Oaks

[ghixon]

"We think it was mountain bikers," Beckman said.

The park service is now considering closing the trail permanently.

"You abuse it, you lose it," Beckman said.

My question would be this - You THINK it was MTB riders, but you're not positive. To my knowledge, fire isn't a magic eraser, removing existing tracks in the dirt.

Thankfully, we haven't had any major fires here in the S.B. Mountains for a few years. We had this same discussion with land managers here after the Old Fire in 2003. They were looking to completely close the area to everyone for a few years in order to assess the total damage and come up with a long term rehab plan. With the help of hikers (preservationists), MX riders (motorized), equestrians AND local MTB riders, the forest service have been able to keep the areas open to the public and still give the forest a great head-start on recovery.

I'm all for the equine community to be involved, but why is this person in particular, so hell-bent on closing the area to people that they don't want around. Do we not enjoy the outdoors as much as they do?

I would love to be able to talk with the park service personnel and find out how much input they have received from the public. It almost sounds like what was going to happen up here. One person shrieks to the right person and all of a sudden, that opinion becomes the prevailing reasoning behind the policy. It's not that the land managers aren't listening; it's just the only opinion that has been voiced.

[Kid A]

unfknblvbl!!!

Originally Posted by ghixon

"You abuse it, you lose it," Beckman said.

always thought it was if you don't use it you lose it??? am i at risk of going blind?

Originally Posted by ghixon

"We think it was mountain bikers," Beckman said.

how about this one, if you don't know the facts, don't talk no smack

[~ Pakiha ~]

Where can we get a list of Phone #'s and emails to all the local land managers??

[project_d]

Originally Posted by Kid A

can you say Cholla

That's the first thing that jumped into my mind.

[OMR]

Originally Posted by ~ Pakiha ~

Where can we get a list of Phone #'s and emails to all the local land managers??

Adam, is there such a list available to the public? Who, your opinion, would be the key people that need to hear public input for the various parks, land trusts, etc?

OMR

[JamR]

Originally Posted by mtber3737

Adam, is there such a list available to the public? Who, your opinion, would be the key people that need to hear public input for the various parks, land trusts, etc?

OMR

I've been posting many of these contacts for almost 10 years now on the various boards.

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Getting involved does take a little effort, but with the advent of the internet; searching for ways to get involved and who to contact is certainly easier.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]However you do have to put some effort into searching for your contacts depending on the particular trail you are concerned with.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Here’s at a least a short list of contacts.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The Regional Recreational Trails Advisory Committee meets typically the 3rd Monday on alternating months. The last one was a couple of weeks ago, and the next one is in July.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]They meet from 7:00 pm to around 9:30 pm at Santiago Oaks R.P. The meeting starts with introductions of the board members and the public attendees, and one of the first agenda items is the public comments session. A lot of good information comes out of these meetings.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]For the county parks, just visit [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]www.ocparks.com[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] and get the e-mail address and number for the particular park to contact the Rangers. This site also contains the information for the regular HBP Commission meetings.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]For information on the Irvine Ranch Land Reserve areas and the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve Areas; you can contact me at 714-508-4762, or e-mail me at [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]a.maywhort@irlrtrust.org[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The County Board of Supervisors also meets regularly where there is a period for public comments to the board. In addition you can contact your District’s County Supervisor by visiting their link on the County web-site at [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]www.ocgov.com[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Trails-4-All is also another great source of information and has regular attendance at the RRTAC meetings. Just go to their web-site at [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]www.trails4all.org[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]You can also go to your individual City Council Meetings to have public input on trails within your city. I regularly attend the SJC City meetings when I see items on the agenda pertaining to the SJC open space areas. Just do a web-search for the main web-site for your particular city. Most of them have a council meeting link with the meeting dates, agenda’s and past meeting minutes.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]There’s also a ton of other places depending on the area you are interested in. In the South Coast Wilderness area you have the Laguna Canyon Foundation, the Laguna Greenbelt Authority, the State Park web-site, the Surfrider Foundation, etc….[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Just do a little research and get the contacts that are particular for your area of concern.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Again…..one thing to remember. Don’t get too worked up about an article like this and remember it is just a person’s opinion. If you read many of our own posts, we are just as biased and opinionated on this board, and make as many generalizations as the next group. We post vehemently about hoof prints on the trails at S.O., but just like our group; it may just be couple of habitual bad apple riders who are doing the damage; but we cast remarks at equestrians as a whole. We post about wasting time at the gov’t meetings; and land managers get lumped together just as often in a negative way.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]We’ve all seen it too often on these boards, and I was just sitting back anticipating the next round coming up on the upcoming night ride that was posted. Here’s what I was expecting regarding this ride:[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The post goes on for almost a month with some people warning them about not riding the area after dark. Then the riders go ahead with the ride and are met by the Rangers or the Sheriffs. The posts would then be rich with flaming of the Rangers and the Sheriffs for being out there wasting tax payer’s dollars on bikers instead of stopping bank robbers. The rangers will be labeled as Trail Nazi’s and the bikers as just people wanting to experience the outdoors; even though the knowledge that the ride was not legitimate was posted well ahead. Again, this is a bike forum, and the basic defense would lean towards the bikers…not the land managers.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Just put things in perspective and consider the source when reading these articles. Newspapers are not always accurate and are not the ultimate source of clear information.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Just take a little time to get involved.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by JamR

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Here’s at a least a short list of contacts.[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3].[/SIZE][/FONT]

george - maybe this contact list provided can be a sticky so always at fingertips individuals can continue to add contacts or relevant park, city, mtb contact info?

JamR - thanks for posting.

[OMR]

With these resources you've listed, let's hope that this thread has stimulated some to get actively envolved. We can always use more riders and their inputs at the various meetings.

OMR

[queenwilhelmina]

I was recently barked at by a ranger at Oaks for being on a closed trail. The "sign" was a dark green wood post with dark red lettering. I told him I didn't see the sign and he replied with "OH I THINK YOU DID!"
Totally unnecessary.
Just wanted to rant.

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by queenwilhelmina

. I told him I didn't see the sign and he replied with "OH I THINK YOU DID!"

hope u said

[theothermrt]

Originally Posted by queenwilhelmina

I was recently barked at by a ranger at Oaks for being on a closed trail. The "sign" was a dark green wood post with dark red lettering. I told him I didn't see the sign and he replied with "OH I THINK YOU DID!"
Totally unnecessary.
Just wanted to rant.

I think I know the ranger you're talking about.

[JamR]

Originally Posted by queenwilhelmina

I was recently barked at by a ranger at Oaks for being on a closed trail. The "sign" was a dark green wood post with dark red lettering. I told him I didn't see the sign and he replied with "OH I THINK YOU DID!"
Totally unnecessary.
Just wanted to rant.

I have not seen the sign you missed so I can't speak with certainty on its visibility; but almost everyone I encounter in my area, and on the closed trails when I was in the parks in uniform, claimed to have not seen the signs. It's the first line of defense comment of those who have been caught; so you have to understand that the rangers hear this comment almost daily; even in locations where it is impossible to not see the sign. After a time, some of them get jaded and frustrated.

Last week a rider who I spoke with in my area said the exact same thing (I didn't see a sign).....except he did not realize from where I was standing I watched him get off his bike, untie the wire gate from the post (with the sign attached), lay the gate down low enough with the chain of locks to where he could get through with his bike, put his bike down, tie the wire gate back up to the post (with the sign attached), and proceed down the trail.

I just waited at the bottom of the hill, chuckled and had him ride back to the top and out of the park - 20% climb. I did open the gate for him and pointed out the sign. Sometimes it's frustrating, but most times it's humorous.

Just take it with a grain of salt and realize that they hear the same comment all the time. But if the sign is truly not very visible and you truly did not see it; then try making a follow up call to the station and see if they can make it more visible in order to avoid having other people miss seeing the sign.

Another very simple way to get involved. Every small thing we do to work with the area managers helps in the long run. If you approach with a sincere concern because a sign is not visible or is sending a mixed message; most rangers and managers will listen from my experience.

Just my .02

See ya on the trails