlebaugh

The 2021 EBRPD Community Survey is now open.  We encourage you to participate, voice your interest in increased bike access to trails, and anything else you’d like to see from EBRPD.  While these surveys are not scientific they are part of the input the district uses to gauge the size of various user groups.  Please pass this along to others you know to help our community to be counted

Sunday May 30 – 9am to 1pm
4 21st St, Richmond, CA
37.931499, -122.350425

The work continues on Sunday May 30th at Dirt World Bike Park in Richmond! Last month we made great progress on smoothing and resurfacing the tracks, and there’s plenty more work to be done as we roll into the summer months. 

Come on down to Dirt World Bike Park on Sunday May 30 from 9am – 1pm to help perform maintenance, and keep the park in tip top shape. Dirt World is an amazing space for folks of all ages and skill levels to enjoy riding bikes — your help to keep it running strong is a great service to the community. 

As for logistics, Gloves, masks, water, and closed-toed shoes will again be a must. COVID-19 protocols around masking and physical distancing will be in place.

Dirt World is hard to miss but can be tricky to find parking. Try 20th Street in the Richmond Greenway just north of 20th St at Ohio Ave intersection.

Please reach out to BTCEB Trails Director Chris Wikler at trails@btceb.org with any questions. Hope to see you there!

By Mattie Terzolo

Great news everyone!  Mike Hess Brewing has decided to extend the fundraising campaign for their seasonal, hazy IPA called “Hard Charger Hazy IPA” through the end of May!

As you may recall last month Mike Hess was generous enough to donate 50 cents for every pint and $2 for every pitcher sold in the taproom. Now, they are upping the ante and will be donating $1.00 for every 6-pack sold and $1.00 for every growler filled–in addition to the original donations!

​So get out to Mike Hess Brewing in Walnut Creek and enjoy a Hard Charger after your ride or grab a six or growler full to take home.  Whichever you choose your Hard Charger purchases go to support BTCEB!

By Scott Bartlebaugh

In case you haven’t heard MBOSC, Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz, have changed their name to Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewards.  REMBA, Redwood Empire Mountain Bike Association is unifying with SCTC, Sonoma County Trails Council.   

Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers has changed their name to SAGE Trail Alliance.   

None of these organizations have abandoned mountain bike advocacy.  All have been very successful and continue to be very successful.  A large part of their successes come from taking a trail community approach to advocacy to improve experiences for all trail users rather than taking and being viewed as a mountain bike special interest group.  In some cases this has brought in significant funding  that donors would not give to a mountain bike special interest group.  So as you think about how we work together to get better trail opportunities consider how changes in access and the addition of trails can benefit all trail users. 

As a mountain biker it’s fair to say we don’t have our fair share of access to trails in the east bay.  That argument alone has not been largely successful.  A broader view and collaborative approach at JMP many years ago is part of the success at the access enjoyed there.   As you’re on your ride think about turning other trail users in to allies.  Slow, Say Hi.  Find out from them what would improve their days on the trail.

Hosted by Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition

Bicycle Film Festival has been celebrating bicycles through art, film and music for the last 20 years with over 90 cities worldwide and a viewer audience of 1 million and growing. The festival has an incredible history of working with the most important artists, filmmakers, venues, and institutions around the world.

BFF Select Shorts appeal to a wide audience from film connoisseurs to avid cyclists and everything in between. The curated collection of select short films will take you on a journey around the world . . .  More info about the Silicon Valley event is here or go to the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coaltion’s website.

by Sage Trail Alliance’s Insta Feed

Remember that every time you clip on a helmet and ride a trail that you are taking part in mountain bike advocacy! Little things like yielding, wearing a bell, and being friendly go a long ways towards trail user cooperation and are just part of being a good human. Wear a bell. Be nice, say Hi!  
#ShredLightly #RideResponsibly