Cyclists seek to lay claim to trails
By: Beth Winegarner
Examiner Staff Writer
December 1, 2008
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| Trying to co-exist: Mountain bikers worked with the Music Concourse Community Partnership to establish some trails within Golden Gate Park, but those plans are stagnant. (Mike Koozmin/Special to The Examiner) |
SAN FRANCISCO — Some mountain-bike fans are pining for trails of their own in city parks, but others are taking matters into their own hands, cutting trails in remote areas that neighbors say cause erosion — and danger for the cyclists who use them.
San Francisco’s park system has multiuse trails for bicyclists, however, they’re shared with dog walkers and pedestrians — a setup that makes trails less fun for everyone, according to Dan Schneider, co-founder of SF Urban Riders.
Off-road cycling, including stunt cycling, has become more popular among residents, but San Francisco offers no dedicated space for them, he said.
“Multiuse trails can’t have any jumps or skills features, and you can’t go at the speed of your choosing,” Schneider said. “It’s just not fair or safe to anyone.”
The dearth of space for those pastimes have led some groups to build illegal trails, ramps and other features in treacherous parts of Mount Sutro and McLaren Park, according to Franco Mancini of Friends of McLaren Park.
Unknown cyclists dug trails in a remote area of McLaren and built ramps, chutes and other props for stunts, according to Mancini.
“Nobody objects to bicyclists in the park, but this can cause erosion,” Mancini said. “And if one were to get hurt, emergency personnel would take forever to find them and pull them out of there.”
The push for mountain-bike trails in San Francisco’s parks dates back 10 years or more, according to Andy Thornley, program manager for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. Mountain bikers worked with the Music Concourse Community Partnership to establish some trails within Golden Gate Park, but those plans have yet to move forward, Thornley said.
“There really aren’t many places in The City to legally ride off-road,” he said. “There’s a better job The City could be doing.”
Schneider has urged cyclists to approach Recreation and Park Department officials to ask for their own trails and features — and to work with The City’s nature stewards to make sure they don’t propose trails in environmentally sensitive areas, he said.
Those officials are hearing the call — and are willing to begin talks with bikers, according to Rec and Park General Manager Jared
Blumenfeld.
“Mountain bikers want something in steep terrain, and BMXers want things that could be accommodated in neighborhood parks,” Blumenfeld said. “I think those activities will get integrated into our parks in some way.”
Park priorities
55% Locals who want more walking and bike trails
27% Locals who want more swimming pools
22% Locals who want more indoor exercise and fitness facilities
13% Locals who said golf courses are among the top four most important park amenities
11% Locals who said sports fields are among the top four most important park facilities
Sources: 2004 San Francisco Recreation Needs Assessment, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
