ACTION ALERT: Mountain Biking in Golden Gate Park
UPDATE 10/25/2003: WE ARE CURRENTLY CREATING A PLAN FOR A MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL IN THE PARK. We need volunteers to help us accomplish two objectives that are part of the planning: mapping and a trail user survey. Please contact us to help.
Background
Legal mountain biking in Golden Gate Park may not be just a dream in the future if we use our dedication and support to help create a multi-use off-road trail loop plan in the park. This plan would be presented to the S.F. Rec & Parks Dept. to hopefully initiate a more formal planning process within the department. Any possibility of legal off-road mountain biking in Golden Gate Park depends on the mountain biking community getting involved in the planning.
Although Golden Gate Park has many existing and outstanding off-road trails that are suitable for mountain biking (Golden Gate Park mountain biking map), none of them are currently open to bikes. Recently, the Golden Gate Park Master Plan was edited to include the following language:
"Mountain Bikes on Trails - A planning process involving bicylists, equestrian, other trail users, and park maintenance staff is being undertaken to study the feasibility o f permintting mountain bikes on park trails. Mountian bike use in the park has grown in recent years, but currently there is no policy and there are no designated trails, which has led to indiscriminate use of mountain bikes around the park."
"Under consideration is the premise that by permitting controlled user and by educating park users ... the indiscriminate use ... can be reduced. Trail safety and user conflicts are being discussed with the goal of finding solutions. Permitting mountain bikes is contingent on several conditions:
- suitable trails can be agreed upon west of Crossover Drive
- the planning process includes participation by maintenance staff, equestrians and other users
- the trails be maintainable to minimize erosion problems
- a bicycle group volunteers to assist with maintenance of trails, signs and educational and enforcement programs
- an aggressive program is begun to minimize damage by mountain bike misuse through education, enforcement, and installation of signs, barriers and landscaping
- the trail use is to be monitored and the policy reviewed"
Obviously the language in the Master Plan is biased and opinionated and assumes that (a) mountain bikes damage land, cause problems and are the sole reason for any environmental damage, and that (b) there are existing trail safety problems and user conflicts. This information is WRONG. However, the mere fact that the Master Plan accepts mountain biking is encouraging and is allowing us to move toward the creation of a well-built sustainable off-road trail.
How You Can Help Bring Mountain Biking to Golden Gate Park
You contribute to making mountain biking a permanent part of the Golden Gate
Park bicycle plan.
YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE BY DOING A FEW IMPORTANT THINGS:
1. Get involved in the planning process. We need volunteers to help with the trail planning process. CONTACT US if you want to be part of this group. We need your help!!
2. Join the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU ARE A MOUNTAIN BIKER!
3. Pass this information onto all of your friends, colleagues and organizations who would be interested in helping to create a quality shared-use off-road sustainable trail system in Golden Gate Park.
Also see: The Golden Gate Park Bicycle Plan and it's affect on mountain biking in Golden Gate Park
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