New Jersey mountain bikers rally to overcome proposed trail ban

IMBA Trail News
Volume 12, Number 2
May 1999

By Jennifer Lamb

Of all the mountain bike access hot spots in the country, northern New Jersey may be the hottest. With population pressure from the largest U.S metropolitan area, loss of open space to development, and a sometimes contentious relationship with the region's well-connected hiking constituency, cyclists in the area have lost a lot of singletrack in the past five years. As increasing numbers of New York City cyclists seek the peace and greenery of adjacent New Jersey, administrators in several northern counties have closed local parks to cyclists, creating a domino effect that, until last month, looked like it would crush off-road access in Morris County.

But thanks to the efforts of a core group of die-hard advocates and committed cyclists, politics took a surprising turn in favor of bikes in Morris County last month. After a 90-minute public hearing in a County hall packed with cyclists, Parks Commissioners voted eight to one to table a proposed mountain bike policy that would have shut cyclists out of The Tourne, a centrally located, 546-acre park popular with bicyclists, equestrians and hikers. The board's vote was shaped by a well-coordinated effort that included phone calls, reasonable testimony at public hearings, and carefully crafted letters from local cyclists and IMBA. The decision gives cyclists an additional six months to pull together and work with County parks staff to address liability and user conflict concerns. Local advocates who have worked long and hard to reverse the access trend in New Jersey were thrilled with the vote. This group includes shop owner Marty Epstein, IMBA NJ state rep and shop owner Wally Tunison, and Jersey Off-Road Bicycling Association (JORBA) founders Chris and Sarah Frost.

What happens next? The immediate crisis is past and the key word now is participation. Mountain bikers who ride The Tourne even if they're not northern New Jersey residents have an opportunity to earn a well-deserved place in the Morris County trails community. In the next six months, the County will perform a trails assessment, evaluating the long-term sustainability of the trail system and deciding how best to administer it. JORBA and other local clubs have offered assistance a volunteer trailwork program, creation of a mountain bike patrol, and an expanded rider education program but they need members to hold up their end of the bargain.

In May, as part of our Hot Spot program, representatives from IMBA's Boulder office will travel to New Jersey to meet with County staff, Epstein, Tunison, Frost, and other advocates to chart a course for strengthening the local cycling organization and maintaining long-term access. We'll also discuss the role cyclists can play in supporting newly proposed legislation pending in both the New Jersey state Senate and Assembly that, if passed, will shield the County from lawsuits by people injured while using public parks. Please get involved by calling IMBA at (303) 545-9011 or sending us an email at .

Many thanks and congratulations to all the dedicated folks who have persevered through countless phone calls and meetings to keep singletrack riding in northern New Jersey alive. Things are looking up!