UPDATE: BURDELL EFFORT FAILS
Report to Open Space bicyclists of Marin from Al Baumann (Off Road member of Marin Open Space and Trails Committee, member of Trails Committee of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, unincorporated Marin member of the Novato Advisory Trails Committee)
9/06/03
On Aug. 27, faced with a unanimous vote of the Novato City Council against any
changes in Burdell trail uses, the Open Space and Trails Committee voted to
oppose my four trail proposals. The opponents that mobilized the neighbors,
San Marin Improvement Assoc., and City Council were primarily equestrians who
used the “coalesce and conquer” technique, similar to the one of about 8 years
ago when cyclists tried to open several trails including San Pedro Ridge. I
was never able to get the trails considered separately where the logic of each
connector (except the Dwarf Oak 6mo trial) would have been evident, and the
risks of neighbors’ fears (traffic, parking, danger to other users, more rogue
trails, etc.) would have been so obviously minimal. My written and verbal requests
to Novato, Open Space Staff, and the Committee Chair to “agendize each trail
individually” was ignored or refused, playing into the hands of the opposition
who were able to preemptively motion against the entire package. The “no change
in present trail use designations” outcome means that the Parks, Open Space
and Cultural Commission and the Supervisors will not vote on the proposals.
The equestrians, in their determination to void the Dwarf Oak trial, have succeeded
in taking bicycling kids off Brookside Trail, a community connector used to
go between subdivisions, schools, shopping centers and even the nearby stable.
This trail has been shared for years without complaint and several Supervisors
had already expressed their wish that Brookside remain multiple use when deeded
to Open Space (recorded Sups meeting of Oct 15, 02).
It is important to document the REASONS for the loss for future reference (and
let me vent):
1) The support of BTC, A4B, nearby employees, and the Marin bicyclists who attended
and wrote letters failed to impress. More important seemed to be the lack of
support by: a) NOVATO RESIDENTS, particularly San Marin residents who voted
to access themselves to pay a portion of the Burdell acquisition costs. We know
these are the primary cycling users (esp. their kids), both legally and illegally.
They saw no reason to stand up against their neighbors, assuming they will be
able to continue to use the banned and rogue trails. b) THE INDUSTRY who failed
to rally and document the need for the family friendly, year round connector
trails that these represented. No shops presented sales data on dual purpose
bikes, tandems, off road child trailers, etc. c) Potential COMMUTERS across
Burdell. The “off road commute” concept was too new for Novato and the Committee.
(This concept was supported by the MCBC and should not be ignored.)
2) The inclusion of Dwarf Oak. This trail traverses a “protected zone” and was
the only trail not supported by the Open Space Staff. It galvanized the fears
of the equestrians and mobilized the opposition. Interestingly, the antiquated
Management Plan preferred only foot traffic on Dwarf and recent equestrian rogue
trails in the area should reopen a use discussion (don’t count on it!). The
alternate day, odd day, time of day, etc. concept was too “creative” and altruistic.
Cries of “it never works, experiments always become permanent, no one will police
it, costs too much,….” overwhelmed any incipient urge to try something new.
3) The Novato Council hearing unfortunately coincided with a need to be unanimous
and community supportive in the face of a potential Grand Jury investigation
of preferential paving and impending reelection. To their credit, they did procedurally
void the attempt by one member to get a motion against the proposals without
significant public input (at 2am !) and then did a massive notification effort.
4) The Bay Area Ridge Trail could not support the total effort and Dwarf remains
a “multiple use gap”. This had little to do with the failure in the end, but
could be a factor in future efforts if they get to the Supervisorial level.
5) The character, longevity, potential conflict of interest, and selection process
of the Committee (especially the Citizen Members) hinders progressive thinking.
6) Off road cyclists are still labeled by our worst, old stories are repeated
ad nauseum, free riders and downhillers illegally use Open Space, equestrians
have inappropriate influence and coalitions, emotional responses are fodder
for opponents, we lack data, “self-policing” is seen as nonexistent.
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OLD information
The Marin County Open Space District (MCOSD) bike representative, Al Baumann, has made a proposal to the MCOSD Trails Committee requesting that 3 trails on Mt. Burdell in Novato to be opened for bicycle access. The trails would provide an east-west contouring route across Mt. Burdell, which would be family-friendly and supply an off-road commute alternative.
Trail map of Mt. Burdell: http://co.marin.ca.us/depts/PK/Main/os/pdf/MtBurdellWeb1.3now.pdf
The trails requested were Dwarf Oak Trail, which is part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, Michako Trail and Simmons Trail:
Dwarf Oak Trail:
· The Bay Area Ridge trail is consistently closed to bikes on MCOSD land, only
the few sections that use fireroads are open to bikes. In this case, the bike
alternative to Dwarf Oak is the busy Novato Blvd and San Marin Drive.
· There is a small piece of the trail that goes through a 'sensitive wildlife
area', but the majority of the sensitive area is avoided by exiting at Little
Tank Fire Road. The vegetation replanting area will not be affected, since this
section will remain closed to bikes.
· Allowing access on alternate days will reduce the impact on wildlife and will
be an opportunity to demonstrate that time-sharing of trails can work. (state
examples if known)
· There is no evidence that bicycles impact wildlife any more than equestrians
or hikers.
· Without this section of trail, the east/west traverse across the mountain
cannot be completed.
· Off-road cyclists do not want to be forced onto the roads, the equestrians
claim Dwarf Oak is there only access from the west side of the mountain, it
is the cyclists’ only access as well.
Machako Trail: which is really a 5-8 ft wide road, was supported by
MCOSD Staff to be opened for multi-use. The beginning of the Marin section of
the Ridge trail starts in Novato, and this is where access should begin.
· This would allow an east/west family friendly route across the mountain.
· The bikes current alternative, the lower Burdell trail, gets extremely muddy
in winter and is impassible.
· Very little improvement, if any, is needed on this trail.
Simmons Trail: this is literally a cow trail 1/8th of a mile long, with
excellent lines of sight. It was requested to provide access to the mountain
from the east. Fieldstone is the more desirable trail, but due to the politically
'sensitive' nature of that trail, Simmons was requested as an alternative. Staff
is still deliberating on this trail, but has expressed some concerns, because
of the staff efforts to re-vegetate the area. Note: the planting done by staff
on this hillside is more than 100 feet from the trail and is fenced off. The
cows freely roam this area. Bicycle access on this trail would not disrupt the
re-vegetation that has occurred.
· This would allow an eastern access to Mt. Burdell.
· It would allow an off-road connection to the neighboring Rush Creek Preserve.
· It would keep bikes off of San Marin Drive.
This nformation was provided to sfmtb.com by Access4Bikes.
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