Fit City

By SamIam

August 11, 2009 3:28 PM | Link to this

Self regulation rarely works. Not anywhere. People need to be monitored and held accountable for the bad decisions they make. Look all around you. Take down the walls and the greedy will take over like rats at a restaurants dumpster.

By Don't move here

August 11, 2009 3:48 PM | Link to this

Although the BCCP may appear to be a vehicle to help protect endangered species, it essentially provides a vehicle to destroy habitat to allow land owners, builders, developers and wealthy homebuyers (many from out of the area) to use as they see fit at the expense of the taxpayer. If these tracts are to be off limits to the public then those who directly benefit from the destruction of the other habitat should provide 100% of the funding. Unfortunately, folks keep moving here in droves so nothing is going to get any better.

By Eric

August 11, 2009 3:54 PM | Link to this

Yes, A FEW mountain bikers have been cutting illegal trail on the BCGB. It is by far the minority.

The reason that new trail continues to pop up is because the lack of public lands used for legal, challenging mountain bike trails in the Austin area. The ratio of mountain bikers to mile of legal trail is ridiculously high.

If the BCP would allow narrow trails through areas like Forest Ridge & DK Ranch, there would be less of a desire for illegal cutting. BTW…I’m willing to bet the corridors cut to put in the fences at Forrest Ridge & DK Ranch destroyed more canopy and warbler habitat than all of the trail combined.

As for all the hikers that complain about mountain bikers being dangerous, can you imagine if all mountain bikers were forced to ride the main trail? That would be a nightmare for both user groups. As it is, it is rare that I see a single hiker on any trail more than 0.5 miles from the creek (or where the creek is when there is water). Additionally, the vast majority of riders will go out of there way to be courteous to any hikers we encounter.

It is like any group of people. There will always be the ones that ruin it for the others. When driving on MoPac, you only remember the one guy that cuts you off, not the hundreds that pass by unnoticed. Do not punish the responsible mountain bikers for the deeds of the irresponsible.

By Eric

August 11, 2009 4:00 PM | Link to this

I can’t respond in <500 characters, so I am breaking it up over multiple posts.

Yes, A FEW mountain bikers have been cutting illegal trail on the BCGB. It is by far the minority.

The reason that new trail continues to pop up is because the lack of public lands used for legal, challenging mountain bike trails in the Austin area. The ratio of mountain bikers to mile of legal trail is ridiculously high.

By tillerman

August 11, 2009 4:25 PM | Link to this

It should be noted that everyone, with the possible exception of the drinkers and smokers around Twin Falls (when it’s running) has used and thus benefited from the illegal trails cut by a few individuals. This includes bikers, trail runners, dog walkers, birders, and most notably, the biologists doing surveys.

Most mtbers have a significant investment in their chosen exercise hobby and don’t want anything to jeopardize it. The few particularly jaded ones who have the time and energy to cut illegal trails need to be stopped and cited when caught, not just let go with the memory of the encounter stored up as bureaucratic angst to the point where the whole area is shut down.

And let us not forget the hikers and their leavings in all this.

If the powers-that-be are serious about finding common ground, they will help us help them police the trails. Otherwise, they just look like tools to legitimize the over-development that’s happening in the area and steal from the taxpayers.

By cASe

August 11, 2009 4:34 PM | Link to this

I never once saw a bike on the trail leading down from the mall to twin falls 20 years ago. This illegal trail was cut by hikers. There were many illegal tails from 20 years ago that are still there today. Very few mountain bikers around back then. The photo of the biker on illegal trail, made by hikers 20 years ago. Get my point.

By Jim

August 11, 2009 4:40 PM | Link to this

If they would legalize the trails and police them they wouldn’t have the issue of wild west cutting. Strange they caught someone and didn’t do anything. Sounds like they want it to get out of hand so they can easily close down BCGB like they did Forest Ridge.

Why is it that all we hear is focus by BCP on biking? They have no proof it is harming the birds. If you look at their studies of bird counts some of the highest populations are around sculpture falls and twin falls. Guess they like being around people. Especially people who party and leave trash everywhere.

By Dwayne

August 11, 2009 5:08 PM | Link to this

Think the article was slanted. First off to show a map of trails that are illegal with a photo of rider stronlgly implies that all those trails are riden and cut by bikers. Not the case, not even close. Also feel you chose your “facts” carefully. Nothing positive said on MTBrs account. Although BCP sure does come out smelling like a rose. Like they are willing to compromise, again not the case. Been down that road before with them. They want their land shut off to all access period. When is the last time they built a trail? All they do is shut them down. Slam on MTBrs IMO

By t.k. o'brian

August 11, 2009 5:16 PM | Link to this

“A” mountain biker was caught with a saw, but the article seemed to be an indictment of “ALL mountain bikers. Sorry Pam, by intent or not, or bad editing, it comes off that way. Dozens of mountain bikers gave hundreds of hours of LEGITIMATE trail work at BCGB very recently on National Trails Day. (We do it every chance PARD allows.)That’s not only manpower on the day of, but their personal time in lots of meetings in the planning stages WITH the parks department beforehand. We’re consistently one of if not the biggest user group at ALL sanctioned trail work days at Barton Creek. That’s a great FACT that should have been included in your article.

Another item that failed to appear was the origination of all those trails on the map. Your article seems to imply they appeared in recent years in violation of the BCP by the handy work of mountain bikers ONLY. Most long time residents of the neighborhoods along Barton Creek will tell you they appeared almost immediately after neighborhoods appeared. That’s LONG before the BCP and in some cases long before Mountain Bikes used them. i.e. they weren’t rogue trails constructed in opposition of the BCP, they were there already when BCP took over park lands.

What’s legal, what’s not? There’s a debate on whether the rider in a photo that accompanied your article is on legal trail or not. Some maps claim it is, some not. In all the years I’ve biked out there I can’t say I’ve ever ridden an area that had signage forbidding trail access. There’s very few signs and as the article shows, lots of trails.

We bikers do our best to keep our cool when we’re vilified by every user group. We’re the largest, most organized group in this area working with a number government agencies to add mileage available to ALL trail users. Projects at Lake Georgetown with the ACOE, the LCRA at Muleshoe Bend, Travis County @ both Reimers Ranch and Pace Bend Parks, and with PARD in several parks. We work WELL and receive much thanks from these organizations for our efforts. We hardly deserve being the sacrifical lamb in your article.

By Austinbike.com

August 11, 2009 6:46 PM | Link to this

As a mountain biker I have to say that there is a minority of people who are a problem - a very small minority. In my 13 years of riding in Austin, I have never once encountered someone cutting trail. I have, however spent many hours building legal trail at lake georgetown, Barton Creek, City Park, Pace Bend, etc. At times we even help clean up the trash and empty beer cans from weekend partiers.

The mountain biking community helps a lot more than people recognize and are just as interested in stopping these people. All we ask is access to the same trails that everyone else has.

By jim

August 12, 2009 10:51 AM | Link to this

I ride. I appreciate you and the Statesman for bringing this issue to the public. As you can see it is very personal to both sides. The article left out one very large elephant that has been the source of the issue for some time. The lack of open, honest and trusting communications. The parkland user community (dog walkers, horse riders, bikers, hikers, etc.) has been consistently looking to open communications with the BCP, and other Austin Land Managers since the Forest Ridge closed. The Land Managers want to hear nothing from us and then play politics and propaganda cards. After many years the parkland user community has become jaded and rebellious from the lack of honest progressive communications. Until the Park land Managers come to the table and being to rebuild the trust, the situation will only get worse. Rather the article point the finger that the users with saws and fingers waving it should be pointed Park Managers with noses turned up and a blood on their hands($$ in the back pocket too.) I support illegal trails to the point of trespassing with the current Land Managers attitudes. Nothing will change until Willy Conrad and the BCP come clean…not in my lifetime. So look for the issue to escalate. I hate to see natural resources wasted for today and tomorrows generations. They are not preserved regardless of the label.