San Diego Trails Access Alert

[EBasil]

Do you live and ride in San Diego? Well, read below: we want and need you!

Thursday Night’s Los Penasquitos CAC meeting has two important items on the agenda that directly affect our ability to ride trails in that area –and beyond.

First, the “Trails Committee” formed last year out of equestrians, cyclists and runner/hikers will be presenting its Trails Plan for the “Northwest Quadrant”. This represents months and many of hours of work, and includes the recommendation that trails you know and probably ride be officially designated “multiuse”, including two sections of Cobblestone Trail proposed as NO HORSES (also two parallel trails, as NO BIKES, it’s a trade-off to reduce conflicts).

Second, the CAC will be considering its reorganization, and whether cyclists will be given an equal voice as equestrians and pedestrians, or relegated to a gross minority (we have zero, now) on the CAC.

The Director of Parks & Rec, and the Director of Open Space will be in attendance to watch the meeting. PLEASE COME. It’s at 7:00pm in the Ranch House in Los Penasquitos Canyon and will probably go until 9:00. Show up in your clothes from work, show up in your casuals, bring your family (send them home early, why punish the kids?) but Show Up, smile and stick to the theme of “Fairness and Balance”. The anti-bikers will be out in force and number. Don’t take the bait (they will bait you), and stand tall. We are impressive to City Staff and our excellent Ranger when we take the high road, because we are right. Warm bodies bring the message across strong and clear.

If you need directions, check out http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MultiUseTrails/ (join up, it’s free) and we’ve got directions, the relevant documents people are talking about and more.

[EBasil]

Thanks to all those that attended last night! It was mind-numbing from time to time, but the Parks officials and Ranger Thompson made a point of acknowledging the importance of our attendance to me afterward.

Our work isn't done, and even these topics aren't yet resolved, but last night was a Huge "Qualified" Success:

I. With a room full of cyclists and multi-use supporters, the CAC APPROVED the recommendation to the Task Force (yes, it has to go the Task Force, now) to designate the trails identified by the Trails Committee as multi-use, no-bike and no-horse. The approval was made to recommend only a "probationary period", however, so it will be appropriate to lobby the Task Force to set aside that language (it's redundant: the Ranger can close any trail to any user on safety/habitat grounds).

To the credit of the equestrian members of the committee, all but one supported the plan, and to the credit of the cyclists, all supported the plan, even where two segments are to be "no bikes".

The multiuse (everyone) designations approved by the CAC include two routes from Torrey Hills/Carmel Mt., the Sidehill SINGLETRACK, the Bridges SINGLETRACK, the Upper and Lower Cobbles SINGLETRACKS, and the entire north road trail from Sorrento Valley to the entrance of Bridges (the idea is to close/revegetate the road that parallels Bridges to the waterfalls). The "no bike" trails are the two parallel trails to the east of Upper and Lower Cobbles, and the "no horse" trails are the related sections of Cobbles, plus the concrete bridges on Bridges trail (safety gig).

The Ranger supported the plan and is happy with the vote and our progress on trails in the Canyon/Mesa. More to come!


II. The CAC also adopted a recommendation for its reorganization to be sent to the Task Force. It suggests a 17-member committee, crafted as follows:
(2) Environmental/Habitat Preservation members
(2) Equestrian members
(2) Cyclist members
(2) Hiker/Runner members
(3) "At Large" undefined members
(4) CPG (local development review boards) members
(1) Friends of Los Penasquitos delegate
(1) San Diego Archeological Society delegate

This structure CAN work, IF the balance of the committee isn't skewed by how the blanks are filled in. It's not perfect, but a "hybrid" that represents some compromise by the existing CAC. It might turn out to be a good compromise, or it might turn out to be something we have to ask the Task Force to modify before adoption. Right now, we have to develop clarification of "who/what" will be the people actually filling those slots.

[EBasil]

Updates today to our MTC website, referenced above.

The Carmel Mountain/Del Mar Mesa Preserve(s) management plan is back on the burner, and we were requested to provide comments on the terrible draft produced last year by RECON ($40k). Those, and the new IMBA study are posted.

[EBasil]

The Agenda for the Los Pen Task Force meeting has been issued, but does not include an action item for the Trails Plan adopted by the CAC in March with the understanding that it woudl be given to the Task Force in April.

Go to your local websites for updates.

[wooglin-at-home]

Originally posted by EBasil
(1) San Diego Archeological Society delegate Ha!

(Sorry to interrupt. Don't mind me.)