The West TSA consists of a complex array of mapped, formally designated trails and unmapped, undesignated social trails. The CCG is considering which of these social trails should be
1) formally designated and added to the official OSMP map,
2) better maintained but left unmapped but open to Open Space users "in the know," and
3) closed and revegetated.
Also under consideration are options for relocating trails to
1) better preserve "highly suitable habitat" blocks,
2) reduce adverse impacts on neighbors (from trails that are almost literally in people's backyards), and
3) improve the visitor experience.
Beyond this there are debates about seasonal closures, dog access rules, and mountain bike access.
Social Trails
Apart from mountain bikes and dogs (which have their own comment pages) the most controversial trail issue is likely to involve social trails. Here the big question is: How can we manage social trails in ways which preserve the special experiences that these trails offer visitors without the dramatic increases and damage associated with the formal designation and associated increases in use?
Possible measures that might be taken include:
- Identify and preserve access to high-quality social trails and climbing access routes as "secondary" (or Class 0) trails.
- Redirect traffic away from redundant or low-quality routes toward designated trails and/or higher-quality secondary trails.
- Leave the secondary trails off formally designated trail maps.
- Provide some mechanism through which visitors can determine which secondary trails are "open." (A simple absence of "trail closed for restoration" signs might be sufficient.)
- Provide secondary trails with basic maintenance.
See right-hand link column for links to the comment pages. >>
Mountain Bike and hiker conflicts are inevitable with both side shouldering blame when confrontations take place. Issues regarding yielding and speed on the trail when there is multi-use are difficult to enforce. Unless a proposed new mountain bike trail has sufficient width to separate bikers from pedestrians, equestrians & dogs on the trails, I don't believe they should be opened to mountain biking.
ReplyDeleteI am more open to the idea of creating separate Mountain bike routes with pedestrian warnings and dog exclusions from these trails. I would expect the mountain bike community to take a high degree of ownership for trail maintenance and policing safety regulations.
At this time too small a percentage of the OSMP budget is going to on the ground improvements. As a CCG member we were repeatedly told by OSMP staff how fragile and unsustainable our current trail system is. The number of users is consistently increasing and city budgets are being squeezed. The OSMP board of trustees must make changes to the current organization to be more efficient and make sure more of the tax dollars go to on the ground improvements be they trail repair, reroute or conservation efforts.
ReplyDeleteArt Schwadron
870 Grant PL