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A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway

Zirkle jerk.

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Velo Ergo Endo

Well.. that was interesting. At least they heard the 'bad planning' argument, even though they have no answer. Discouraging to read the 'dirt roads are trails, deal with it' response as well.

Thanks for posting this info Canaan - there's a lot there, but a couple of things jump out at me:

City of SD continues to dogmatically drone on, and on, and on about the statutory justifications for their current course of action, but has never addressed the suggestions (by Dustin and others) to innovate relevant and new strategies/plans to accommodate the need for trails and the request from citizens to fix the (current) problem(s). Bureaucratic wagon-circling using old laws/plans/ideas/data will not lead to a positive outcome for recreational users - you know - WE THE PEOPLE.

In the Zirkle Memo dated Dec. 6, pg. 5, Zirkle appears to strongly imply that SDMBA - by stating a mere fact of circumstance to Channel 10 news (quoted out of any relevant context) - sanctions or perhaps initiates continued "illegal/unauthorized" use and/or construction of trails. This is a loud and clear indication of the intransigence of the City and their willingness to now engage in a PR war against trail advocates and spin, twist, and mangle the dialog to justify said intransigence.

Unless someone over at the City/State/Fed steps -up with NEW ideas, I'm afraid I'll have to agree with Canaan's subject line.

Maybe I am being naive, but isn't there a plan to redo the trails in that area that has some potential? I recall reading something about that recently here. Maps with proposed trails to replace the existing ones that go into marine land?

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"We'll ride it until they pave it."

-Big Clyde

Oh no, they are "most concerned" about the San Diego "ambrosia" plant. Yippee yahoo, whatever!

Bureaucrats need something to fill their days other than talking only about how many vacation days they've racked up and their anticipated retirement dates.

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Obama's America: Our enemies don't fear us; our allies don't trust us.

I say this in in the nicest possible way (and of course smilies are always implied) but yes, you are being naïve. Actually, "naïve" might be too strong of a word, but I have no real confidence that the park will build any good trails out there -- just look at Zirkle's opinion of what constitutes a trail.

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A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway

Replace Delta with Dirttreaders, Replace. Replace Wormer with Zerkle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=q7vtWB4owdE

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"Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and
feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize
fishing is stupid and boring."
--Desmond Tutu

If you want a vision of the future [of mountain biking in San Diego], imagine a boot stamping on a [mountain biker's] face forever.
~George Orwell

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A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway

How did you get the double dot on the i in naive?

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"We'll ride it until they pave it."

-Big Clyde

I've only skimmed the report as I've been too busy at work today to do otherwise, but WOW, it makes for a really depressing read.

Interesting to see that he featured my e-mail—at least that got his attention—but then he proceeds to summarily dismiss every argument in it in ways that are just about the opposite of thoughtful.

So we have tennis courts, swimming pools, skate parks, lakes to fish in, bowling greens, baseball fields, golf courses, basketball courts, soccer fields, etc, all funded by the City. And are finally investing in some road bike infrastructure around the city--something we should all applaud. But mountain bikers are essentially being told to go take a hike (and on a fireroad at that).

Regarding the proposed update to the master plan that was mentioned. Yes, there is much in there that gives me hope that at some point in the future, the second biggest user group of the park will no longer be treated like criminals and second class citizens. But those new trails are many years away, assuming that the new master plan that is eventually approved even includes them. In the meantime, we are all left with a park where singletrack trails are all but missing, and where closures around the region are making legal mountain biking opportunities increasingly scarce.

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http://paleovelo.com/

It might be time for a good 'ol urban trail ride. Huck curbs, drop down stairs, hell maybe cut some new trails on the front lawn while yer at it.
We could start here

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You never know what tomorrow will bring so go ride your EBike today or walk your pooch
Fear the Yeti
"Go ride your bike today, don't let the old man in.."

Mike

"Don't talk about it, Be about it."








Note: I know it isn't the same building, but this one applies just as much I think.

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Ride it until they CDFW it.

I was thinking of your "trail reports" when I posted that

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You never know what tomorrow will bring so go ride your EBike today or walk your pooch
Fear the Yeti
"Go ride your bike today, don't let the old man in.."

Mike

For anyone who wants to get too optimistic about the proposed master plan:

Please read the letter that the federal and wildlife agencies sent to the City that precipitated the recent closures at MTRP:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4PTft8 ... edit?pli=1

What you will notice is that the Wildlife Agencies seem to be increasingly taking the view that MTRP (even outside of East Elliot) itself is some kind of "preserve" and not a "park" for recreation: telling the City what they can do on Cowles, on Lake Murray, etc. What this suggests to me is there is going to be a BIG fight about most of the proposed new trails in that proposed master plan. Just look at all the comments from the Wildlife Agencies noting that trails and dirt roads should be "consolidated" (that is to say, trail gets erased and dirt road remains).

Bottom line:

(1) Wildlife agencies are aggressive.
(2) The City is a coward, and not really prone create genuine trails in the first place. We need a creative, out-of-box thinker working for the city, and we don't have it.
(3) Unless the MTB and other trail using communities are willing to wage long-term advocacy warfare on these issues, Phil is right that it is only going to get worse.

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http://paleovelo.com/