Comments on the EDMUD "master plan" meeting on Thursday, August 20 at 6:30 p.m. at EBMUD’s Oakland office at 375 11th Street. Second floor.

Comments on the EDMUD "master plan" meeting on Thursday, August 20 at 6:30 p.m. at EBMUD’s Oakland office at 375 11th Street. Second floor.

Attending the meeting and listening to the variety of viewpoints was very exciting and informative. To look at a problem and try to divide it into component parts is generally a useful thing, even if these components are in fact not completely separate.  So I'll give it a try.  One component is exemplified by the high demand 1.3 Skyline Trail section between the Stream Trains and Sibley, the other by the 10 miles of fire road "Rocky Ridge Trail" joining Morage to Los Trampas via Rocky Ridge peaks.

Part 1) The 1.3 mile section of Skyline trail between the steam trains and Sibley, crossing Fish Ranch Road. This is prime real estate - many people living in the area have a very limited amount of time in the day - maybe one hour - to ride a whole days worth of energy after their daily duties. As well as being attractively challenging, it is one of the few routes close enough to reach within a limited time. Hence, the high level of demand, and the high number of people who actually use it despite the high probability of being caught and fined.

In fact the issue of the Skyline trail is greatly exacerbated by the fact that there are no equally convenient other legal off road ways to approach the peak. E.g., the fire road from Panoramic or Centennial to Grizzly & Centennial is off limits to bicycles. The only off road route is way at the back of Tilden, up Sea View Trail.

At the same time there are other user types (hikers and equestrians) who are already using this section of Skyline trail for similar reasons. It is a narrow, steep, and slippery path in many parts. There are logistical difficulties in a high usage narrow path being used by bicycles and horses at the same time - it would be dangerous. Therefore, a time sharing scheme would be appropriate. A clean divide could be a win-win solution for all. Perhaps some bikers and those (at least two) very nice horse ladies at the meeting who openly voiced a desire for cooperation with cyclists could get together and issue a joint statement.

Part 2) The 10 or so miles of Rocky Ridge Trail fire road connecting Moraga to Las Trampas. This is currently an extremely low usage trail - exactly the opposite of the Skyline trail. It's out of the way for most people - any would take hours to complete, a whole day round trip. But it offers great beauty and serenity. I was happy to hear one other biker at the meeting talk about how he spent time looking at maps and daydreaming of riding in this area - and I am sure there are many more who would jump at the chance.

Here there should be little problem with multiple user types sharing the same path. Problems are possible but the probabilities are tiny compared to Skyline trail. For a start it is fire road offering sufficient room for passing. Also, a bike ride of this sort is a long slow haul - very different from a time compact high power workout climbing grizzly peak.  As a possible way that could leave EBMUD feeling that they were in control while enabling access for long distance adventure rides, EBMUD could issue one-day passes to permit holders. 

Craig Hicks