City Council Hearing on the West TSA:
Boulder Has Their Say
On March 15th, the City Council convened at Boulder High School to take public input on the West TSA plan. In the thrilling world of the local political process, this was our last and best hope ("Help me Obi Wan") to sway "the Deciders" after 18 months of being shut out of the process and the discussion. Once again, you came out and represented! Thanks for making sure the mountain bike community had their say at this last and important stage in the process.Council has received the recommendations of the Open Space Board of Trustees (OSBT) and the Community Collaborative Group (CCG), and now has to decide on any modifications to this plan. What BMA asked for If you've been under a rock (or just selectively reading your BMA emails) for the last 18 months, the deal is that we've been working uber overtime trying to get access for cyclists to ride from town south to the Doudy Draw area on singletrack. We also asked for a short loop of singletrack just north of the Pearl St. Area (Anemone Hill) that could eventually allow cyclists not only a quick lunch loop but easy access to Betasso without riding along the highway.
How the record played We came, we saw, we pleaded. Cyclies from all walks of life (cycles of life?) showed up and waited for hours to talk in 2 minute sound bytes. It was long, arduous and, at times, a challenge to keep cool as everyone paitently waited to speak.
Thanks so much! No matter what comes out of this, you folks all came through every step of the way! BMA really appreciates people showing up and supporting this effort. Whether or not mountain bikers achieve some trail access, what we've demonstrated is that mountain bikers are people who care, we are people who fight for what we believe in and that we are a force to contend with. |
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Play Nice on our Trails!
Daylight Savings + Complete Dirty Bismarck + Good Weather + Cabin Fever = Tons of People Enjoying the Trails
The specter of "user conflict" has reared its ugly head once again, this time on the existing mountain bike trails in South Boulder. Reports are coming in that user pressure is super high on the Marshall Mesa and Dowdy Draw areas. Surprise! You coop up a huge slice of Boulder, and everyone will be crowding into the few available trails as soon as the weather turns awesome.
Early in the season, we all have to remind ourselves what it means to ride this close to home = it's all about being friendly and sharing the trail with every other Boulderite who spent the last 5 months in hibernation. Once the spring snows are gone and other recreation locations open up, usage disperses and attitudes mellow by default.
But in the meantime, the South Boulder Trail System is getting hammered. Too many people and not enough COURTESY!
Help BMA out by obeying basic trail etiquette at all times. BMA is working for expanded access on OSMP lands, and discourteous behavior only adds fuel to our detractors' fire. Mountain bikers have to lead by example or we'll get laughed right out of the West TSA.
Be Friendly! Expect to See Others!
The mountain bike community can't move forward without peace on the trail. Please, take extra time to be courteous on the trail and encourage others to do the same. |
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Take 30 Seconds to Help Us Make the Trails Great!
Report Trail Conditions on BMA's Website
Spring has sprung and everyone has riding on their minds. We want to ride too! But, remember last year when all of the trails got totally thrashed by muddy riding and hiking? The trails still haven't been fixed completely. So, when weather shifts like it will Thursday night, wait until trails are really dry enough to ride. How muddy is too muddy? Here is a general rule: If your wheel starts slipping in mud, you are doing real damage to the trail. Go home, pack up the skis and head to the snow. Know before you go - BMA has a rockin' Trail Conditions section to help you figure out where you can ride, and where you should hold off. Wait until the condition is listed as "Fair" or "Good", and avoid "Poor". If the condtion hasn't been updated since the last storm, use your best judgment and avoid places that will likely be muddy (see sidebar). Please report what you see on the trails! 1) Go here http://bouldermountainbike.org/content/trails/conditions 2) Find the trail you know about and click on "Edit Trail Conditions" 3) On the right side of the trail page, a ways down, click on the menu for "Trail Meter" and select the right rating:  4) Click "save", and that's it! Thanks so much. You just helped everyone get more trails to ride. Rock on! |
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The Next and Final Step:
City Council Decides the Fate fo the West TSA on March 30
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After hundreds of emails, over a thousand signatures on a petition, uncounted meetings behind the scenes with officials, and a big turnout last Tuesday evening at Boulder High School, it's all over for the activists and time for our elected officials make the call.
The mountain bike community and BMA have remained positive, constructive, but assertive in this process and have represented ourselves well. Well done everyone!
City Council will meet on March 30 to decide whether inclusion and tolerance will prevail over exclusion and intolerance.
The Council Session will be televised on Channel 8.
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