Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

These issues, of course, are not unique to Lincoln. From https://www.americantrails.org/threats: *Let’s face it. Equestrian, biking, and hiking users do not always get along. The truth is, different user types often need different amenities, but we all have far more in common than not. When confli

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

ignore us when asked to leave. People who come to walk on our property are generally more respectful. Nancy Bergen From: Lincoln On Behalf Of Mary Crowe Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2022 3:46 PM To: Barbara Peskin Cc: Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance I agree with

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

I agree with Stephanie too. On Tue, Jun 21, 2022 at 2:35 PM Barbara Peskin wrote: > Agree with Stephanie and actually the federal grant that helped purchase > Mt Misery was for passive recreation and included dog walking as an > activity. > > On Tue, Jun 21, 2022 at 2:00 PM Stephanie Smoot > wr

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

Biking, walking, horseback riding, and dog walking are all forms of passive recreation: "Passive recreation refers to non-consumptive uses such as wildlife observation, walking, biking, and canoeing." Google it - it's defined this way very consistently. Active recreation is sports with fields and

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

Agree with Stephanie and actually the federal grant that helped purchase Mt Misery was for passive recreation and included dog walking as an activity. On Tue, Jun 21, 2022 at 2:00 PM Stephanie Smoot wrote: > Well, it depends who you ask. For dog walkers, we are very "welcoming and > open minded

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

Well, it depends who you ask. For dog walkers, we are very "welcoming and open minded" . The cyclists are late to the table. Seriously, its about bikes on dirt trails essentially changing the nature of the trails from passive enjoyment (a quiet walk in the woods) to more active type of recreati

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

The reality is that all types of trail users can have a light or heavy impact on trails and other users. Not surprisingly, websites focused on various sports (walking , biking

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

The number of horseback riders in Lincoln is so small now that you can’t compare impact on trails with walkers and bikers. Nancy Bergen From: Lincoln On Behalf Of Margaret Olson Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2022 10:13 AM To: John Mendelson Cc: Lincoln Talk Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

An analogy for the incrementalists: a unique forest can be completely cut down, by just saying each time "but it is just one more tree, please, no big effect". "reversing the trail changes is possible if they don't work out" is a bad "escape plan", a poor way to push the changes; inertia will be

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

e can all learn >>> to get along in our beautiful town. >>> >>> >>> >>> *From:* Lincoln *On Behalf Of *Margaret >>> Olson >>> *Sent:* Monday, June 20, 2022 5:37 PM >>> *To:* Sara Mattes >>> *Cc:* Lincoln Talk ; Barbara P

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

s that >>> rub their dirty noses and/or jump on strangers. Not to mention the >>> droppings that are left by dogs of some inconsiderate walkers. >>> >>> With a bit of mutual consideration, I want to believe we can all learn >>> to get along in our

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

I agree with Sara and Gordon. As a walker , horseback rider and biker I would like to see the trail access remain as is, There are so many places available for biking and not so many quiet trails for walking. I think busy all access trails could have signs that warn horseback riders to not

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

Or maybe just chill out about bikers? Diana Giles Rd On Tue, Jun 21, 2022 at 10:24 AM Sara Mattes wrote: > Well, conclusions reached would suggest we ban walkers and horses, and > bring on trial bikes and motorized vehicles! > Really? > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Jun 21, 2022, at 10:13 AM, Ma

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

Well, conclusions reached would suggest we ban walkers and horses, and bring on trial bikes and motorized vehicles! Really? Sent from my iPhone > On Jun 21, 2022, at 10:13 AM, Margaret Olson > wrote: > >  > Here's an article that summarizes the research on trail impacts of various > users:

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

Here's an article that summarizes the research on trail impacts of various users: https://www.americantrails.org/resources/comparing-relative-impacts-of-various-trail-user-groups (The second half of the article discusses policy implications for the author's jurisdiction, which may not be applicab

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

Those of us who bike have also invested in our public lands, and are also invested in stewardship. On Mon, Jun 20, 2022 at 11:50 PM Sara Mattes wrote: > John, > Your history is a bit off. > It was not 40 year ago, or even 20. > Lincoln was making decision consistent with Mass General Law Part 1

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

John, Your history is a bit off. It was not 40 year ago, or even 20. Lincoln was making decision consistent with Mass General Law Part 1, Title VII, Chpt.40, Section 8C, the charge to the Con.Comm., the stewards of our open space and trails "Section 8C: Conservation commission; establishment; po

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

I would like to know how bikes will affect habitat. We have worked to purchase and protect connected conservation parcels for wildlife as well as people. I read that one person believes that heavier bike traffic will not affect habitat. Does the conservation commision or Land trust or naturalists

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

utual consideration, I want to believe we can all learn to > get along in our beautiful town. > > > > *From:* Lincoln *On Behalf Of *Margaret > Olson > *Sent:* Monday, June 20, 2022 5:37 PM > *To:* Sara Mattes > *Cc:* Lincoln Talk ; Barbara Peskin < > bpeski...@gmail

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

Yes Nicholas, but some enjoy the convenience and pleasure of riding out your back door, often for a quick loop. Kind Regards, Scott Clary 617-968-5769 Sent from a mobile device - please excuse typos and errors On Mon, Jun 20, 2022, 8:24 PM Nicholas Ribush wrote: > We’ve seen this argument bef

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

tual consideration, I want to believe we can all learn to get along in our beautiful town.   From: Lincoln On Behalf Of Margaret Olson Sent: Monday, June 20, 2022 5:37 PM To: Sara Mattes Cc: Lincoln Talk ; Barbara Peskin Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance   Mike Farney did actively rec

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

I'd rather ride my bike on trails out my back door than to drive somewhere to ride. I'd rather my kids bike on the trails than on the road or be driven somewhere else to ride. Just seems like a greener choice. And we are not an island in this regard. Spreading usage over a wider area is also a

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

We’ve seen this argument before. Since there are so many bike trails in neighboring towns, riders presumably don’t need more trails and maybe Lincoln can be the place where people who prefer to walk where there are no bikes can go. n. On Mon, Jun 20, 2022 at 4:45 PM John Mendelson wrote: > I mu

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

et along in our beautiful town. > > > > *From:* Lincoln *On Behalf Of *Margaret > Olson > *Sent:* Monday, June 20, 2022 5:37 PM > *To:* Sara Mattes > *Cc:* Lincoln Talk ; Barbara Peskin < > bpeski...@gmail.com> > *Subject:* Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuanc

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

The argument, IMHO, still a good one despite a few voices to the contrary, is that too much "mixed usage" leads to issues of quality of experience. I disagree with notion that "bikers have learned". That is not my experience. Why the big push to homogenize all towns, all trails (which this roun

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

I meant to say Monday-Friday at Mt Misery and it is far from exclusionary … (weekends I walk other trails because so many walkers come to MM on weekends I can’t get parking…Lincoln is not exclusionary… ) I’ll just address one point here.. I can assure you that our current > guidelines are not exc

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

I’ll just address one point here.. I can assure you that our current guidelines are not exclusionary. I walk every day Monday-Friday, 50 weeks out of the year, with people from Sudbury, Concord, Lincoln and Maynard. I’ve made friends walking with people from Weston, Waltham and beyond. These walker

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

: Sara Mattes Cc: Lincoln Talk ; Barbara Peskin Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance Mike Farney did actively recruit large numbers of bikers, and those bikers were not always respectful of the trails or other users. But that was over 20 years ago! The biking community learned to

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

You are thinking back to a different time, Sara. Our roads were safer. Trail biking was in its infancy. I could go on. Just because excluding bikes was the right decision 40 years ago doesn't mean it is the right decision today. Trail bikers are just as likely to be stewards of the trails and t

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

Spot on John. However, when he mentioned an island of exclusion, I think perhaps he forgot to mention he was speaking about biking. We are definitely not an island of exclusion from others outside of town using our trail system. As I have stated before, most all mountain bikers I know are very re

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

Margaret is exactly right. I am not saying anyone's right to walk should be restricted. Rather, we should accept and welcome people who want to safely and respectfully enjoy the trails in other ways. Why is that wrong? On Mon, Jun 20, 2022, 5:37 PM Margaret Olson wrote: > Mike Farney did acti

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

Mike Farney did actively recruit large numbers of bikers, and those bikers were not always respectful of the trails or other users. But that was over 20 years ago! The biking community learned to police it’s own and the serious bikers moved to other much more interesting venues. Look at the trails

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

I would strongly disagree with the general statement that we are perceived as “an island of exclusion,” because of our current trail policies. The number of cars parked along our roadways all during the pandemic, and the walkers that came from them would say otherwise. We are well-known for the r

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

I do not find that a good approach, "for sake of reputation" with out some proportion. If so, than Lincoln should do away with 2 acre zoning, and become like Waltham, more equitable. I do not see keeping a higher percentage of trails bike-free vs what other towns do as inequitable. It means Linc

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

Lincoln has a venerable history of conservation use - yes we are privileged. No doubt about it. But how about we are known as the town that welcomes walkers - particularly since biking opportunities abound around us. As I said in my letter - quiet, undisturbed time in the woods is critical to ou

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

I must point out that both Concord and Weston (and other towns mentioned) allow cycling on a significant majority of their trails at present. We are very much our of step with our peer towns in terms of restricting usage of our trails. And these policies give us a reputation, deserved or otherwis

Re: [LincolnTalk] Trails Continuance

Deb, Thank you for sharing the zoom link and reminder for the 6/22 vote. Interest from Lexington, Wayland, Andover, etc seems to be a sign of outside recreational bike groups looking to get access to Lincoln trails and I feel that the Conservation Commission's considering to lower the bar on protec

[LincolnTalk] Trails continuance

 Hello, all - The June 1 ConComm trails discussion over Zoom was robust and heartening; lots of people showed up and voiced their opinions on the proposed trails regulations. For those who couldn't make it, the ConComm decided to hold off on voting on the regs, and instead to continue the m