Santa Cruz panel: Long-term parks plan should include mountain biking trails | Santa Cruz Sentinel
June 13, 2017
"Leading the charge in encouraging the city to increase access for local mountain biking is the 20-year-old trail advocacy non-profit Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz. The organization’s trail and business manager, Matt De Young, highlighted ways in which the local mountain biking community has not only used local trails, but has given back to the community with volunteer trail work hours. He estimated that of 220 miles of city trails, cyclists are allowed on less than 40. Emma Ussat, head of marketing and events for the group, said the organization turns cyclists into “trail stewards.”
“What other trail group has regularly 70 people show up to come maintain the trails, all day, a weekend day? That’s pretty special. We’re investing a lot for all user groups, not just ourselves,” Ussat said. “Mountain biking is not going away so saying ‘No, no more trails — I don’t think that’s a good solution. I actually think this is something we need to address really soon."
Read full article: Santa Cruz panel: Long-term parks plan should include mountain biking trails, santacruzsentinel.com
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