BERKELEY, CA – The Bay Area’s mountain biking community can look forward to an even more impactful future, as the Board of Directors for the Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay (BTCEB) recently concluded a focused strategic planning exercise. Held on Sunday, May 18, for a half-day session, the off-site brought together board members to review past achievements, assess the current landscape, and set ambitious goals for the organization’s advocacy, trail work, and community engagement efforts across the East Bay.
The session was highly productive, with key outputs including a revised mission statement that better reflects BTCEB’s current scope and aspirations. The approved mission statement reads: “We advocate for equitable trail access for mountain bikers in the San Francisco East Bay. We promote the responsible use of public lands, a culture of community, and the active stewardship of trails. We aim to unite riders, land managers, and local communities to build and maintain sustainable trails in order to create shared spaces that celebrate outdoor recreation and preserve our natural environment.”
Additionally, the board collectively established five core priorities for the 2025/2026 year:
- Make advocacy sustainable: Build a long-term, effective approach to advocating for mountain biking interests.
- Increase the membership base: Grow the number of individuals who support BTCEB’s mission.
- Increase engagement with the membership: Foster deeper connections and participation among existing members.
- Strengthen the BTCEB brand and communications: Enhance the organization’s public image and improving how it shares information.
- Make trails sustainable: Ensure that the volunteer-driven trails program to maintain trails is sustainable from year to year..
“This strategic planning session was an invaluable opportunity for the board to collectively reflect on where we are and, more importantly, where we want to go,” said one of the new board members, and added that this was a great opportunity to be onboarded into the organization
The insights and decisions from this planning session will directly inform BTCEB’s initiatives and priorities moving forward. Members and supporters can expect to see new projects, expanded advocacy campaigns, and increased opportunities to get involved as the organization translates these strategic discussions into action on the ground. BTCEB remains committed to its core mission of preserving, protecting, and expanding sustainable mountain biking opportunities in the East Bay. If you’re passionate about any of these priorities and would like to volunteer or contribute your skills, we invite you to contact the BTCEB board to get involved. Stay tuned for more updates on specific initiatives stemming from this strategic planning work.
