[Entrenador]

Members of the local riding community are working diligently to bring a flow trail to Wildcat/Tilden Park. There's some good energy from all parties going into this, and we're at the point where we need an overwhelming show of support from the Bay Area cycling community.

Please take a moment to sign this short petition (linked below), and then share it out to your riding friends.

wildcatflowtrail.org

Scroll past the petition for a diagram, and please sign up for updates.

 

[Brah]

signed!

 

[finlayson]

Signed. This seems like a long shot, IMHO, but if there's enough of a response here, then at least it will get attention.

 

[Entrenador]

Signed. This seems like a long shot, IMHO, but if there's enough of a response here, then at least it will get attention.

I hear you, and if you've been around here for more than a dozen years, you'd be hard pressed not to feel that way. It's certainly not a done deal, but as an East Bay lifer, I'm more optimistic now about access than ever for several valid reasons. The ice appears to be slowly thawing.

 

[TraxFactory]

That would be amazing, although I would rather see this effort go to more miles of primitive trails with features. Flow takes much more resources to build and maintain.

 

[pauly mac]

The map is unclear. Would the proposed trail run between the ridge trail/ Nimitz and Wildcat Canyon fire road? Are you asking EBRPD to build the trail or to allow the community to build the trail? How would this effect the existing cattle grazing? Seems to me that the cattle would ruin any trail in short order.

 

[p0is0n0ak]

That would be amazing, although I would rather see this effort go to more miles of primitive trails with features. Flow takes much more resources to build and maintain.

Wildcat is full of primitive bovine-built trails!

 

[p0is0n0ak]

The map is unclear. Would the proposed trail run between the ridge trail/ Nimitz and Wildcat Canyon fire road? Are you asking EBRPD to build the trail or to allow the community to build the trail? How would this effect the existing cattle grazing? Seems to me that the cattle would ruin any trail in short order.

The cattle would be allll over it!

 

[homey2]

Signed but not holding my breath. I would like to challenge EBRP board members to take a child on their trails to see if they have fun. I‘ll bet they end up at a city park like Joaquin Miller.

 

[Entrenador]

The map is unclear. Would the proposed trail run between the ridge trail/ Nimitz and Wildcat Canyon fire road? Are you asking EBRPD to build the trail or to allow the community to build the trail? How would this effect the existing cattle grazing? Seems to me that the cattle would ruin any trail in short order.

Good questions. This effort is being spearheaded by riders local to the area. It's still early in the process, and I'm helping BTCEB to get word out. I've requested more details and will post more info when it comes.

 

[Cary]

Signed, but zero expectations. 20+ years of watching the EBRPD Board of Directors treat us as third tier users leaves me little hope.

 

[n4speed]

Signed.

 

[Entrenador]

Signed, but zero expectations. 20+ years of watching the EBRPD Board of Directors treat us as third tier users leaves me little hope.

Cary, thank you and others who have taken a moment to sign. I've been along for the ride for about that long too.

Quoting the project proponents here:
“The Park staff has reviewed the proposal and done a number of preliminary studies. They liked what they saw so they are proceeding with more detailed environmental studies. However, the really crucial next step is in our hands - we need to show the EBRPD Board that there is broad community support for the trail.”

 

[Entrenador]

The map is unclear. Would the proposed trail run between the ridge trail/ Nimitz and Wildcat Canyon fire road? Are you asking EBRPD to build the trail or to allow the community to build the trail? How would this effect the existing cattle grazing? Seems to me that the cattle would ruin any trail in short order.

Relaying more info:
The proposed trail will run from ridge trail/Nimitz to Wildcat Canyon Fire road, and would be machine built by a contractor, with finish work likely done by volunteer crews.

 

[Asherlc]

Happily signed. At the very least, it's another prod at EBRPD and hopefully helps shift the overton window here. I fear the park staff are reasonable, but it's the board that's full of HOH.

I've wondered before if the real way to change the policies would be to join en masse and co-opt the local Sierra club, vote so they endorse MTB-friendly board candidate. Assuming most voters just vote (understandably) for whoever the Sierra club etc endorses.

 

[cassieno]

Holey-cow. That would be nice to have a trail right there. Something to do with all the elevation.

Like others I worry about building something like that I with the cows. Crockett has a "flow" trail that's thrashed by cows constantly but is there.

The hikers "own" Wildcat so it would be interesting what this would do to interactations with them.

Signed and support it.

 

[J-Flo]

Signed.

Cows would be a problem, clearly. FWIW, in Switzerland they also have cows everywhere. The solution used there to protect trails from trampling is a simple, low-voltage electric wire surrounding the trail, combined with some gates here and there to allow cows to cross. It works, is low-profile/low-impact, and I expect is less expensive in the long run than repairing cattle damage all the time.

 

[Entrenador]

The folks involved in this are very familiar with the area, cattle grazing practices and all. As mentioned in the petition text, one of the reasons they're focusing on this specific site is because cattle activity can potentially limit some of the EIR concerns. There are some approaches being considered for mitigating potential cattle damage, but I'm going to hold off commenting about this concern for now.

And for the record, while I enjoy flow trails, my first personal choice for increased access would be to open some of the existing sanctioned and unsanctioned trails, since they're already there, and I'd support building new primitive trails too. But ultimately I'm for coming together with momentum to move access in the right direction, and this project has momentum already.

 

[RoscoP]

Signed.
Waiting for the “environmental review was inadequate” nimby lawsuit.

 

[cassieno]

I think we need an environmental review of all the new trails the cows create every year.

What I really need to do is figure out how to direct them. Been eying a ridgeline that could use some breaking in.