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Important Update on the Marin Road and Trail Management Plan Implementation
On March 17, 2016, at the Marin County Parks and Open Space Commission meeting, Barbara Salzman announced the Marin Audubon Society's intention to sue the County of Marin for a violation of the Endangered Species Act in regard to the development of the Road and Trails Management Plan (RTMP). Hundreds of photos of small creatures, including endangered species, killed on trails by bikers, and photographed by Larry Minikes of MAS, were the centerpiece of the lawsuit.
A
video of the Salzman announcement was posted by biker Davey Simon on an
online forum of "mtbr (mountain biker)” entitled “Get to Know Your Marin County Mountain Bike Hater" (http://forums.mtbr.com/california-norcal/get-know-your-marin-county-mountain-biker-hater-1002080-3.html.)
The March 2016 issue of the Audubon’s The Rail at http://www.marinaudubon.org/pdf/TheRail_March2016_Web.pdf includes the text quoted in the Simon post above and describes the plight of at-risk wildlife due to bikers. See More on User Conflicts on Open Space Lands, page 5.
It appears that the Marin County Open Space District has indicated that the Audubon's suit will delay the implementation of the RTMP for at least two years.
The three references to the delay can be found here:
1. Comment by biker “Measure A Was a Mistake” published following the July 29, 2016 IJ article about the booby trap on the illegal trail near White Hill Fire Road (verbatim):
"Of course the clearly biased land managers which have delayed the RTMP trails another 2 years minimum wont even follow up on the issue. I've already spoken with a Sheriff deputy who simply told me there is nothing that can be done about the issue. Meanwhile the County maintains 5 LEO game cameras for monitoring cyclists, specific anti cycling night patrols and 3 man LIDAR teams to "educate" the un-indoctrinated."
2. Comment in article by biker Greg Heil published in “Singletracks” July 29, 2016. http://www.singletracks.com/blog/trail-advocacy/booby-trap-mountain-bikers-in-marin-targeted-with-spike-strip-made-of-rusty-screws/
"Poor land management is the reason plain and simple. Biased rule makers that favor one trail user over another have shaped our public spaces to encourage intolerance and hatred rather than sharing or stewardship. Land managers are now too afraid to stand up for the RTMP process. They are delaying the process that they created. In doing so land managers are handing the people who hate us and want to hurt us a wonderful gift. The gift is inaction, it is exactly what the haters want and Marin County Parks is best at. Doing nothing."
3. Comment by Mill Valley biker David Simon following July 29, 2016 “Singletracks" article:
"Thanks for sharing. 94% of trails in Marin are closed to bikes. You can only ride 30 miles of the over 350 miles of narrow trail. The point we all need to think about is this: 94% of the trails being legally bike free is not only insufficient to satisfy a small but very vocal group of conservationists, but is so infuriating to some people that they are trying to disable a cyclists bicycle or injure cyclists riding on bike legal trails. I can assure you this problem is going to get far worse in the near future as the County attempts to open a few miles of trail to bicycles. The Audubon society has already sent in a threatening letter that has delayed the process over 2 years. I could go on but I'd just be describing a very sad situation already made very clear in you well written blog. Thanks.” (NOTE: Davey Simon is possibly wrong about his above claim that the booby trapped trail was legal—another biker said it was an illegal trail).
I would suggest that readers contact the County Open Space District to determine their official position on the lawsuit and any potential delay.