After a few different conversations with several people here, I wanted to explain why I believe it is important to stay involved with the advocacy process.

Just about everybody here knows of a trail closure or reduction that has directly impacted their riding. I have gotten a few comments that the areas being actively advocated are being negatively impacted by the very advocacy that is supposed to help. The reasoning given is that until the advocacy started, all was fine in the area. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Most of the current closures and anti-use restrictions language were built into the master plans for various areas long before there was ever a regular user base. Some examples:

Del Mar Mesa Preserve- Written in 1997
The original language was in line with the identical language of Penasquitos. Mountain bikes are bad. Access was denied on all trails and only the fire roads were allowed. Over time the restrictions in the canyon were eased but the language did not change much. Riders were using the area without the knowledge that is was not legal or turned a blind eye and more trails were adopted When the PQ Committee found out about, well, you know where we are now.

Mission Trails -Written between 1974 - 1998
Founded as our "park for the people" as long as you are a hiker or equestrian. Again, language was prohibitive to mountain bikes. Over time, the trails system allowed for some bikes but as we all know, "Missing Trails" has its name for a reason. A informal trails system that we all like was established in an area that never was part of the park. Once that changed, these were closed and restricted based on the plan language and our friends in Sacramento helping it along.

Calveras Preserve- Written in 1996
There was basically no language about trails use in the original plan. It was based on mineral rights, housing, a school, and a preserve. All hell broke out there a few years ago when the Center for Natural Land Management took over management and the fences went up. There was a lot of finger pointing and accusations about who did what and that, in my opinion, has forever fractured this community. This place is know a the land of fences now for a reason.

Sweetwater - Written in 1995
Jason was good enough to write up a great review of what the history has been over the years. Again, as a preserve, the use was limited and very exclusionary to all users. Yet a very elaborate trail system popped up over the years with little enforcement. Once the property manager, US Fish and Wildlife, started actively managing, we get the current problems.

We have gotten away with use of these areas when the land manager kept a low profile. Sometimes it was because of lack of money, other times it was because it was merely turning a blind eye. In the last few years, that has changed. Enforcement of the rules that were created nearly 2 decades ago is now happening.

As the enforcement ramps up there is a concerted effort to make some headway with the powers that be. Problem is, by the time anybody gets word of pending closures, it is usually way, way past the time that makes a difference. The claim that advocacy leads to closure is drawn on this problem. In reality it was decreed years before most of us ever rode in the impacted areas.

Another problem is the time frame that is built into advocacy. We all want the fix now. Truth is, advocacy is trying to change the master plans. That takes time (years) to sway the boards or powers that be. It can happen if you are willing to commit the time. Some examples:

-PQ, the original anti-bike hot bed, the boards position has changed. There are still those that will advocate against bikes but the majority of the board generally supports responsible use.

-Black Mountain, trails plan ready to roll, awaiting some last approval, ending of nesting season for a few birds, and wet weather. The relationship with Ranger Ed are fantastic thanks to one or two key people.

-Mission Trails, there is a good probability there will be a bike advocate who gains a seat on the board there. It is only one person but in a group that has always be anti-bike it is a start.

- In a recent advocacy meeting, we had a state representative come and listen to the issues we are having with CDF&W. The department is truly out of touch with realistic land management inside of a city and the hope is the state representative is the opening needed to get in the door. The jury is still out on this.

I am hopeful that in time we will gain back some of what is lost. I am realistic and know we will not get back all of that was lost. I do what I do for my(and your) kids. I want to ensure they have a place to ride in the future rather than only worrying about what I can ride today.

Don't know if this will sway any minds but I wanted to get it off my chest. Please feel free to share your thoughts.

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The world does not revolve around you but your actions impact us all!

Awesome post.

Having grown up in Utah and Colorado, when I first moved here 6 years ago, my question was, "where are all the trails"? Little by little, I learned that most of the best places to ride around town were not official (like the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge, aka Sweetwater).

The good part about those unofficial trails is that is has given us all a place to ride. The bad thing is that it has diffused pressure that should have been put on our elected officials to take mountain biking/trail running/etc seriously as a recreational need and to plan for more open space. Then trails get closed and we all work ourselves into a tizzy pointing fingers. So right now, people are going gonzo at Fanita Ranch rather than pressuring Santee to create legit trails. What happens when it gets developed years down the road? Trails gone with no contingency plan. And so it goes.

SDMBA is transforming itself from a group that mostly focused on trail work and social events to one that also places a heavy emphasis on advocacy. But we need NUMBERS to have an impact. Otherwise, those of us who show up to meetings eventually get written off as "that bike guy/crank/whatever."

You want trails? Time to model ourselves on the horse people. Their numbers are miniscule compared to bikers. But they punch above their weight because they always show up when it matters, they send letters, they make noise with their elected reps, etc. Mountain bikers consistently punch below their weight because they are disorganized and tend to expect that somebody else will do the advocacy work for them.

It's not all bad news though. As has been pointed out, we've made baby steps at MTRP. We will likely get a seat on the advisory board. Getting there required us to show up at MTRP task force meetings and make speeches. It required harassing city council members by telephone and in meetings they granted us. None of it was glamorous and none of it provides instant gratification. But that kind of baby step is how things eventually started to turn around at PQ. Crestridge is a recent success. Trails have been opening up at Cuyamaca. There's cool stuff in the Lagunas. None of that happened by accident. Lots of meetings. Lots of letters. Lots of relationship building with land managers.

Oh, and did you know there is going to be a bike park in Valley Center? Well, much of the thanks goes to Minette of SDMBA who worked with VC officials tirelessly. Then SDMBA raised grant money for it, and that money is why it's getting built. We're trying to get another one for East County.

As I said over the bullhorn and the January protest ride: mountain bikers will get the trails they deserve, for good or for bad. But as a collective, we have been too apathetic to deserve many trails thus far.

We live and work in one of the HARDEST areas in the nation to get ANYTHING done. We have huge population density and are an endangered species hotspot. That means getting anything done here is MUCH harder than for people working in other states. So again, we need numbers to help with the lifting. Write letters. Show up to meetings.

SDMBA has an advocacy committee meeting the first Monday of every month. All are welcome. We get around 20 people showing up. But it should be way more than that. Everyone there is there because we are tired of getting our asses handed to us.

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http://paleovelo.com/

To answer the question posted in the title, one reason being: Why not?

There is only one guarantee with advocacy: If you do not try, you will never succeed.

If one tries, one may not prevail. But if you do not try, you will never be able to share the following message:

Hello Bonita/Sweetwater Trail Users:


Finally, after months of negotiating and permit applications and approvals, the Southside Trail (East of Sweetwater Summit Park in Bonita) re-opens today. You are the reason why this trail was re-opened.


On Dec. 3, 2013, we held a meeting with San Diego County and the Sweetwater Authority - over 200 trail users showed up for that meeting! And now the trail has been re-opened. Sweetwater Water Authority has recognized that environmental protection and recreational use can co-exist and can even be helpful (after all trail usersl love and want to preserve the environment- that's why we use the trails).


Yesterday, we "test-drove" the three bridges on the trail. They were great: wide, sturdy and no flex. There is a little slope up on each side to the bridge (which is really more of a low boardwalk). The horses went on them with no problem (go over 1 horse at a time). They'll be fun for the bikes too. SWA has commited to coming out at least once a month to check the DG on the slopes and make sure they are maintained - thank you SWA!


And finally, The San Diego Union Tribune is doing a story about the re-opening and is sending a Photograper out on Saturday, June 29th at 12:00 (Noon) to take pictures - if you're in the area, please ride, bike, walk or run by - be a star and show the community how much our trails mean to us.

The above is the result of a concerted effort between USFWS, Sweetwater Authority, the County of SD, the Bonita Valley Horsemen, the Bonita Bikers & SDMBA. Trail access was lost due to the presence of an endangered species and trail access was restored due to advocacy. In a very short amount of time.

In comparison, trail users have been requesting a simple bridge to cross the SD River at the bottom of Jackson Dr. in MTRP for over 3 years. In a park. Managed by the City.With no endangered species involved.

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By choosing not to help the situation, you have chosen to be part of the problem.

http://m.pinkbike.com/news/economic-imp ... -2014.html

Maybe the parks officials will listen more closely to bikers talking about dollars and "sense". We all know this stuff, but I'm sure they don't. San Diego could be a prime destination if they wanted it to be.

Problem is, it's already a destination spot for ocean sports and the beach. You'd have to come up with some really awesome trails and bike parks to even come close to showing up on that kind of revenue-generating radar.

I've always thought the east side of Viegas Mtn. would make a n EXCELLENT lift assist destination; the topography lends itself to all kinds of great trail lines. Switchbacks, fast runs, all kinds of possibilities and its' al visible from the freeway. That would be a revenue-generator, but would it compare with the casino favorably?

Also, I got a strong feeling that the Tribal Council would have some kind of objections on Traditional grounds to trail building on the mountain. As I recall it has some historical and spiritual significance.
They're a bit touchy about that.

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Scum on a Bike

Take a look at Sedona and Prescott AZ. Those folks get it and the area is better for it

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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

We'll never be able to compete with resort towns like Prescott/Sedona or Park City.

But there are still big cities that have better mountain biking than we do. Phoenix comes to mind, maybe Tucson. Seems realistic that we might be at least as good as that, and without the oppressive summer heat. Those places do have the advantage though of not being an endangered species hotspot. That really makes making trails here a lot harder than a lot of places.

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http://paleovelo.com/