I too wondered if us out of county people speaking up would do more harm than good but going with my gut took some time to write a letter to the freeholders. I'm really hoping the freeholders are conscientious individuals that want to do the right thing and aren't swayed by other forces all too common in politics. Anyways here's a copy of the letter I sent to each of the UC Freeholders hoping it opens some eyes to what cross country mountain biking really is.
Subject: Understanding the concerns of residents regarding the addition of mountain bike trails in the Watchung Reservation.
Hello,
My name is Robert Wasilewski, I'm writing this letter after watching and following the ongoing debate about MTB trails at Watchung. Unfortunately I will be out of state May 18th for an event otherwise I would surely attend this meeting. Coming from a life of love for the outdoors I'm going to truly do my best to provide some unbiased comments regarding this. I've hiked, backpacked, fished, cycled, done outdoor photography as a living and truly love our forests and streams so without pause let me get to it starting with a numbered list.
- Some residents seem to have a genuine concern about the speeds and dangers that will be on the trails if mountain bikes are permitted at Watchung. I can't help but think the images that many of these people have are what the bike industry and most ads promote. There is a HUGE difference between recreational cross country mountain biking and downhill events such as those sponsored by Red Bull entail. Most mountain biking commercials feature a professional rider flying downhill at breakneck speeds, realize this is not on public lands generally but on something more akin to a ski slope and it's a closed course with one rider at a time doing a timed run. On the other side recreational mountain biking generally involves average speeds of about 5 to 9 mph. To give a comparison I've worn my gps watch on a few brisk walks and have averaged as high as 4 mph in the woods on trails just walking. While accidents can occur during any outdoor activity studies have shown the injury rate in mountain biking to be extremely low compared to other sports. Also, last I looked at the proposal the bike trails were to be separate from the hiking area eliminating many of the conerns.
- People will come from all around to use the trails, not just residents was another concern I heard voiced. While I do believe yes there will be cyclists coming from nearby towns I'm not sure that's a bad thing. Aren't public lands meant to be shared and right now aren't your cyclists interested in riding safely in the woods not on roads with cars currently being forced to travel to other counties to ride? I understand residents are a top concern but the more lands available for outdoor recreation of all types the more that load will be spread out. Most people can't afford a 40 minute drive more than perhaps one day on weekends to get to a riding destination so most of us jog, ride, walk, etc in our own backyards. I believe you'll find the trails will be mostly used by your own counties residents.
- Bikes will disrupt the tranquil nature of the preserve... This complaint probably has the most credence of anything I've heard said to date. I wholeheartedly agree that when I'm out trying to take photos I love having the woods to myself and having a cyclist pass by or jogger or even a loud group of hikers with children it detracts from the experience of being out in nature. However, I realize that when those things bother me I'm being selfish and really do need to share these spaces with other people whether or not I like their activities or not. Short of someone being totally rude we should be more accepting and realize that the more people using forest lands the more interest future generations will have in preserving them.
- Trail erosion: This one has been argued for a long time and the truth is most trails erode from improper construction and thus become a river when it rains. Bikes don't cause any more erosion than other activities, actually FAR less than horses do but the KEY thing here is properly constructed trails that shed water will require less maintenance and will not erode so quickly.
- Housing values will decrease with an influx of mountain bikers: This is just ludicrous! Having seen communities like Bentonville AK, Asheville NC or even areas of Florida, mountain biking is probably one of the single best things for a community financially. Surely you can't please everyone but to make a blanket statement that having more nearby trails or cyclists is simply untrue.
- The maintenance of new trails will be a burden and liability: Having seen places that JORBA maintains here in NJ and also organizations in Florida like OMBA (Ocala Mountain Bike Association) and SWAMP, another Florida based trail group it's truly amazing what dedicated hard working volunteers can do to turn a place around. A great example is the Marjorie Harris Greenway in Ocala which was a place for drug deals, illegal dumping, etc. until a good trail system was established. There are many articles online about this transformation and if anyone is willing to take some time they have a facebook group OMBA that is filled with many caring active members. What was once a dangerous place to go is now a thriving family oriented oasis with a great trail system which was built by mountain bikers but also allows hikers on nearly all the trails as well. Having passionate outdoor enthusiasts taking an active role in volunteering your park is a win/win scenario.
I could probably go on for several pages with reasons I among many others feel mountain bike trails will surely enrich your park and bring value to county residents. I also feel if the trails are approved once they're implemented many of the opponents will also see that it's not a bad thing at all. I really tried to keep this letter more about the facts rather than trying to make an emotional appeal. I truly have been on both sides of the trail, on a bike and as a walker, photographer and birder. I also wouldn't personally benefit from bike trails in your park much either, I live in middlesex county and have many places to ride locally. I did feel this issue is important enough to take the time to voice support for a fast growing sport that so many will enjoy including your children that may not have the option of driving to a destination to ride their bikes on trails. Please vote to allow the addition of mountain bike trails to Watchung.
Sincerely,
Robert W Wasilewski
