Bicycling

 

• Increase bicycle/pedestrian uses and access.

• Separation of trails - hikes/bikers/equestrians

-         Bikes increased access/controlled access

-         Bikers - controlled access in habitat/wilderness areas

• Bike trails to forest to enhance healthy recreation.

• There are not enough bike trails.

• Like to see a wide range of activities, but concerned about the impacts of bicycles (and other users) on the trails - physical impacts such as ruts, social impacts such as impact of fast downhill bicyclists on slower hikers.
• Want to make sure recreational users are not shut out - keep areas open. Hang gliding, mountain biking, hunting, etc.
• Would like a trail system that accommodates / coordinates and allows for a diversity of uses: mountain biking, equestrian use, hiking, off-road.

• The Department of Fish and Game supports providing hunting and fishing opportunities for the public in close proximity to their homes. The Department is also highly committed in supporting efforts to maintain and enhance the high biological diversity in the San Gabriel Mountains which supports non-consumptive uses such as wildlife and botanical viewing, as well as hiking, biking, and equestrian excursions.
• The study area includes San Antonio Canyon and its water shed. I am concerned about the heavy traffic of bicyclists. A serious accident is likely. George Duffy, a previous wilderness manager of the San Gabriel River Ranger District, had a marvelous solution: convert the old, now abandoned road at the bottom of the canyon into a Class I bicycling trail. A proper Class I cycling trail could also be built from Claremont to the fire station.
• I would like to see a concentration on healthy, non-motorized, recreational opportunities with strict restrictions on where mountain bikes can be used as these can be quite destructive to the trails and dangerous to hikers and horseback riders.
• I am an avid hiker and equestrian trail rider. Although I support providing access opportunities for mountain biking & off-road vehicle enthusiasts I am concerned about trail encounters between hikers/horses and bikes/cycles. Some trails can easily and safely handle both. But many, particularly those with many switchbacks, steep inclines or narrow passages with sheer drops or cliffs, can be very dangerous to trail users meeting or passing each other. I would hope any trails that are developed could be built with marked bypasses to reduce dangerous encounters as mentioned above.
• I would also like to retain existing recreational opportunities within the study area, specifically mountain biking and hiking on trails with my dog. In the National Park System, activities such as hunting, mountain biking, and walking a dog on trails are not allowed. Many activities such as this are a way for people to recreate and enjoy the natural environment, yet this management strategy precludes and disenfranchises a lot of users. It is unclear whether any of these alternative concepts would in fact eliminate these current uses from the study area. I would not support any concept that does.

 

• The word "recreation" in NRA causes some apprehension that it may mean opening up areas to mountain biking and off-road vehicle use. I want to see mountain-biking extremely limited and off road vehicle use totally prohibited.
• I would very much like NPA involvement to accelerate the processes of developing long distance trail systems, especially related to rivers, bike paths and trails, even ones useful for commuting, and possibly kayaking/canoeing and fishing in the river opportunities, as they do in Boulder, CO (the urban greenway concept).

• While some indication exists that alternatives of the plan envision things like bike riding in semi-urban open space, nothing is said about the opportunities in the forest, many of which have been severely curtailed or eliminated (hang gliding, nude sunbathing, shooting, archery, and how the trail system would be administered to deal with the competing demands of bicycles, horses, and foot hikers). What about other legitimate uses of the forest? (e.g. mining).
• I suggest developing regional Bike Trail linkages. This should include landscaping plans to include tree lined paths & rest stops. Good jobs for urban youth.
• Please keep mountain bikes out of the San Gabriel Mountains and Watershed as they destroy all that is to be otherwise protected. And they disrupt and injure hikers.