Recap of Trail Workshop

Action Needed

Please Write Letters!

There was a great show of support by the mountain biking community at the Open Space Trail Workshop on Tuesday. The Marin IJ artilcle sums it up well:

IJ Article and Poll

Thanks to all of you who attended. It looked like we comprised almost half of the audience. Those who spoke did a great job, but due to the overwhelming number of people wanting to speak, not everyone got their chance. It is important that we ALL be heard. The Supervisors did not make any decisions at the meeting, they will go back to their chambers and do their due diligence, and consider what was expressed at the meeting.

Some of the board indicated that they would consider projects that would include "bike priority" trails or bike/hike trails. The motivation is not just coming from the request of our large user group, but from the desire to reduce trail conflict and discourage user-built trails. We need to reinforce this potential breakthrough, and ask that it be started NOW. Some of the board wants to wait until the Open Space Staff creates a Trails and Road Management Plan, which could take up to 18 months, before any projects could even be considered.

PLEASE email the Board of Supervisors (emails below) letting them know how you feel. You can keep it brief and simple. Below is an example, but putting it into your own words is most effective.

Example Letter:

Dear Board of Supervisors,

I applaud your consideration of projects to include bikes on narrow, singletrack trails. Please urge Open Space to start the process now. The mountain biking community is available to assist with building, maintaining and financing any new trails or improving re-designated existing trails. We hope to be included as legitimate trail users on Marin County Open Space land.               

Your Name and age (optional) and City

Marin County Board of Supervisor's emails:

"Kinsey, Steven" <skinsey@co.marin.ca.us>,"McGlashan, Charles" <CMcGlashan@co.marin.ca.us>, "Adams, Susan" <sadams@co.marin.ca.us>, "Arnold, Judy" <jarnold@co.marin.ca.us>, "Brown,Hal"<hbrown@co.marin.ca.us>

(and please also bcc: access4bikes@gmail.com)

Supervisor Kinsey stated at the meeting that he gets lots of letters from the equestrians, it is time they heard from us. Please forward this to all of your friends, and encourage them to join a4b. Our power is in our numbers. And don't forget to vote in the IJ Poll.

Thank you for taking the time to be active.