The last couple of months have had a number of activities going on.
The EBPRD Trail User Working Group was wrapped up. Austin McInerny and I participated on this year plus effort involving a variety of trail stakeholders. Desired outcomes were somewhat unclear throughout the process but it did result in a sharing of perspectives from different trail stakeholder groups, strengthening and building more bike supportive relationships. Some participants clung to the same historic positions held tightly while a few were open to some change. Not all stakeholder groups are in agreement on preferred approaches. EBRPD has built 13 miles of new trail since 1990 while it has roughly doubled it’s acreage from 65,000 acres to 125,000 acres. ~40,000 acres are in land bank status and not open to the public yet. Many parcels have been owned for over a decade. EBRPD cites user conflict as a key factor making it difficult to open new trails. Bike only trails did get good support as an option that would reduce conflict and improve trail user experiences for all user groups. When asked directly if more trails were needed some participants would only go as far as to say ‘it depends’. And it does depend on sensitive habitats but we’re not asking for trails everywhere. There is more work to be done in building broader diversified support for new trails and the specifics on access. Bike only trails are a significant piece to the puzzle but aren’t the only reasonable option available. Bike only trails don’t serve well for more cross country trail experiences such as the Bay Area Ridge Trail.
Staff presented their recommendations to the EBRPD Executive committee from the TWUG recommending the PAC (Park Advisiory Committee) take up the discussion of how to get more trails built and deciding who gets to use them. Staff also discussed plans to implement pilot trials of trail management practices such as directional and alternating day access at Briones Regional Park. Briones, Pleasanton Ridge, and Del Valle are 3 parks that have had increased enforcement actions regarding riding user built trails several times over the last year and a half. Details have not been shared yet but Asst General Manager of Operations O’Conner target board approval by June 2022 and implementation this summer. For any meaningful change this would need to include some adoption of user built trails. Asst General Manager of Planning, Stewardship, and Acquisition, Christina Kelchner was also supportive of this trial. Board members Coffey, Lane, and Weiskamp were also supportive of Briones pilots moving forward. These were new levels of support from the upper management and board levels..
In this same time frame CA Native Plant society in conjunction with Sierra Club SF Bay Chapter, and Audubon submitted a letter signed on by 15 conservation oriented groups recommending a Trails Master Plan. Many of these groups were represented on the TUWG. Neither Austin nor I were not approached to sign on nor were many other members of the TUWG that are more recreation oriented. Trail Master Planning was presented a year ago at the TUWG by Austin and I as a need for the district to deal with the distribution of trails, connectivity, access opportunities, and habitat conservation. While we see value in a Trails Master Plan it shouldn’t hold up concurrent projects. The board took the position to visit trail master planning in upcoming park district Master Planning up dating in the next couple of years but to not hold up projects and activities already in progress. Following this letter Austin and I have been meeting with a representative of their group regarding how might move forward on solidifying items of common agreement and finding common ground on items of disagreement such that we might find a productive path forward.
In the same time frame enforcement actions occurred at Pleasanton Ridge followed by a protest ride that made mainstream media coverage on television, radio, and print. EBRPD management made a statement reported by the media ‘challenging’ the mountain bike community to work with them. Written comment was submitted reminding the district that BTCEB and other advocates have been working with the district for up to 37 years and on Pleasanton Ridge for 20 years. The public statement that was reported was not the opinion of staff that we interact with frequently nor all of the district management yet it was very concerning. We are in touch with some of the direct local advocates regarding Pleasanton Ridge and are ready to support them as they work on the details they are more familiar with.
EBPRD staff continue to work on a plan for pilot trials at Briones. They will be aiming to provide more predictability as to where mountain bikes. It is expected that there will be some form of public input and the proposal to be drafted by staff from a variety functions (operations, trail development, enforcement, stewardship) will be presented to the PAC (Park Advisory Committee) for feedback prior to going to the board. Assistant General Manager of Operations, Jim O’Conner, is leading this effort for the district. He is targeting board approval by June.
A Lime Ridge Flow trail update is likely at the upcoming Walnut Creek Open Space on Monday April 2nd. There may be request for public comments. Stay tuned to Facebook or Instagram for an update when that agenda comes out.
Fernandez Ranch has had two incidents in the last month after going years without any incidents or complaints. John Muir Land Trust staff will likely be taking several actions to increase awareness of trail etiquette – primarily that bikes are required to yield to all other users, posting yield signage and reminders at sections of more concern on their trails and encouraging the use of bells, and creating ‘passing lanes’ or widening spots in areas with poorer sight lines or difficulty in two users passing. John Muir Land Trust properties are private and not public. While the history of trail conflict there has been extremely low it’s important to keep it that way. Do what you can to educate other mountain bikers and treat other trail users with respect. Put yourself in their shoes. Consider who might be around those blind corners. If you have a bell remember to use it even if riders in front of you are using them. Communicate if there are riders following you as you pass.
AB1789 – This is proposed legislation that would provide $75MM in year one and $15MM in following years from the general fund for natural surface trails. It also creates a state level committee to administer grants to distribute this funding to land mangers and non-profits. State Parks code would have language changed to include biking as a recognized activity. BTCEB has signed on to a letter of support for this legislation with other CAMTB member organizations. Your BTCEB membership and our participation in CAMTB helps make this type of state level advocacy happen.
