Director And General Manager - Marin County Bicycle Coalition

More documents

Recommendations

Info

improvements and one or two more complex projects – ideally a new singletrack trail open to bikes that connects two isolated preserves or makes other linkages. MCBC would welcome working with Parks staff to help identify potential locations and sites where project benefits can be maximized and success is likely. General Recommendations • Improve Sharing of Existing Trail Resources Marin County is home to large numbers of resident mountain bikers and is a destination for off-road cyclists from throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Tens of thousands of people ride on Marin’s public lands today. The 2011 Parks user survey indicated that approximately onequarter of trail users on Parks lands are mountain bikers. With virtually no singletrack (narrow) trails legally accessible to mountain bikers on Parks lands, the resulting discontinuity creates extensive illegal use of trails and a perception of conflict between trail user groups. Shared access to multi-use trails and fire roads is important, but mountain bikers – just like Parks visitors on foot – desire the more challenging and natural experience of singletrack trails. MCBC recommends that the Draft RTMP clearly state the legitimate, non-motorized recreational interest of mountain bikers for shared access to singletrack and multi-use trails on Parks preserves. • Construct New Trails Open to Bikes There are a number of locations within Parks preserves and on adjacent public and private lands where new singletrack and multi-use trails could be constructed, following the 680 Trail model so commendably implemented by Parks in 2011-2012. These projects could provide road, trail and preserve connectivity, and medium- and long-distance cross-country routes for mountain bikers. MCBC recommends that the Draft RTMP include a policy supporting the construction of new singletrack and multi-use trails open to bikes. • Proven Management Tools Can Safely Improve Trail Access for Bikes A range of management tools is available to Parks for providing cyclists with access to existing and new singletrack and multi-use trails where only users on foot and horseback are currently allowed. These tools have proven successful in other locations, and can help prevent conflicts and fear of displacement by other user groups. MCBC recommends that Draft RTMP recognize the availability of multiple tools for improving bike access to trails in a safe and environmentally sensitive manner. These tools include: alternating days, seasonal closures to protect natural resources, uphill-only designations, single-use trails, bike-priority shared trails, and more. • Provide Connectivity Many Parks preserves are isolated from other preserves and nearby open space, parks and trailheads owned or managed by other entities. MCBC recommends that the Draft RTMP support the establishment of recreational connections to open space lands, parks and trailheads, and transportation routes wherever feasible. We also recommend that Parks actively seek easements with private landowners and agreements with other land management agencies to implement this strategy. Promoting Safe Bicycling for Everyday Transportation and Recreation
• Convert Unneeded, Eroding Fire Roads into Multi-use Trails Due largely to their legacy as privately owned ranches, many of Marin’s open space preserves feature a multitude of fire roads. These roads are often overly steep, and in general, were not designed to avoid erosion. As a result, sedimentation from gullying, slope failure and other problems occurs on many of Parks’ fire roads. The Marin Municipal Water District’s (MMWD) 2005 Road and Trail Management Plan includes an inventory of all roads on MMWD lands, and identifies eroding fire/access road segments for sediment reduction treatments to improve watershed health. This is an excellent model for Parks and the Draft RTMP, as are the successful road-to-trail conversions at Annadel State Park in Santa Rosa. MCBC recommends that the Draft RTMP identify all fire roads that are not needed for emergency response, land management or private property access. These roads should be decommissioned for vehicular use and, wherever possible, converted to narrower, properly designed multiple-use trails (open to all user groups). • Improve Road and Trail Signage Existing signage throughout the system of Parks preserves is inadequate in quantity and content to significantly improve the behavior of trail users (and to simply provide users with basic location and directional information). With limited enforcement capacity, we recognize that Parks relies largely on voluntary compliance with regulations rather than staff patrols. MCBC recommends that the Draft RTMP state that improved educational signage directed at cyclists and other trail users will be a Parks priority for addressing issues of responsibility, respect, environmental values and peer enforcement. MCBC understands the long history of trail use and construction by equestrians and hikers on Parks lands, and the perception that mountain bike access may diminish the safe and enjoyable use of recreational resources by these groups. Sharing the trails entails adjustments and respect by all users. This will take time. With more projects like the 680 Trail that significantly enhance access for bikes, cyclists will increasingly feel recognized as legitimate trail users, and cooperation between user groups will continue to improve. Specific Trail Recommendations for Increased Bike Access and Connectivity We have divided our specific road and trail recommendations into two groups: 1. Lower-cost: Administrative, collaborative or easement-related opportunities. 2. Higher-cost: Construction/earthmoving initiatives that require regulatory approval. Within each group are potential projects that MCBC would be happy to help Parks plan and work on. We look forward to contributing to the Draft RTMP as this important public process continues in 2012 and beyond. MCBC staff is available to work with Parks and other community groups and interested members of the public to identify priorities for mountain bikers as well as all trail users. Please do not hesitate to contact either of us with questions or for further discussion of any of our recommendations. Sincerely, Kim Baenisch, Executive Director Erik Schmidt, Off-Road Director Promoting Safe Bicycling for Everyday Transportation and Recreation
Page 1: Linda Dahl Director and General Man
Page 5 and 6: PRESERVE/Trail Location Recommended
Page 7 and 8: 2. Greater-cost, medium- and longer

Director And General Manager - Marin County Bicycle Coalition

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?