Mountain Biking Advocacy in the Presidio
The new Presidio Trails and Bikeways Plan was completed in 2003 but has not
yet been implemented.
Click here to see how you can help
shape the development of the new trail system in the Presidio.
On Tuesday, May 20, 2003, the National Park Service and the Presidio Trust offered a summary of public comment received on the Trails and Bikeways Master Plan and a preview presentation of the Final Plan for improving the Presidio's entire trail system. The public comment period on the plan is over.
Click Here to see the final version of the Park Service's trails & bikeways plan
Without question, the new plan will improve overall bicycling, hiking and recreation in the Presidio immensely. It will add about 17 new miles of multi-use pathways in the park, resulting in more biking options in the park than ever before. However, the interests of mountain bikers, though not ignored, have largely been left unaccomodated. Starting in November of 2002, SFMTB and other local mountain bikers got involved in planning process, providing constructive and positive feedback and comment to the planning group that wrote the new plan during the public comment period. Here is a copy of the comments SFMTB delivered to the Presidio Trust on January 28, 2003, at the Trust's public meeting.
There will be no legal singletrack mountain bike trails in the Presidio under the new plan. However, our efforts led to the following changes to the Plan:
Here is an SFMTB map of the Presidio mountain biking as it currently exists. Note that this map does not depict legal mountain biking trails, it is simply a diagram of the trails in the park which are suitable for mountain biking.
How You Can Help to Continue to Improve Mountain Biking in the Presidio
1. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT: Participate in the "Trails Forever" Trail Stewardship Program
2. Get involved in other Presidio volunteer programs. Call the volunteer hotline at: (415) 561-3034 x 3445. The Presidio Trust and their planning department have shown a keen interest in developing a strong volunteer and park stewardship program with the local community. If mountain bikers show their willingness to volunteer their time to the Presidio environmental improvement and trail stewardship programs, it will go a long way toward convincing them that they need the mountain biking community in the park. The "Presidio Park Stewards" volunteer program meets every Wednesday and Saturday for native plant and habitat restoration projects:
Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon - meet at the Natural Resources Field Office. From Lincoln Blvd heading south, turn left on Pershing Dr. Follow the road until you see the Natural Resources sign on road "1537-1543".
Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon - Meet in front of the Crissy Field Center. From Marina Blvd heading west, bear right at the fork into the Park. Turn left on Halleck St. and meet on the steps.
If you do volunteer, please make sure to TELL THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS THAT YOU'RE A MOUNTAIN BIKER and you heard about the stewardship program from sfmtb.com!
3. Pass this information onto all of your friends, colleagues and organizations who would be interested in volunteering and who want to support the stewardship of our public lands.
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