Watchung Reservation

[KenS]

Cant make it sat but i would love to help out at Watchung. Let me know when that maintenance day is...would love to fill in some of those ruts!

To reiterate: Until Union County officially announces anything, and approves JORBA's offer of standing up a chapter in Watchung, this is all just a pipe dream.

The amount of emails I have received, many completely out of touch with the reality of the situation, and the amount of public "ride it brah" posting here, is a little frustrating.

 

[bigtwin96]

subscribed. Very interested to hear the latest

 

[rxpxskier]

To reiterate: Until Union County officially announces anything, and approves JORBA's offer of standing up a chapter in Watchung, this is all just a pipe dream.

The amount of emails I have received, many completely out of touch with the reality of the situation, and the amount of public "ride it brah" posting here, is a little frustrating.

Just offering assistance when the day come...

 

[qclabrat]

Korvettes and Two Guys was the real chit...

but nuttin like the Watchung market and all their stalls selling velvet Elvis paintings and Asaurus t-shirts
we used to walk there every weekend from Fanwood, across Blue Star and Mt St Mary's

Also the back of Blue Star was pretty cool and I used to skate there in the cages. anyone remember the video store in Blue Star, I used to dumpster dive as to get the covers and inserts to the porn tapes... good times

 

[Dingo]

but nuttin like the Watchung market and all their stalls selling velvet Elvis paintings and Asaurus t-shirts
we used to walk there every weekend from Fanwood, across Blue Star and Mt St Mary's

Also the back of Blue Star was pretty cool and I used to skate there in the cages. anyone remember the video store in Blue Star, I used to dumpster dive as to get the covers and inserts to the porn tapes... good times

Anyone remember the Arrow Lounge, it was on Terrill rd. Lot of local bands would play there.

 

[qclabrat]

B4 my time but I see that's what became JJ Rockers then Malibu in the 80's. Teen night at JJ was really weak, we all dressed up like Sonny and Tubbs. It may be an AutoZone now

 

[qclabrat]

Ozzy was in my hood

 

[I Ride Bikes]

Ozzy was in my hood
View attachment 35082

They let Black Sabbath play at a Catholic school?

 

[Shorepoints]

So I was on the side of the road (not on the trails) on Skytop Road today on my MTB, and a Union County Police officer drove by and stopped. He said, "You know you are not supposed to be riding on the trails in the Reservation. To which I replied, in a very friendly manner, "Actually, they have removed all of the no bikes signs, so I believe it is legal again." To which he replied, "Oh, ok, I wasn't aware of that." We made some small talk, he was friendly as can be, and let us go on our way.

That said, Ken, or others truly in the know, what is the ACTUAL status regarding riding at WR right now? My impression is that they are doing a low-profile "soft opening" by removing the signs but not officially publicizing anything. Makes sense as I'm sure a high-profile launch would lead to a bum-rush and perhaps some negative publicity. Does anyone have ACTUAL facts about the status? Thx.

 

[pooriggy]

That said, Ken, or others truly in the know, what is the ACTUAL status regarding riding at WR right now? My impression is that they are doing a low-profile "soft opening" by removing the signs but not officially publicizing anything. Makes sense as I'm sure a high-profile launch would lead to a bum-rush and perhaps some negative publicity. Does anyone have ACTUAL facts about the status? Thx.

I have an ACTUAL fact about the status.
You will not get arrested for riding your bike in Watchung Reservation. My advice is do so if you wish however lay low about it...don't post up on media like this website.

I'm sure Jorba will post pertinent information regarding WR when and if it comes to light. For now just chill.

Captain Obvious.

 

[Shorepoints]

Note I explicitly said I was NOT on the trails. I am just wondering if anyone has any real info on the situation, which seems to have shifted with the recent removal/disappearance of the signs.

 

[KenS]

Note I explicitly said I was NOT on the trails. I am just wondering if anyone has any real info on the situation, which seems to have shifted with the recent removal/disappearance of the signs.

If you read my posts in this thread I have been very up front and honest about the "real info". I have nothing else to report other than to assure you when JORBA hears something official, it will be posted here.

Open letter: I'm nearly out of nice ways to say stop posting publicly about riding there, but just stop? Please?

Ken(at)jorba.org if you don't want to read back into the posts. I'll gladly add you to the theoretical Watchung group or answer questions about JORBA's involvement in UC.

 

[Steve Vai]

The park being open to mountain bikers and Jorba's involvement in setting up a trail maintenance presence are 2 completely different things.

 

[KenS]

Our cycling "community" in NJ is so awesome.

JV - you obviously dot know me very well, and don't care much about what I'm working on with Union Cty, but why the internet tough guy stuff?

 

[KenS]

For the record, posts like that don't give me a stroke Jim, or bother me much at all. They simply dissapoint me because they disturb the political process, portray mtb'rs as entitled/immature, and make my job harder when dealing with things all overy NJ, not just in your backyard.

I use the term job very loosely, since this isn't a job at all. I do it because I believe in it.

 

[Supermoto]

I hit the trails there for the first time with Master Blaster. Good mix of trails with some badly washed out areas. Tired one of us out.
I'd be happy to help with trail maintenance when the time comes.

 

[Steve Vai]

For the record, posts like that don't give me a stroke Jim, or bother me much at all. They simply dissapoint me because they disturb the political process, portray mtb'rs as entitled/immature, and make my job harder when dealing with things all overy NJ, not just in your backyard.

I use the term job very loosely, since this isn't a job at all. I do it because I believe in it.

Is there some part of this political process I'm just completely missing? Help me understand, I'm on your side even though it may not seem that way.

 

[KenS]

Folks have hosted group rides there for years, have I ever once said anything despite the potential negative effect on a delicate advocacy situation? No, JORBA isn't banning anything. You are killing me.

It's so simple. There has been no official lift if the ban, and I am really nicely asking people to respect the two+ years of work I've put into building a relationship with the county by not publicly announcing that you ride there until they make that call. If you cant understand that then I really have nothing else to discuss here.

 

[w_b]

Fight club, no strokes,and done. Really done. Nothing to ride there, ticks and chiggers aplenty, trust ME.

 

[Shorepoints]

If you read my posts in this thread I have been very up front and honest about the "real info". I have nothing else to report other than to assure you when JORBA hears something official, it will be posted here.

Open letter: I'm nearly out of nice ways to say stop posting publicly about riding there, but just stop? Please?

Ken(at)jorba.org if you don't want to read back into the posts. I'll gladly add you to the theoretical Watchung group or answer questions about JORBA's involvement in UC.

Ken
I have already read the entire thread (several times) and am on your mailing list for the theoretical Watchung chapter. May I suggest that you send out an update email to everyone on that list regarding the situation, even if the update says nothing more than, "we have nothing new to report". I can tell you that there is a lot of confusion here right now between County Cops (the cop I saw yesterday didn't know the signs were removed) and local riders and hikers. We understand how important and sensitive this issue is, so any input you can give us locals off of this public forum will be very helpful. Thanks again for your continued advocacy.