2023 was another busy year for advocacy. As typical it’s a number of small steps moving at a glacial pace, but 2023 included very encouraging steps with progress on the Briones Pilot program, Wildcat Flow Trail Project, and Lime Ridge Flow Trail Project among others. In some cases BTCEB is the advocacy lead on a project and in others we play a supporting role working with a number of other people and organizations. We’ve developed a significant number of positive working relationships with land manager staff, elected officials, other mtb advocates, and other trail and conservation stakeholders and we continue to build and foster productive and collaborative relationships. Here’s a spattering of the various 2023 activities. It’s not a riveting read other than to show the breadth of activities that BTCEB Advocacy is driving or supporting and the number of things currently going on.
Briones Pilot Project – EBRPD kicked off the implementation of the Briones Pilot Project in April. This 2-year program provides mtb access to 5 pre-existing non-system trails, 4 of which are downhill directional mtb only. The pilot also expands volunteer trail stewardship opportunities, legitimizes some hike-only non-system trails, trials even/odd day access (temporal zoning on weekends only), and will restore a number of trails. A main thrust is to improve habitat preservation and restoration and reduce trail user conflict while providing access to various user groups. BTCEB was one of several groups advocating for the pilot program for several years and working with other stakeholders regarding common ground and differences related to the pilot. Here’s a link to the various Briones posts for more detail.
Stewards of Briones – The local Briones mtb community has formed a legitimate organization and is a key part of the Briones Pilot Project. The SOB’s are working in conjunction with park district staff on supporting the pilot, district work days, SOB work days, and advocating for the future of trails and access in Briones. BTCEB has been working with the Stewards of Briones at their request to lend our experience and support in working with the park district and becoming a legitimate organization.
Sierra Club engagement – There has been an effort to engage with the SF Bay Chapter of the Sierra Club and their East Bay Public Lands committee by a number of folks from BTCEB, NICA, and elsewhere. Current activity focuses on engaging in discussion regarding differences between local and national SC policy regarding mtb position, and seeking support in advocating EBRPD to expand volunteer trail maintenance opportunities.
Wildcat Flow Trail – BTCEB continues as part of the leadership team with Cortis Cooper, Barbara Smith, and Austin McInerny. The project continues to move forward with EBPRD director support to work through the process. The 2024 EBRPD budget commits $300K toward project work including CEQA evaluation.
Wildcat Youth Advocacy – BTCEB takes a supporting role in this effort led by Cortis Cooper and Barbara Smith which has activated and engaged about 10 middle and high school students in advocacy focused around the Wildcat Flow trail. This is perhaps the most important advocacy effort happening in the east bay as it is truly developing our advocates of the future as they come of age.
Lime Ridge Flow Trail – Mountain Bikers of Mount Diablo are taking the lead and BTCEB has been supporting via communicating public meetings, making public comments, and monitoring opposition propaganda. Staff are very supportive of moving this forward and have addressed opposing concerns. The mitigated negative declaration for CEQA has been filed and staff are responding to comments. Acceptance of the CEQA work is expected in Q1/2 2024 after which it will move into construction planning. More Lime Ridge information here.
CAMTB – BTCEB continues to participate in and benefit from CAMTB. We are active on the Advisory Council, at the annual planning exercise CAMTB Connected, through the Legislation & Government Affairs Committee, the CORP Sacramento Lobby Day and attending Leadership Roundtable sessions. BTCEB was the top fundraising organization in their joint bike giveaway – Thank You! More CAMTB content.
CORP State Legislature Lobby Day – Participated in the California Outdoor Recreation Partners Sacramento Lobby Day. This was a lobby day led by CORP which provided a great opportunity for those of us new to state lobbying to get our feet wet and learn about this part of the public process. It was also an opportunity to network with other advocates from the outdoor recreation industry and other recreation oriented groups that we don’t have as much routine contact with.
EBMUD access engagement – We met twice with EBMUD staff, management, and director Marguerite Young regarding expanding bike access and are starting to see some progress. Our latest meeting drew in Bay Area Ridge Trail Staff as well. Staff are moving forward with broader discussion involving broader stakeholders to open the Sobrante Ridge segment. Several other segments are being discussed and staff has committed to researching those and further discussion.
BATC – We became a member of the Bay Area Trails Collaborative and have been attending their meetings and starting to participate in working committees. BATC looks at the overall trail network in the Bay Area. While it has a strong emphasis on active transportation type trails they are active in influencing and working with governmental entities. It is another opportunity to understand and contribute to the broader advocacy and policy landscape.
Together Bay Area Spring Conference – We attended this conference which focuses on Bay Area conservation and recreation. It was an opportunity to have out-of-meeting discussions with many EBPRD staff, managers and directors, along with other land manger staff and organizations such as the Bay Area Ridge Trail.
CA Trails & Greenways – We participated again this year and took in a number of useful sessions related to bike access. Additionally we attended a trail maintenance workshop. Trails and Greenways continues to see strong attendance by many mountain bike advocacy groups and CAMTB leadership. It’s a great opportunity to have face to face discussions with our clan.
EBRPD Board Engagement – BTCEB board and members were able to have direct meetings with 5 of the 7 directors as they were preparing for their annual planning and prioritization workshop. We took this opportunity to share our top priorities and ask for their support. This allowed for much deeper discussion that a public comment affords. We were able to activate a number of our board members and general members in these conversations and expand our advocacy base.
EBRPD PAC – Efforts continue to increase bike supportive membership on the Park Advisory Committee and build positive working relationships with PAC members. If you might have an interest in becoming a PAC member let’s talk about how to make that happen.
EBRPD E-bike Access – While the e-bike ban wasn’t being enforced, it was good to legitimize e-bike access by having the EBRPD board approve class 1 access to natural surface roads and trails and roads. Through the year BTCEB made several public comments and had direct conversations with staff and directors. Through an REI contact made at the CORP Lobby Day BTCEB helped initiate an e-bike test ride for the EBRPD board members.
EBRPD Crockett Hills cattle management – We continued to advocate for increased infrastructure to allow cattle rotation away from trails during wet conditions. Pond rehabilitation and the drilling of a well were completed this year to provide increased water supply and flexibility to meet grazing targets in trail areas during the dry part of the year. Cattle were rotated out and away from the trails prior to the rains. Additionally we made several public comments to increase board awareness for the need to manage cattle differently across the district to reduce the impact on trails let alone the natural resources.
EBRPD Volunteer Trail Work Expansion – Efforts were made to expand volunteer trail work opportunities in the district parks but progress was minimal. The Briones Pilot Dig Days consumed all the oxygen in that room. The Briones Pilot is critical. In combination it has resulted in several EBRPD directors supporting expansion of volunteer trail work. EBRPD Operations and trails staff are still not in a strong position to support volunteer efforts but their 2024 budget funds an additional full time volunteer coordinator. Progress is being made albeit slowly.
John Muir Land Trust – Fernandez Ranch – BTCEB continues to build a positive relationship with JMLT staff, stewardship manager James Wilson, and their Stewardship Committee. Work was initiated to re-route a section of Canyon Trail to make it more recreation friendly with less grade and address chronic wet areas. Construction of the re-route is on track for 2024. Initial discussions have started on opening a Moraga to Danville fire road route via Harvey Ranch, Carr Ranch, EBMUD watershed and Las Trampas Regional Preserve.
JMP City of Oakland – We’re in the midst of yet another supervisor change at JMP. BTCEB is maintaining communication with the incoming supervisor and doing what we can to build a positive working relationship with staff. The limited resources the city directs to JMP in people and funding is challenging but we continue to work on that relationship.
JMP FOJMP – Friends of Joaquin Miller Park continue to be an active stakeholder in JMP and we maintain communications with them. Our bike bell collaboration continues and funds raised via bell station donations and the JMP enduro has purchased a second round of bells.
JMP FOSC – Friends of Sausal Creek are active stakeholders in Joaquin Miller Park. BTCEB has reached out to their leadership looking to understand their concerns in JMP and discuss opportunities to collaborate. There are no concrete collaborations yet but we’re optimistic we can find common ground with them.
BTCEB Advocacy Committee – We were able to engage a number of new members on the committee and are starting to have more people take on advocacy tasks. The long term nature of advocacy and relationship building present some challenges. We are working on finding ways to get more people in the mtb community informed, engaged, and active.
Mount Wanda National Park Planning – Public comment was submitted for the Mount Wanda Management Plan and a final plan was adopted which will provide a nominal increase in bike access and maintain all existing access.
Youth BTCEB Board Members – Niko Dittmar wrapped up his term as a BTCEB board member and we brought on Max Wilson Sladkus and James Jordan as BTCEB youth board members. Max and James also participate on our Advocacy Committee. We’ve sought out and value their perspective to help round out awareness of the broader mtb community and shape our direction.
California State Parks – Alameda Tesla Classification Process – We met early in the year to understand the classification process which will have an impact for decades on bike access. We communicate the process out to the mtb community and the opportunities to participate in state parks on line survey and public meetings. Meeting participation by the mtb community was low but we hope participation was high on the online survey. We will ramp up communications for the public participation opportunities in 2024. The classification process is expected to be completed by year end 2024.
Mount Diablo Trails Alliance – Mark Moskowitz and Eric Johnston are legitimizing the Mt. Diablo trail work they’ve been doing and are getting great support from the park supervisor and staff. BTCEB is supporting their dig day efforts by communicating out via our platforms and directing folks to participate. We’ve also been helping make connections to interested parties via CAMTB communications. Here’s a pre MDTA article about the increased access opportunities that MDTA is being successful in advancing.
This work was all done by volunteers. We ask for your support of this work by becoming a BTCEB member today if you’re not already a member. If you’re already a member, thank you! Would you like to increase your financial support of BTCEB, consider making a one-time or regular donation. If you’d like to become more active in our advocacy efforts please reach out via advocacy@btceb.org. Supporting our organization via membership management, event support, and communications is also fundamental to our advocacy. Please reach out if those are areas you are interested in helping or if you’d like to help in some other way.
While we are currently all volunteers we are working out a plan that will likely include paid staff to assist in increasing our advocacy capabilities, our trail stewardship, and community building. Watch for more in 2024 as we develop this strategic effort. Till then, Happy Trails.
