Watchung News 12/9/2016

The fact that other multi-use trails have thrived in NJ is evidence that mtbers and hikers can share trails.

To say that mtbers and hikers cannot share trails is hearsay and to accuse mountain bikes as harmful to the ecosystem of Watchung Reservation is misinformation.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone Tuesday night.
 
Hello Everyone. If you plan to attend the Master Trail Plan meeting Tuesday night (and we encourage you do), we would like to have a collective strategy for our role representing the MTB community at the meeting. The meeting is SUPPOSED to be an opportunity to explain the Master Trail Plan to the general public. With near 100% certainty, there will be a small but vocal group of attendees who will use this meeting to continue to voice their opposition to the presence of MTB riders in the Reservation. Even though we will now have our own trail network, these individuals STILL would prefer we wouldn't be in the Reservation at all. Most of you have seen their "rationale" in the letter to editor in TapInto and the myCentral Jersey story (posted above on these threads). We all know their "reasoning" for wanting to exclude us is baseless, selfish, and disproven by fact. The County, facts, and reason are all on our side.

It is very likely that the anti-bike contingent at the meeting will attempt to bait us into an argument, or a shouting match. We CANNOT take the bait. Our role is to be the voice of reason in the room. Our contributions to the discussion should be limited to:

1. Providing clear, factual information about the MTB portion of the plan (Stilluf and Iggy and I can handle this as we've been working closely with the County on the details).
2. Correct any mis-information regarding MTB riding that is presented by the opposition. These corrections should be fact/science based. Not just opinions. Sven Migot's responses to the TapInto letter is a perfect template.
3. Express gratitude to the County for seeing this plan through, listening to our concerns, and having the foresight to include the MTB community in the Master Plan.

Overall, our goal for this meeting is to make sure the MTB community comes off as the adults in the room. Maturity, facts, civility. Don't be baited into arguments.

See you there!
 
"even though we have our own trail network these individuals still would prefer we wouldn't be in the reservation at all..."....

I wonder if they are using the logic of those who oppose mtb in wilderness at the federal level i.e. "seeing a bike cheapens my hiking experience". Lol.

To which I say, you can put a bag over your head, cant ya?

I also loved the "some guy could be doing 30mph" quote in the article. Uh, who is he talking about, DC's The Flash? I ride maybe half that at max and usually much less than that... This isn't the pro DH circuit dude.

Yeh to what Shorepoints said re: being the voice of reason to the bike haters. We are on the right side of history. You can't convince zealots, anyway -- their opposition is ideological not based on actual concerns. However many fence sitters may just be uninformed which is where our voices can make a big diff. Especially given how silly some anti-mtb nonsense is.

Lonerider
 
Besides, re: the bike haters... life is too short to worry about what other people think anyway. The tragedy of this is that so many think it should ...but the good thing is that that is (hopefully) changing. I mean, I don't golf, but I have no desire to ban it just cause I don't enjoy it. Even after all this time, and knowing what I know about the origins of the ban, thru today, I still can't fathom why so many are willing to argue that their subjective opinion should have veto power over other people's access to a public resource... especially with all the examples of successfully integrated trails around the state and the nation.

I guess it's like H.l. Mencken said... The puritain's greatest fear is someone somewhere is having fun.

Methinks if they just went for a pleasant bike ride they'd be in a better mood and not so inclined to try and hassle their fellow citizens, lol.

Lonerider
 
I got wind today that an email petition has been circulating in Summit to ban building the section of trail between Rt78 and and the neighborhood east of Governor Livingston. More insane claims of how mountain bikers will make to see of noise and destroy property values blah, blah...This neighborhood is a stone's throw from one of the most used highways in the state, I highly doubt anyone would ever k own we're even there. Also, the section they're talking about used to be a road. For cars. Cars used to drive behind their houses all day. Cars. They claim bikes are louder and worse for the environment. These are real people.
 
jimvreeland said:
I got wind today that an email petition has been circulating in Summit to ban building the section of trail between Rt78 and and the neighborhood east of Governor Livingston. More insane claims of how mountain bikers will make to see of noise and destroy property values blah, blah...This neighborhood is a stone's throw from one of the most used highways in the state, I highly doubt anyone would ever k own we're even there. Also, the section they're talking about used to be a road. For cars. Cars used to drive behind their houses all day. Cars. They claim bikes are louder and worse for the environment. These are real people.
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Jim, we are dealing with folks that fought the damn rt 78 highway. I grew up there, in Murray Hill while the fighting continued for 15 or 20 years. I still hate the fact that 78 was able to be built there. Houses were moved, side roads changed. YET the highway won. Dealing with these people we have to tread lightly. Whats a little bike path compared to that fricken highway?
 
Dingo said:
Jim, we are dealing with folks that fought the damn rt 78 highway. I grew up there, in Murray Hill while the fighting continued for 15 or 20 years. I still hate the fact that 78 was able to be built there. Houses were moved, side roads changed. YET the highway won. Dealing with these people we have to tread lightly. Whats a little bike path compared to that fricken highway?
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I wouldn't dismiss their concerns out of hand. I hope that anyone who is concerned or interested in the master trail plan shows up for the meeting. I'll bet their concerns will be heard and answered.
 
The problem is they've tried to make this about mt. biking instead of about the county's policy. This is 2017... mt. bike access of some kind is normal. It's the idea of a total ban that is odd.

But folks can't see it probably cause they don't know anything about cycling.

Hopefully knowledge wins out over ignorance.
 
So much for a unanimous Freeholder endorsement. I still can't believe we're pitching for access despite all the plans and funding being passed.
 
The fact that 13 miles of mountain bike trails are going to be built in Watchung is rather mundane.
Hikers vrs. mountain bikers in a showdown for a piece of the reservation makes a better story.

When you know the facts of a particular issue, then you read the sensationalism that newspapers print...I question everything a newspaper or media source write. Stories sell better then facts.
 
pooriggy said:
The fact that 13 miles of mountain bike trails are going to be built in Watchung is rather mundane.
Hikers vrs. mountain bikers in a showdown for a piece of the reservation makes a better story.

When you know the facts of a particular issue, then you read the sensationalism that newspapers print...I question everything a newspaper or media source write. Stories sell better then facts.
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If I told this joke, it would be bad, right?:

"Are you bringing a pitch fork or a torch to Tuesday's meeting?"
 
To be fair I emailed the writer about these very concerns. When I pointed out he didn't have the whole story he explained it was written in one day, he had no time to meet deadline.

And to be fair at least he put JORBA's words in there to sort of balance out some of the anti-bike nonsense.

Still doesn't help the cause to put the hackneyed anti-bike nonsense in there as if it is historical fact, but...

.... I'll take a rush job over a hatchet job any day.

That said, yeh, don't take news as gospel. Ever.
 
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It's rather amusing that we all can't get along and play nice on 2000 acres of "public" property.

I thought we were making Merica great again...
 
Xler8 said:
It's rather amusing that we all can't get along and play nice on 2000 acres of "public" property.

I thought we were making Merica great again...
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I truly believe most of us could. There is a small minority of bike bashers, and a bit larger group of uninformed people who don't know anything about bikes except what they've heard second hand.

I've talked to many non-mt. bikers and literally only ever recall one -- one -- thinking that mt. bikers shouldn't be allowed. And when I explained some facts even he was less against it. the vast majority, from people I encounter the usual reaction is that not allowing it is absurd.

As to the NIMBY objections by people near i-78 I believe they may be being manipulated by the bike bashers. They clearly have nothing to worry about from a bike trail -- if anything it may get their children off the couch and away from street corners. Do they have concerns? Maybe but none that can't be solved by facts, and truth is "well, I was told to worry about this by a guy with an axe to grind" is not a valid argument for restricting people (i.e., us).

Remember, most people don't inherently want to tell others what to do and outlaw them -- the bullies and uninformed are always a small minority. They just holler loudly.

I look forward to the day when someone says "that ought to be outlawed" (insert harmless activity of your choice) they are asked "why", and go away.
 
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I penned a diplomatic response to the MyCentralJersey letter. Note, no finger pointing, just focused on facts. Link is here in the comments link: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/stor...-biking-return-watchung-reservation/98538014/

Copy/Pasted for your convenience:
One critical fact that is incorrect in this article is that there will be 3 miles of shared bike/hike horse trails. This is incorrect. Although the Master Trail Plan recommended substantial sharing of hike/equestrian/bike trails, complaints from the hiking community about sharing trails convinced County Officials to eliminate sharing trails and create a bike only trail independent of the hiking/equestrian trails. The bike trail will not share any of the existing or future hiking/horse trails. It will only share trailheads/parking lots and intersect the hiking trails at a handful of unavoidable spots. These intersections will be marked with slow/yield signs and designed in a way to insure bike speeds are minimal and sightlines are clear.

The Master Trail Plan map that is currently publicly available is only an approximation of the trail route, and language on the map correctly states that the route is subject to change based on actual environmental conditions. Rest assured, the final bike route will be designed to IMBA standards for safety, sustainability, and environmental sensitivity. IMBA standards for bike trails include average grades no greater than 10%, and average bike speeds on these trails will be less than 10mph, similar to horses and trail runners. These standards will be certified by County-hired engineers and satisfy the County's legal and insurance requirements.

The Master Plan for the Watchung Reservation was adopted to insure the most sustainable, safe, and enjoyable future for ALL users. The plan correctly identifies that nearly all of the existing hiking/equestrial trails require improvements, re-routes, or in some cases, closures where they encroach on sensitive (wetlands) areas or are built on unsustainable grades. I commend the County for recognizing the Watchung Reservation is in dire need of an overhaul to insure its long-term sustainability. The more advocates the Reservation can have, the better care it will receive.
 
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