Tahoe Basin-e-bikes
MARCH 18, 2021
FROM:T ROY PATTON, BCHC, VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLIC LANDS
Once again, the Tahoe Basin area is pursuing opening more trails to e-bike use.
(Photo credit: Shutterstock)
Comments must be received by MARCH 28, 2021 (instructions below). If equestrians do not comment, they will be left out of any further ability to comment on these changes in the future. It is imperative that these trails are looked at to see which ones are used by equestrians and which might be suitable for e-bike use and which trails we would like to keep for strictly hiker and equestrian use.
You can review the trail maps, get more information and comment by going to the following: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=54566
Some of the proposals in the project are: *my comments are in blue italics
. Change 87 miles of non-motorized trails to motorized trails open to class 1 e-bikes only – this is taking trails from one user group and giving them to another. In return they will construct 1mile of non-motorized trail!
. Change 1 mile from motorized use to motorized trails open to class 1 e-bikes only. E-bikes, bicycles and motorcycles are all classified the same. Why not put them together.
. Designate 4 miles of existing non-motorized trails as motorized open to motorcycles only, seasonal – why not put e-bikes (or all bikes) on the same trails as motorcycles under Forest Service guidelines, they are all motorized?
. Construct 23 miles of multi-use trails that are designated as motorized trails open to class 1 e-bikes only - why not just designate these trails for all bikes, e-bikes and motorcycles rather that multi- use where you are inviting accidents and user conflicts.
. Construct 5 miles of new trails designated as motorized trails open to motorcycles only, seasonal – Again group bikes, e-bikes and motorcycles all on the same trails as they are all in the same classification.
. Construct 3 new trailhead facilities
_______________________________________________________________
Basically, this results in 97 miles of new motorized trails for e-bikes and motorcycles and in return they will give 1 mile of new trail as non-motorized! Does that seem a fair trade?
As always, they make getting to the comment page a little difficult. The web address listed above may not get you directly to where you can comment. It may take you to the Tahoe Basin page with the title “Projects” at the top. If so, try the following:
. Under “Land & Resource Management” click on “Projects”
. Under the Heading “Under Analysis” click on “Basin Wide Trail Analysis Project”
. On the right side of the screen click on “Comment/Object on project”
This will take you to the page where you can type your comment. Please read the top of that page and try to format your comments to answer their questions.
If you ride these trails or know anyone who rides or is a horse owner in the Tahoe Basin, please share this information with them. Also, share this information with other horse groups in your area (whether you ever plan to ride there or not). They are basing approval strictly on comments they receive. We need to bring forth as many concerns as possible from all equestrians throughout California. I am sorry for such short notice, but we have been receiving more information from various sources and I wanted to include as much information as possible.
Thank you for your help.
TROY PATTON, BCHC, VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLIC LANDS
[email protected]
Copyright © 2021 Backcountry Horsemen of California, All rights reserved.
MARCH 18, 2021
FROM:T ROY PATTON, BCHC, VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLIC LANDS
Once again, the Tahoe Basin area is pursuing opening more trails to e-bike use.
(Photo credit: Shutterstock)
Comments must be received by MARCH 28, 2021 (instructions below). If equestrians do not comment, they will be left out of any further ability to comment on these changes in the future. It is imperative that these trails are looked at to see which ones are used by equestrians and which might be suitable for e-bike use and which trails we would like to keep for strictly hiker and equestrian use.
You can review the trail maps, get more information and comment by going to the following: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=54566
Some of the proposals in the project are: *my comments are in blue italics
. Change 87 miles of non-motorized trails to motorized trails open to class 1 e-bikes only – this is taking trails from one user group and giving them to another. In return they will construct 1mile of non-motorized trail!
. Change 1 mile from motorized use to motorized trails open to class 1 e-bikes only. E-bikes, bicycles and motorcycles are all classified the same. Why not put them together.
. Designate 4 miles of existing non-motorized trails as motorized open to motorcycles only, seasonal – why not put e-bikes (or all bikes) on the same trails as motorcycles under Forest Service guidelines, they are all motorized?
. Construct 23 miles of multi-use trails that are designated as motorized trails open to class 1 e-bikes only - why not just designate these trails for all bikes, e-bikes and motorcycles rather that multi- use where you are inviting accidents and user conflicts.
. Construct 5 miles of new trails designated as motorized trails open to motorcycles only, seasonal – Again group bikes, e-bikes and motorcycles all on the same trails as they are all in the same classification.
. Construct 3 new trailhead facilities
_______________________________________________________________
Basically, this results in 97 miles of new motorized trails for e-bikes and motorcycles and in return they will give 1 mile of new trail as non-motorized! Does that seem a fair trade?
As always, they make getting to the comment page a little difficult. The web address listed above may not get you directly to where you can comment. It may take you to the Tahoe Basin page with the title “Projects” at the top. If so, try the following:
. Under “Land & Resource Management” click on “Projects”
. Under the Heading “Under Analysis” click on “Basin Wide Trail Analysis Project”
. On the right side of the screen click on “Comment/Object on project”
This will take you to the page where you can type your comment. Please read the top of that page and try to format your comments to answer their questions.
If you ride these trails or know anyone who rides or is a horse owner in the Tahoe Basin, please share this information with them. Also, share this information with other horse groups in your area (whether you ever plan to ride there or not). They are basing approval strictly on comments they receive. We need to bring forth as many concerns as possible from all equestrians throughout California. I am sorry for such short notice, but we have been receiving more information from various sources and I wanted to include as much information as possible.
Thank you for your help.
TROY PATTON, BCHC, VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLIC LANDS
[email protected]
Copyright © 2021 Backcountry Horsemen of California, All rights reserved.
RSS Feed