A Watershed Moment for Bikes on Mt. Tamalpais
San Rafael, CA [3/7/2024]. Last Thursday’s public presentation of the “Watershed Recreation Management Plan Feasibility Study” (RMPFS) by the Marin Water District (MMWD) was a meeting for the history books. For the first time since bikes were banned from singletrack in the watershed in the 1970’s, bike access to legal singletrack is being addressed through pilot programs set to start within the coming year.
Photo by Aaron Thompson, Co-Founder of Bicycle Brüstop, Novato
From the get-go, the effectiveness of our advocacy efforts was clear; over 300 members of the biking community came out to comment on and show their support for the RMPFS. Donning green circle stickers provided by Marin County Bicycle Coalition, bikers dominated the speaker podium 9-1 against non-bikers - and 7-1 on Zoom! Perspectives shared included the dangers of riding fire roads, appreciation for MMWD for involving the community in the planning process, access for Class I e-bikes, providing spaces for high school racers to train, and a deep love of the mountain and its ecosystems, to name a few.
Building on last year’s public survey, the RMPFS will inform MMWD’s updates to its Road and Trail Management Plan (RTMP). As MMWD staff member Shaun Horne explained, while the goal coming out of the survey was to present a new plan, the feasibility study will provide the data needed to show that the district can steward the land effectively while also allowing access for all user groups.
Despite some frustration expressed by pro-bike speakers with the slowness of progress, others recognized the opportunity being presented to shape and inform changes to the RTMP in the months ahead. “This may not be exactly what people want, but it’s the step we need to take and it’s far more than we’ve ever had,” stated A4B Board Member and advocacy leader, Bill Keene.
Key Projects outlined in the RMPFS:
1) Pilot study to evaluate bike access and trail sharing techniques in targeted areas.
2) Evaluate bike trail designation in the upcoming RTMP update as part of trail classification system and integrate modern trail standards and building techniques.
3) Evaluate e-bike Class I pilot program.
4) New amenities that will directly serve the cycling community (bike racks and bike fix-it stations).
Some significant and heartening moments came when MMWD board members had their opportunity for comments. Every member acknowledged that the feasibility study is necessary to appropriately manage trail use and mitigate conflict on the lands. Members Ranjiv Khush and Matt Samson expressed a desire to have A4B help in the work of bringing a new RTMP to life, demonstrating that our message that we are ready to help build and maintain singletrack has been heard!
As always, the voices of those representing non-biking communities were present but were a fraction of what they have been historically. Further, pleas for a continued ban on bike access and anecdotes of experiences of conflict with bikers only served to send the message home: Without access to legal singletrack options, conflict is inevitable.
Despite anti-bike sentiments, the positivity of the biking community was palpable. Speaking on his experience of the meeting, A4B Executive Director, Vernon Huffman, quipped, “There aren’t many who would say advocacy meetings are fun, but that was FUN!” Adding, “This truly is a big moment for all of us: Every single person who’s given a dollar or an hour to A4B, every person who’s stuck a shovel in the dirt on one of our trail-work days, and every kid who’ll get to grow up riding in a place we all love and want to protect.”
A4B is excited for what the future of trail access could be on Mt. Tam. As local land and trail stewards with a concern for environmental sustainability, we cannot wait to engage our community, roll up our sleeves, and help MMWD on the road to trails ahead!
