There is a concern for those home owners whose “newly recommended bike paths” are in their front or backyards. It may not affect everyone but certainly puts a burden on others. I feel we should leave the trails as they are now.
Jeannine Taylor > On Jul 12, 2022, at 11:23 AM, Bob Mason <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Barbara, > > I appreciate that you have taken the time to read and process the many > messages about these trail use policies, but I believe the fear of change you > are describing is a bit out of scope. I believe the language of "drastic > change" is misplaced. > > For example, bike groups can already ride in Lincoln, but most choose not to > do so because there are other locations that offer more diverse and > challenging trails. Many of these locations are located in state parks or > other reservations. The group permit concept is simply to give the town > visibility to if/when a group would like to ride. I believe the proposed > changes are in such modest scope that they will exert little to no > gravitational pull from non-Lincoln riders. We won't see hordes of bikers > descending on our town. To be honest, if you're going to drive to ride, it's > not worth coming to Lincoln to do so. > > But these changes can encourage some Lincoln families and residents to spend > more time outside enjoying a ride together. Considering how people have been > cooped up with remote learning, remote working and isolation I think the > overall benefits of having more diverse outdoor activities is better for the > overall welfare of our town. > > I also surmise the overall volume of any increased activity will actually be > inconsequential to the majority of people. I know some argue that any change, > especially incremental change, is verboten. If that is your belief system > then it's hard to make a rational, logical argument to persuade, but it > certainly doesn't seem fair considering that 80% of the town's trails will > remain off limits. > > Others have advocated that we must pause this process and follow the "Lincoln > Way" to find consensus. One of the acute challenges in this regard is that > it’s most likely that no consensus will be formed. In that regard, the > “Lincoln Way” implies no changes, which once again doesn't seem fair or > appropriate. I think it’s also important to note that the Lincoln > Conservation Commission, staff and LLCT have studied our trail use policies > for over a year and have held repeated public hearings so I think the > deliberative process has been followed carefully. > > In my honest opinion, with my full pro-bike biases on display, after these > proposals are put in place nothing will really change for the vast majority > of people - walkers and bikers alike. > > bob > > >> On Tue, Jul 12, 2022 at 9:39 AM Barbara Peskin <[email protected]> wrote: >> Hi Lincoln, >> I am trying to go through all the comments on bikes and trails. It is a lot >> to go through. I had hoped to reach out to some of you to ask that you send >> your comments to the Conservation Commission which is voting tomorrow (I >> don't know the LLCT time line). I would not count on them reading it here in >> Lincoln Talk. >> >> Last week I read a post that was so important about the history of Lincoln >> holding back on incremental change - that holding back is what makes the >> nature here phenomenal and appreciated by us all. Please send that note to >> the Commission. >> >> I also appreciate the note from a biker who likes lone biking on the trails. >> Truth be told that happens now with the maps as is. >> >> As a dog walker here for over 25 years I have been through the off leash dog >> discussions, etiquette discussions and my observation and understanding is >> that we are in an okay place. Always etiquette and understanding can be >> improved. >> >> What is about to change drastically for the lone biker, walker and horse >> back rider does not need to change if we could work together. Please >> encourage the Commission to hold off on the current proposal to officially >> expand the bike trail map. >> >> Please be aware that the new proposal about expanding the bike trail map is >> about, includes, giving permits to large bike groups from out of town. Once >> you open all these trails you can't later say oops, we actually care about >> our wildlife and close them again. This is a change that they shouldn't >> make. It will be detrimental to nature and it will have a negative impact on >> those of us walking, walking dogs off leash, horse back riding, and it will >> be detrimental to the wildlife that is accustomed to the current use of >> trails. >> >> It will mean those of us who need to drive to Mt. Misery to walk will at >> times show up and see a bike group filling the parking lot and unloading >> instead. >> >> It means, at times, when you walk with two other people from Weston and >> Maynard and their dogs at the end of the day, you might also have 10-15 >> bikes (or more) pushing you off the trails or having you look around >> figuring out where to go. >> >> This current proposal, which should be off the table, or put on hold for >> now, please, would open half the trails at Mt. Misery (November all the >> trails at Mt. Misery were proposed - then in May they adjusted it to 1/2 the >> trails, split down the middle) to bike groups. The proposal includes a >> process to give permits to large bike groups for the trails. >> >> There has not been any strong reason I've read in Lincoln Talk or at the >> forums to bring these bike groups in. It seems the only way to not have this >> happen is to not change the current trail use map. >> >> Hold off on any official changes for now, revisit the requests for >> transportation trails. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >> Barbara Peskin >> >> My Moments in Nature Photo Gallery: barbarapeskin.com >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >> Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >
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