Forest Service "Listening" Sessions in Folsom & Redding

[bc]

Contact: Matt Mathes 707-562-9004



FOREST SERVICE ASKING FOR PUBLIC INPUT FOR MOUNTAIN BICYCLE STRATEGY



VALLEJO, Calif. Nov. 24, 2006--The USDA Forest Service is working with the International Mountain Bike Association to conduct public listening sessions throughout California to solicit public input from mountain bicyclists and other trail users. The goal is to provide sustainable mountain biking recreation on the 18 national forests in California, which cover one-fifth of the state.



Mountain bicycling has become a major activity in many national forests, and clear management strategies are needed to ensure continued recreation opportunities and protection of natural resources. While this is not a formal public comment process, input from listening sessions will be used to help the Forest Service develop a mountain bicycle management strategy.



The Forest Service envisions the strategy will have two major components, a situational assessment that will characterize existing issues and opportunities, and an implementation toolbox that will provide managers with a number of prescriptions to address issues identified in the situational assessment. The meetings will be held at the following locations:



Nov. 30, 6pm-8pm

Sacramento Area

Folsom Civic Center

East Room

52 Natoma St,

Folsom, CA

916-355-7299

Driving Directions from Hwy 50 East:

Exit Folsom Blvd turn Left. Travel 2.7 miles to Natoma Street, turn right, travel 1.1 miles. Building is on the left.



Dec 12, 6pm-8pm

Redding Area

USDA Service Center

Shasta-Trinity National Forest

3644 Avtech Parkway

Redding, CA 96002

Driving Directions from Interstate 5, South:

Exit Knighten/Road-Redding Airport (#673). At the stop sign, Turn left (east) and drive over the highway. Drive 1.9 miles to Airport Road. Pass a truck stop and go through two stop lights. At Airport Road (the third stop light), turn left (north) and go 1.1 miles and turn right (east) on Avtech Parkway. The USDA Service Center and the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Headquarters is the first building on the right.

FYI, I got this from an environmental group email listserv encouraging members to attend to discuss appropriate trail use.

[kidwoo]

Wow.

That's good news.

For the tahoe management area that would be impossible news.

[bc]

Wow.

That's good news.

For the tahoe management area that would be impossible news.

True-ish, but it's governmental double-speak for "we've got environmental (ie, hiking-only) organizations on our a$$ and we want to figure out where exactly we're gonna let y'all ride them buy-say-calls. Hopefully there'll be a large enough MTB contingent at the Folsom one on 11/30 - THURSDAY!!! in Folsom. Wish I could be there.

[rideit]

Not necessarily germaine, however:

Hiking boots, campmoor pants, and Arcteryx Jacket: $500 or so.
Full cycling kit, c-back, decent bike, first aid gear, and what all clothing: $3-5000.or so.

Not saying we should EVER act like entitled equestrians on this issue...the fact is the cycling lobby is getting older, wealthier, more organized, and in many places more adamant (and active on the trail work days) than the other user groups. Capitalize on that momentum, folks!

[3W MO7B]

I'm hitting the Folsom forum, along with a couple dozen or so folks I ride with. I encourage anyone that can get to these meetings in their respective areas to GO! ... especially if you like riding in Tahoe NF, El Dorado NF, Stanislaus NF, Sierra NF, Mendocino NF, etc. Ya can't be heard if you don't speak up.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Wish I could be there especially considering that I live in Folsom, but I will be out of town on the 30th. bummed.

[Spats]

Good meeting, didn't see anyone I knew there. Tsk! I drove all the way from the East Bay -- you guys ought to have figured out how to get there from Davis or Sacto.

There were only a few sour-faced equestrians claiming that mountain bikes are menaces to society, several reasonable equestrians, and a whole lot of mountain bikers.

Basically the meetings are run by a FS employee who has been tasked with creating a formal report for the rest of the FS on what mountain bikers want and how they can accommodate that, so he's going around holding meetings to get input from the greater MTB community. Yes, he's a rider, and has a solid idea of the issues and how people ride.

Yes, it's important for you to attend the meetings in your local area and show the USFS that 1) yes, we need more access to trails and 2) in a time of reduced budgets for trail building and maintenance, the MTB community is eager to help in any way they can.

[Telenater]

Yes, I wished I could have been there too, but got hung up at work preparing landuse planning data for much of the sierra nevada foothills and highlands.

[3W MO7B]

I drove all the way from the East Bay --

Good on ya! Thanks for making the trip up. I counted more than 50 folks... thought there'd be more, but it was a good session. I made sure to sit at a table next to a equestrian woman I recognized from other public meetings, who tends to go on and on and on and on and on (and on) with her own agenda. I politely kept her on topic.

Overall, I'm happy to see the FS putting in this effort to get input from the MTB community. While I'm not sure they will hear anything they haven't heard before, I still think it is VERY important for riders to show up, learn about what the FS is doing, and continue to reinforce what is important to mountain bikers, whether it be more trails, longer trails, better maintained trails, volunteer trail-building opportunities, opening currently illegal trails, re-designation of mt. biking (human powered vs. mechanized), solutions to reduce conflict, or whatever floats your boat. The more the FS hears from riders, the better... so don't sit at home thinking you can't make a difference, cause you can.

If you can't make it to one of the next sessions, you can email your comments on the topic before December 15. Send to mtbplan@fs.fed.us.

Side note: I asked the equestrians at my table what spooks horses the most... they said "the wind". I said, "maybe the Forest Service can do something about wind too."

[kidwoo]

Yes, I wished I could have been there too, but got hung up at work preparing landuse planning data for much of the sierra nevada foothills and highlands.

Bike trails

See? that was easy. I could have saved you loads of time last night.

[kidwoo]

If you can't make it to one of the next sessions, you can email your comments on the topic before December 15. Send to mtbplan@fs.fed.us.

Awsome.


Thanks. You know of a "minutes" summary available from the meeting?

[3W MO7B]

You know of a "minutes" summary available from the meeting?

The FS dude had a nice PowerPoint presentation with an overview of what they are doing from a management level... I asked him if it was available online, which he said he'd try to do... so keep an eye on www.fs.fed.us/r5/ ...although don't hold your breath.

I could list the items that each breakout table came up with as their "3 most important things", but I think you should just email the FS with what YOU want... what's most important to you. Sure you might be redundant, but the more the FS hears from people the better, especially if it's redundant!

Free The PCT!

[kidwoo]

Right on man. Thanks.

[Telenater]

Bike trails

See? that was easy. I could have saved you loads of time last night.

Hey, now you're getting close to my thesis material. Recreational Networks (Bike trails, hiking trails, equestrian trails), ecosystem services (flood control), conservation space, and land prices....