Conversation With a Marin Trail Guru

IMBA Trail News
Volume 13, Number 5
Winter 2000

Marin County, California, is widely recognized as the birthplace of modern mountain biking. It was also one of the first places to experience serious trail user conflicts. Jim Jacobson has been active in the Marin advocacy scene since the beginning and he has persevered. His latest accomplishment on behalf of the Bicycle Trails Council of Marin is the completion of a nine-mile singletrack loop at the Camp Tamarancho Boy Scout Camp. From the high points on the circuit you can see San Francisco and Oakland. IMBA's Heather Szabo talked with Jim recently about Marin access and trail building.

Jim, How did you get started in mountain bike advocacy?

Mountain biking has always been a big issue in Marin County. I started in 1984 and became active in advocacy in 1989 after the Marin County Water District wanted to close Mount Tam to mountain biking. Bicycle Trails Council of Marin was formed to prevent that.

What keeps you going? How do you maintain enthusiasm to keep working for mountain bike access?

We've been fortunate to be able to build trails at Camp Tamarancho for six years now. It's unfortunate that it is private land and not public. You have to buy a yearly permit ($40) and all the money goes back to the Camp Tamarancho Boy Scout Camp. We've put in over 10,000 volunteer hours and built over nine miles of trail. The Boy Scouts use the trails as well.

Where do you see Camp Tamarancho in the future?

The trail skirts the perimeter of the property and that's about all we can do. We don't have any immediate plans for more trail.

Marin County is known for its anti-mountain bike atmosphere. Is there one thing you wish the anti-mountain bike folks understood about mountain biking and mountain bikers?

Probably that the difference between us is less then they imagine.

For years you have worked to forge a relationship with the Marin Municipal Water District. What is happening there now?

Unfortunately, not much. We've been working with Marin County Open Space for about three or four years and have had a little more success. There are two miles of trail on the master plan for land that was just deeded to Open Space by George Lucas. He has about 800 acres and recently purchased five adjacent ranches. He is expanding public access on the existing fire roads and allowing connector trails to be built. But, there is still minimal public access. Marin County received an estimate of $250,000 to build the two miles of trail. Bicycle Trail Council can do it for about 10 percent of that. We can offer volunteer labor.

How can Bay Area mountain bikers best help Bicycle Trail Council of Marin right now?

Two things. First, don't build or ride on illegal trails. We are portrayed as law-breaking yahoos already and the more people ride illegal trails, just adds to that poor image. Second, we need support. Show up at meetings. Write letters to land managers supporting more riding opportunities. Marin County has four land management agencies with more than 200 miles of trails and only about 10 are legal for mountain biking. China Camp is one area, but it's not really singletrack. It's about four feet wide.

Where do you see the sport in 10 years?

All aspects will change. As younger people come into land management positions, mountain biking will gain more access. There will always be trouble spots, but fewer and fewer. The perception of mountain biking and mountain bikers versus the reality is quite different. People are afraid of confrontation. It's like where snowboarding was 10 and 15 years ago. A lot of resorts banned them, but when they saw there was money to be made by allowing snowboards, areas opened. I see a similar reaction to mountain biking. It won't be as economically driven as snowboarding was, but overall, more trails will be open for mountain biking.

Who or what have inspired you?

Basically, it's the right thing to do. I receive a lot of help and assistance from the members of Bicycle Trails Council of Marin. I like the people; they are a lot of fun. Plus, Camp Tamarancho has been a huge success. Thousands of people love the area. It does work!