Promote Trails by Getting Involved in Trail Advocacy
Family on Trail
According to numerous bumper stickers, SH*T HAPPENS. Unfortunately, trails don’t just happen. You must contact local regional, state & national representatives. You must serve on Boards. And, if possible, it would be ideal if you could volunteer to work on trails. But this trail blog post is about writing to local officials to promote new and connected trails.
North Trail Study Area
I was recently contacted by a prominent and wonderful local mountain biking advocacy group. They wanted me to contact local officials to encourage an alternative trail plan rather than the two proposed trail plans. Of course, being a mountain bike group, their proposal was specifically for more mountain bike trails. That’s not surprising and commendable that they are getting involved. But that is not exactly what Trailsnet is all about. Trailsnet is indeed about mountain biking trails but also about walking trails, rail trails, commuting trails, recreational trails, etc.
Letter to Open Space, City Councillors & Trail Decision Makers
So I utilized the basic ideas presented by the mountain bike advocacy group (more trails), but heavily revised and edited it so that the emphasis was on more trails in general rather than just more mountain bike trails. Following is the letter that I sent to city, county and open space officials. I hope it serves as a model for your future trail advocacy and promotion:
Dear OSBT Members, City Councilors, & OSMP Staff:
Thank you for considering more trails in Boulder County. I’m sure you are receiving lots of emails from my friends at Boulder Mountain Bike Alliance; and they have some good ideas. But this is NOT one of those form letters so I ask you to please read my entire email and consider it carefully.
Unlike BMA & other similar groups, I am not advocating for the interests of any one group. (mountain bikers, equestrians, pedestrians, etc.) Instead, I am advocating for all people who are willing to utilize non-motorized transportation for either recreation or transportation. Therefore, I ask you to consider each of the special interest groups but in the long run to choose a plan that benefits all of them rather than just one group. More than anything, I ask you to implement a plan that provides a vast and accessible network of trails all throughout Boulder County. It is essential that these trails are accessible and connected rather than disparate trails scattered indiscriminately about.
We are incredibly fortunate to have the resources and community interest to make such a plan happen. Unlike the recent Folsom Street incident, a bike (equestrian, pedestrian…) trail is the opposite of disruptive. It is separate from the sights, smells, pollution and (most of all) dangers of the road. It is accessible to people of all shapes, sizes, interests & abilities. I encourage you to consider:
1) A regional multi-purpose trail on the west side of US 36 to provide a high quality user experience to Lyons & Heil Valley Ranch (Ideally this trail would be concrete or asphalt but could also be hard-packed gravel or dirt.)
2) Access & interconnectivity to as many of the major local trails in the area including Boulder Creek Path, Foothills Parkway Path, LOBO Trail, the new Boulder-to-Lyons Trail, Marshall Mesa/Doudy Draw Trails, Coal Creek Trail, etc.)
3) The reclamation of unused roads & rail lines into multi-purpose trails
4) Building completely separate but parallel trails along roads rather than just bike lanes
5) Work w/ CDOT, RTD & Denver to insure that the new US36 Bike Path runs all the way from Boulder to Denver as originally promised.
6) Continue promoting the idea of a multi-use path that completely encircles Boulder and ensure that the path is suitable for all non-motorized users and is surfaced for all weather conditions so that commuters & recreationalists can utilize it year-round.
Thank you for working toward a goal of making Boulder County a leader in safe & accessible non-motorized recreation & transportation in the NTSA. A comprehensive, connected & accessible network of trails in Boulder County is a realistic and laudable goal and one that will be beneficial for the environment and health of all Coloradans and county residents.
Sincerely,
Like this:
Like Loading...
1 pings
[…] Trail Advocacy & Involvement […]