New York State Cyclists Urged to Respond to Proposed Trail Closures
Action Alert!
For Immediate Release
01-10-02
Contact: Jon Sundquist, Upstate New York IMBA representative
716-655-5130
The Central New York Region of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC Region 7) has released a draft Recreation Plan that could severely restrict mountain bicycling on state forest lands. The plan calls for the closure of all state forest trails to bicycles except those that are designated open. Trails would not be designated open until an individual review by the DEC is completed. Further, the draft plan would close most trails to bicycling during the winter months (Nov. 1 - May 1) regardless of trail conditions.
Mountain bikers should have two primary concerns about this proposed plan: 1) An "all trails closed unless designated open" policy is needlessly restictive. Mountain biking can be properly managed with a "trails open unless designated closed" policy. 2) Banning riding for six months of each year is unwarranted and unnecessary. Trails are often dry and rideable during the cold weather months.
Although the proposed plan is for use in the Central New York region, state officials have indicated this plan could be used as a model for future statewide regulations.
The draft plan allows for designating bicycling trails at several state forests. However, it does not specify which trails would be opened, and cyclists fear a significant reduction in riding opportunities. Trails would not be reopened until the completion of DEC sustainability reviews.
The member organizations of the New York Mountain Bicycling Coalition (NYMBC) are leading the response to this proposed plan. Written comments will be accepted until Feb. 28, 2002. NYMBC has developed a detailed review of the draft plan and has produced a guide for preparing comments at its website at http://www.ggw.org/nymbc. The only chance of revising these proposed restrictions is through significant written comments from cyclists.
Step 1:
Review the plan at: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dlf/publands/ump/reg7/recplan/reg7rec.pdf
The sections addressing mountain biking are very interesting. Focus on pages 60-65 of the acrobat document or pages 55 to 60 of the printed document. See also Appendix 6.
Step 2:
Review the IMBA/NYMBC analysis and guide to evaluating and responding to the plan at http://www.ggw.org/nymbc/reg7-intro.html
Step 3:
Submit your written comments by Feb. 28, 2002 to:
NYSDEC
Division of Lands and Forests
Re: Recreation Master Plan
1285 Fisher Ave.
Cortland, NY 13045
(tel. 607-753-3095)
Written comments are preferred and most effective. However, e-mail comments will be accepted at
For more information contact Upstate New York IMBA representative Jon Sundquist . Please copy Jon on all correspondence.
Jon Sundquist
279 Oakwood Ave
East Aurora, NY 14052-2211
716-655-5130
