Advocacy & Safety - So. Ca. Bike Area Faces Closure!

EVERY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIKE AREA FACES CLOSURE!
By law, National Forests must revise their plans every fifteen years. California's Forest plans are up for renewal, and the Forest Services are holding hearings about trail areas in the 4 Southern California forests --Los Padres, Cleveland, Los Angeles and San Bernardino.

These meetings are run in an extremely critical opinion-posting format, offering trail users of all types to meet and discuss the future uses of the trails in these areas. Many prime areas for mountain biking are currently marked to receive "P" (primitive) designations, meaning that all mechanical users would be excluded permanently--no 4WD vehicles and NO MOUNTAIN BIKES! Worse still, once in effect, these rulings could
remain for the next 15 years!


OUR ONLY HOPE IS DIRECT LOBBYING BY YOU!
Southern California residents should attend one of these meetings and let their opinions be heard ? the more cyclists that show up to these meetings, the more likely it is that there will be another 15 years of fantastic trails to ride in Southern California. The rights of Mountain bikers to use these valuable recreation areas should be maintained. Be sure to refer to us as "Cyclists," not "bikers" for the obvious reason. Check this list for a meeting in your area. Remember---you're an important voice and in many cases, the only voice. Bicyclists have no powerful lobbyist or big bucks to influence officials.




Angeles National Forest

GLENDORA: January 29, 2002 6:00-9:00 pm Glendora Public Library 140 S.
Glendora Ave. Glendora, CA.

LAKEVIEW TERRACE: January 31, 2002 6:00-8:00 pm Lakeview Terrace
Recreation Center, 11075 Foothill Blvd, Lakeview Terrace, CA.

SANTA MONICA MTNS: February 4, 2002 6:00-9:00 pm Comfort Suites, 25380
The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch, CA.

PALMDALE: February 5, 2002 6:00-9:00 pm Ramada Inn, 300 West Palmdale
Blvd., Palmdale, CA.

WRIGHTWOOD: February 6, 2002 6:00-9:00 pm United Methodist Church
Fellowship Hall, 1543 Barbara Street, Wrightwood, CA.

PASADENA: February 13, 2002 6:00-8:00 pm Pasadena Conference Center,
300 East Green St, Pasadena, CA.



Cleveland National Forest

SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY:
January 12, 2002 9:30 am-12:30 pm Nydegger Building (Olde Fire Station),
31421 La Matanza,San Juan Capistrano CA. RE: Trabuco Ranger District

January 17, 2002 6:00-9:00 pm Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane,
Ramona, CA. RE: Palomar Ranger District

January 23, 2002 6:00-9:00 pm Alpine Community Center, Sage Room, 1830
Alpine Blvd, Alpine, CA. RE: Descanso Ranger District

January 31, 2002 6:00-9:00 pm East Valley Community Center 2245 E.
Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA. RE: Palomar Ranger District

February 2, 2002 12:30-3:30 pm Chula Vista Literacy Team Center, 389
Orange Avenue, Chula Vista, CA. RE: Descanso Ranger District

February 9, 2002 9:30 am-12:30 pm Corona Public Library, 650 S. Main
Street, Corona, CA. RE: Trabuco Ranger District


Los Padres National Forest

January 24, 2002 6:00-9:00 pm Rancho del Rey Conference Center, 655
Burnham Road, Oakview, CA. RE: Ojai Ranger District

January 28, 2002 6:00-9:00 pm South County Regional Center, 800 West
Branch St, Arroyo Grande, CA. RE: Santa Lucia Ranger District

January 29, 2002 6:00-9:00 pm Goleta Valley Community Center, 5679
Hollister Ave, Goleta, CA. RE: Santa Barbara Ranger District

January 31, 2002 6:00-9:00 pm Community Hall, 300 Park Drive, Frazier
Park, CA. RE: Mount Pinos Ranger District

February 5, 2002 6:00-9:00 pm Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Conference
Center, Highway 1, Big Sur, CA. RE: Monterey Ranger District

February 6, 2002 6:00-9:00 pm Salinas Community Center, Gabilan Meeting
Room, 940 North Main Street, Salinas, CA. RE: Monterey Ranger District


San Bernardino National Forest

January 26, 2002 1:00-4:00 pm San Bernardino County Fire Station 15
Angelus Oaks, CA. RE: Barton Flats area, San Bernardino County

January 30, 2002 6:30-9:30 pm Big Bear Discovery Center Hwy 38, 6 miles
east of Fawnskin, CA. RE: Bear Valley & areas east of Deep Creek, San
Bernardino County

January 31, 2002 6:00-9:00 pm Garner Valley Commons 61600 Devil's Ladder
Rd, Garner Valley, CA. RE: Federal lands in Garner Valley, Riverside
County

February 5, 2002 6:30-9:30 pm Bonnie Oehl Elementary School, 2525 Palm
Ave, Highland, CA. RE: Front country & Cajon Pass, San Bernardino
County

February 6, 2002 6:00-9:00 pm Idyllwild Fire Dept. Conference Room,
54160 Maranatha Rd, Idyllwild, CA. RE: Idyllwild & areas to the north,
Riverside County

February 7, 2002 6:30-9:30 pm Hootman Senior Community Center, 2929
Running Springs School Road, Running Springs, CA. RE: Mountaintop
communities west of Deep Creek, San Bernardino County

February 12, 2002 6:00-9:00 pm Anza Valley Community Center, 56630
Highway 371, Anza, CA. RE: Federal lands surrounding Anza, Riverside
County



Non-Southern Californians should also consider the options and
opportunities you have to support mountain biking on your local trail system. Check with your local National Parks or Forestry offices and find out what issues are currently being considered, and get involved!

In what part of S.D. County do you live, R'Lung? The SDCBC and a couple of mountain bike advocacy groups have been working this issue. As a hiker, environmentlaist, road bicyclist, and mountain bicyclist, I see the need for mountain bike restrictions in some sensitive areas, but I greatly resent regulators and regulations which attempt to group offroad motorized vehicles, which I personally strongly oppose, with mountain bicycles.

I could support classifying wilderness areas as:
1) pristine; off-limits to human activity;
2) pedestrians (hikers, back-packers, rock-climbers) only;
3) peds and bicycles only;
4) peds, bicycles, and motor vehicles.

To me, the big distinction should be between categories 3 and 4, not between categories 2 and 3.

I could see your point but I don't see how responsible MTBers destroy trails any worse then Hikers. Responsible people who go out into the wilderness should leave no trace or as little as possible.

Penasquitos Canyon is a Classic Example. At one time they wanted to close it down to all MTB but fortunately they didn't. The rule is now and I quote "Bicycles are allowed only on the designated maintained service roads" and "Speed limit is 10 miles per hour as posted” But yet a freaking dog who digs and dumps all over the place can go anywhere. Even worst, I see homes sprouting up but yet I can’t ride on a single track trail.

I assume that you have bike Elfin forest, remember what it used to be like. Have you been up there lately and seen all the construction signs and new homes.

I am sorry about going on a rage but I love Nobel Canyon trail and many others like it. I get mad when I am on a single track and I accidentally ride over the remains form an equestrian rider. Why do they have more access to trails then me? I don't think I do as much damage as those huge beast who I always stop for.

What are the wilderness areas coming to and for whom are we preserving it for, Dogs, Horses, and future developers. None of these three animals are native to this land.

I stand behind you 100% and agree that some areas need to closed for seasonal issues like matting and feeding. I also agree that the land needs to heel from the abuses of ignorant people who don't have a clue on how long their actions will scare the land. I just wonder will they obey these off limit areas. I have seen way too many off limits dry lakebeds destroyed by 4x4s. I believe it is illegal to throw your trash on the ground and yet I still pack out other people’s trash. Lets get it right. The real solution is stop building roads into wilderness areas so more people can have access to it. Better yet, lets make wilderness education a requirement before people can have access to this type of land instead of just collecting monies for permits.


Dude I live in Old Town and would love to go on a ride.

I totally agree; a hiker and/or mountain biker will have no more impact than the indigenous fauna; e.g., the only remnants of their passing are tracks in the dirt and results from the ocassional trip to the bush toilet.

Originally posted by Matadon
I totally agree; a hiker and/or mountain biker will have no more impact than the indigenous fauna; e.g., the only remnants of their passing are tracks in the dirt and results from the ocassional trip to the bush toilet.

This is why we must lobby for the biggest legal distinction to be motorized - versus - nonmotorized, as opposed to vehicles - versus - hikers. However, as long as some mountain bikers intimidate hikers, we will have an uphill (so to speak) fight for access.