This is inspiring!

[guero]

Some of you may have seen this thread on mtbr, but for those whom havent, take a look. It is very inspiring and illustrates how the mt. bikers were able to prevail over a very long period of time.

Here is the link:
Manhattan NYC Trails Passion (lots of pics, 56k unfriendly) - Mtbr.com Forums

And here is an excerpt from the thread...

In 1993, New York City Parks officially banned offroad mountain biking from all NYC Parks. For years, advocates have been trying to reverse the ban, and finally, through the hard work of a dedicated few, after 14 years of being persona no grata, mountain bikers in NYC now have legal trails in Manhattan (and Queens) to ride.

After years of lobbying by then NYC IMBA Rep Matt Lebow and Dawson Smith (and later, NY IMBA Rep Mike Vitti), in September 2005, NYC Parks officially announced that Highbridge Park, in upper Manhattan, would host the first legal mountain bike trails in NYC. Also announced was that the state of New York granted us $100,000 to help fund the project.

[Kid A]

nice post. cool story. looks like a sweet track! used to live and ride in NYC and know this area well enough. Can be pretty sketch after dark. chances are you arrive on bike but may head home on foot. bet they granted park build just to clean up the area

While minimal XC/DH riding in NYC (that I was aware of), the whole place is a FR playground....some very cool stuff just like other cities.

Totally huckable


During the week I would just hit 2-3 laps after work at central park to keep legs moving (1 lap = ~6miles paved no call on elev/lap?)



If you want dirt really no issues if can car (or prob train) it to at least 3 decent places to ride north of city, sprain ridge, blue mtn and graham hill (i also used to hit Mianus in CT...yep thats the real spelling ). For some sick sh!t hit Diablo Freeride Park ~ Nothing Else Matters ~ in NJ (~50 miles from NYC). also a great place to board in the winters! (winter park name Mtn Creek)

while i love riding out here, imo east coast riding is a bit different. less long ups but typically more logs, roots, rocks (fair to say my endo incidence has tapered off )

[BeantownRider]

I lived in the big bad city for a couple of years too. I'd see the occasional trials rider showing off their radness in Central Park, but I would have loved to have some actual trails within the city. I did two or three urban rides before I decided that was the scariest riding possible.

I used to ride Ringwood, NJ a lot, and made a couple of trips out to Diablo which was insane. There's definitely a part of me that misses east coast riding, but I certainly love the elevation change you get out here.

[OMR]

Thanks for the head's up post. This just shows you what is possible when people stop sitting around and complaining (or posting) and decide to get involved. There is power in our tribe and we can make things happen.

OMR

[L8 APEKS]

Man, I don't want to be Debbie Downer here...

...but I don't call 12 YEARS of lobbying just to get a bike trail a good example of "power." I think it's a better example of bureaucratic bulls#it and jumping through hoops.

Sometimes I wish things weren't so complicated, ya know?

[genusmtbkr5]

Great story Brett, I'll be going to NYC sometime this fall, maybe I'll bring my bike.

Originally Posted by L8 APEKS

Man, I don't want to be Debbie Downer here...

...but I don't call 12 YEARS of lobbying just to get a bike trail a good example of "power." I think it's a better example of bureaucratic bulls#it and jumping through hoops.

Sometimes I wish things weren't so complicated, ya know?

As Sgt.Oddball would say "Always with the negatives with you, always with the negatives"

[OMR]

[quote=L8 APEKS;70316]Man, I don't want to be Debbie Downer here...

...but I don't call 12 YEARS of lobbying just to get a bike trail a good example of "power." I think it's a better example of bureaucratic bulls#it and jumping through hoops.
quote]

Ahhhh young grasshopper...Sometimes it takes only a small amount of water dripping to change the face of the planet ... and so, we must be like water: concentrated and focused... letting nothing deter us in our our downhill quest... or some such bullsh*t...

The point of the article is that some NYC riders took it on themselves to make a difference... rather than bellyaching about the lack of trails... they worked within the system and were successful in developing a network of trails were none existed. They will proably have faster success in other areas now that they have shown the desireability of this resource for the community. People (mtbers) working together towards a common purpose can be a powerful force.

OMR

[L8 APEKS]

Originally Posted by mtber3737

Ahhhh young grasshopper...Sometimes it takes only a small amount of water dripping to change the face of the planet ... and so, we must be like water: concentrated and focused... letting nothing deter us in our our downhill quest... or some such bullsh*t...

The point of the article is that some NYC riders took it on themselves to make a difference... rather than bellyaching about the lack of trails... they worked within the system and were successful in developing a network of trails were none existed. They will proably have faster success in other areas now that they have shown the desireability of this resource for the community. People (mtbers) working together towards a common purpose can be a powerful force.

OMR

Sure, sure...I get that. It doesn't change the fact that the system sucks.

I was a philosophy major and thus, I tend to over-analyze things.

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by L8 APEKS

Sure, sure...I get that. It doesn't change the fact that the system sucks.

I was a philosophy major and thus, I tend to over-analyze things.

with the possible exception of what u are gonna do for a living with a philosophy degree j/k i'm an economcis undergrad

assume you have heard them all like this one

The First Law of Philosophy: For every philosopher, there exists an equal and opposite philosopher.
The Second Law of Philosophy: They're both wrong.

agree the system sucks but just as relevant can be just one person. you have a hater in charge - nothing can get done. someone open minded and/or "sympathetic" to cause and things happen. it's can merely come down to timing and/or luck in many cases. jmo