More cyclists than horses warrants trail change

I'm writing in support of the change in use (CIU) proposal by California State Parks, to allow mountain bikes on the 11-mile trail between Browns Ravine and Old Salmon Falls. Between 2000-2002, I served on the Folsom Lake Trail Advocacy Group (FTAG). FTAG was commissioned by California State Parks to identify a trail in the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area (FLSRA) that would be safe to convert to multi-use, in order to address the huge inequity of dirt trail miles available to cyclists, compared to equestrians and hikers in the FLSRA. The FTAG was a group consisting of 3 equestrians, 2 hikers, and 2 mountain bikers. After 2 years of deliberation, public meetings, and extensive trail examination, along with recommended modifications, to further enhance trail user safety and experience, there was unanimous agreement between all FTAG members and State Parks supervising staff, that this trail should be shared with mountain bikers. Just as this CIU project was to commence, an uproar by a small, but very vocal group of mostly equestrians, resulted in State Parks putting the plan on hold, until after the FLSRA general plan was updated. This was promised to occur within 2 years. Now, after 20 years of bureaucratic delay, I am pleased to finally see the advancement of this very well thought out CIU, documented in great detail on State Parks' website. The trail inequity for mountain bikers in the FLSRA has still not been addressed and the number of mountain bikers, compared to equestrians has only increased several-fold over the last 2 decades. Any new dirt trails in the area over the last two decades have been primarily built and maintained by mountain bikers, always for the shared use of all trail user groups. Somehow, once these trails are built, all users groups anxiously come and use these trails. The mantra by equestrians and hikers in this area is: Mountain bikers, if you build it, we will come, but we won't help build or maintain trails. These shared trails are just like this trail. This trail, that when State Parks has scheduled trail work sessions, nearly all attendees have been mountain bikers, even though mountain bikers aren't "allowed" on this trail. And yet, a small but very vocal group still insists that it is somehow too unsafe to share this trail. Inflated anecdotes and hysterical scenarios of what could happen on this trail are offered up. But none of these wild claims have actually happened, even though lots of bikes have been safely sharing this trail for decades, as everyone who actually uses this trail knows. As it's stands, the major complaint against mountain bikers currently using this trail is that bicycles aren't allowed on this trail. Let's remove this restriction, so we can all share and enjoy this trail without conflict. Craig Petersen, El Dorado Hills Edit PostREADER'S VIEWPOINTReader Input: Brown's Ravine trail change will bring many improvements for all Jeff BarkerFeb 16, 2022 4:00 PMWhen California State Parks formally approves the Browns Ravine Trail Change In Use (CIU), finally making it legal for people who enjoy riding bicycles, the trail will be better and safer than it already has been for people like me and so many other trail users I've encountered who have been enjoying all or part of it one way or another over the past couple decades. I've biked, hiked or run on parts of this "backyard" trail at least 1,000 times. Anytime there is a formal or informal proposal to allow mountain biking on trails that don't currently allow bicycling, opposition tends to be very loud and filled with exaggeration, hysteria and misinformation that make it sound like bicycling shouldn't be allowed on any trail that people hike, run or ride horses on... despite tens of thousands of miles of safely shared multi-use trails around the country and millions of pleasant to unmemorable interactions between trail users every single day. Often times, the vocal opposition comes from people who rarely or have never used the trail in question... they are just chiming in to support their user group (usually because someone in their user group sounded the alarm). Anyone who is paying attention to this Browns Ravine Trail CIU has likely witnessed such a negative response from vocal opponents, three of whom had their anti-bike thoughts published in this newspaper earlier this month. Note: Just about everyone who verbalizes opposition to bike access will often say something to the effect of "I'm not anti-bike, I just don't want bikes on this trail. There are plenty of other places for them to ride." /rolleyes Yet, over the past 20 years or more, anyone who actually uses this trail with any frequency (if they are being honest) would very likely say hikers, runners, cyclists and the few equestrians who use it have generally gotten along well and shared the trail safely. State Parks' "trail safety" data supports that too. Despite a significant amount of non-compliant bicycling, State Parks has not been called out to deal with an accident or incident involving a bicyclist and a horse or pedestrian for at least the past 10 years. The only real conflict on this trail is social conflict where the occasional pedestrian or equestrian makes it a point to scowl and remind a cyclist that he or she or they "are not allowed." And that doesn't actually occur all that often in my experience or among the many people I know who also enjoy the trail. My experience is when trail access is discussed on-line via social media or webpage comments, hysteria and a war of words ensue. But when I'm out on trails, especially this trail, I don't experience or witness any of the negative hysteria or calamities vocal opponents of bicycling always seem to claim is rampant. My many, many trail using friends say the same thing. While I have encountered a horse or horses maybe 20 times in 23 years of enjoying this trail, I have several friends who say they've never seen a horse on it ever. But the equestrian user group is fighting against this CIU hard, utilizing fear mongering tactics in their misguided attempt to convince State Parks to disapprove this project. It is misguided because cyclists have never stopped and will never stop riding on this community trail. I realize that many trail users have likely had a negative encounter with someone from a different user group, or even within their own user group, but that will always be the exception, not the norm. Managing public trails on public lands isn't based on protecting everyone else from the "bad apples". It is based on what's best for the most amount of people… the greater good. And there are ways to reduce the "bad apples" since what is often considered poor trail behavior is often the result of cluelessness, not selfishness. With that said, State Parks has acknowledged for the past 20+ years they have not addressed the massive growth of mountain biking in our region. They understand there is a significant inequity of trail miles available to mountain bikers in FLSRA compared to what is available to pedestrians and equestrians. They have done their extensive homework on this particular trail and recommend it be available for riding bikes. And as I said in my opening sentence, once this CIU is approved, completed and implemented, the Browns Ravine Trail will be better and safer for all users… because of the following reasons: 1. Planned trail improvements and modifications will open up several sight lines, reducing unexpected encounters that can startle a trail user. 2. Planned re-routes away from residential fence lines and houses will provide a more pleasant and natural trail experience for everyone. 3. Planned improvements in the seasonally muddy/boggy sections will keep feet dry and the trail narrow and sustainable. 4. Proposed bike bell sharing kiosks which are popular on other FLSRA trails will encourage cyclists and anyone to utilize a little bell that does a great job reducing surprise encounters that result in someone being startled. 5. State Parks and their trail partners such as FATRAC (a local mt. biking advocacy organization) plan to improve trail sharing/courtesy education via better signage, literature, outreach and events… all aimed at reminding trail users about trail sharing best practices. Education does work and will also help a lot of our Covid era "new" trail users understand the basics of trail etiquette and "Being Nice and Saying Hi" to other trail users. 6. Since mountain bikers generally enjoy and show up en masse for trail maintenance work days, FATRAC, working with State Parks will likely be helping keep the trail clear of overgrowth (poison oak), fallen trees and other maintenance items, for the benefit of all trail users. 7. While there has historically been a Folsom Lake Mounted Patrol Unit (equestrians) assisting State Parks and park visitors on Folsom Lake trails, they haven't had much of a presence on this trail for many years. State Parks is agreeable to a multi-user patrol group (hikers, runners, bikers and equestrians) who can help be the eyes and ears on this trail, assisting trail users in need, dispensing trail sharing tips, and educating in the face of "bad behavior", etc. A bike patrol unit wouldn't be able to help with a trail that bikes are not allowed on. 8. If the implementation of this CIU ends up being a disaster for one reason or another, State Parks can either utilize other trail management techniques from their adaptive management tool box, or simply prohibit bikes again. The past 20 years have been the trail sharing pilot program State Parks recommended in 2002 before they tabled the project under questionable circumstances. It is time to make this defacto multi-use trail officially legal for bicycling. Everyone who explores and enjoys this trail will discover this well planned project will result in even more positive trail experiences for all trail users moving forward. Jeff Barker, El Dorado Hills. Have thoughts or opinions on this topic or another? Submit your Reader Input letter and share your thoughts with the community by CLICKING HERE and submitting your letter.