Essex County

Xler8 said:
I strongly believe that there’s just not enough people who ride their bikes on trails and have a vested interest in bettering the situation. Especially at a county level. There are way more people who don’t ride bikes on trails and they are more vocal, bitch more, know more people in higher places, etc.
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I think we are many. But you are correct in saying, we are not interested in wasting our time beating our heads against the wall. Until we can remove Joe D. change won't happen. People really don't see all of us on the trails riding our bikes. Therefore they believe " ALL " that park space is being wasted ie not used. But if they see 16-20 people playing Bocce Ball , they say isn't that great people getting out there in the fresh air, using our parks.
 
How about a bike festival at SoMo? Bring all the best things of biking to Essex County for a day. Thoughts?
 
serviceguy said:
Organizing a bike festival were bike riding is not allowed? How would you get any permit or vendors to show up?
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For the past few years Essex County (South Mountain Reservation) had a horrific mud race where they destroyed the fields and trails. If they got "approved" why not biking?

I'm a glass half full type of guy though.
 
Rode 10 miles in South Mountain last night on the 1 clipped pedal. Somehow got 'local legend' to a segment. Does that allow me to rename it The Joe D?
 
Guess we're gonna find out how the county does in Mills. I did some hiking and hand sawing/raking in Hilltop tonight. Saw a few guys out there with leaf blowers and most of the big down trees are already cut.

Will be interesting.
 
MANY bikers have come together and begun clearing South Mountain Reservation. Every single trail needs attention. I spent 3 hours last night clearing the Turtle Back loop and fire roads. Another groups of bikers began tackling the Mayapple \ Lenape section and will move into oakdale once Lenape is finished.

During clean up there were many more bikers that saw the work and offered to bring their saws back and clear which is great.

I have made the conservancy well aware of the work that bikers are doing in the reservation and lack there of hikers... it is well received by them and appreciated.

Stay safe,
 
RIDEr said:
MANY bikers have come together and begun clearing South Mountain Reservation. Every single trail needs attention. I spent 3 hours last night clearing the Turtle Back loop and fire roads. Another groups of bikers began tackling the Mayapple \ Lenape section and will move into oakdale once Lenape is finished.

During clean up there were many more bikers that saw the work and offered to bring their saws back and clear which is great.

I have made the conservancy well aware of the work that bikers are doing in the reservation and lack there of hikers... it is well received by them and appreciated.

Stay safe,
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Kudos to you and everyone else for the TM.
BUT, until Joe D is voted OUT nothing will change in SoMo. Same goes with Watchung in Union County.
 
terrabike01 said:
Kudos to you and everyone else for the TM.
BUT, until Joe D is voted OUT nothing will change in SoMo. Same goes with Watchung in Union County.
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RIDEr said:
MANY bikers have come together and begun clearing South Mountain Reservation. Every single trail needs attention. I spent 3 hours last night clearing the Turtle Back loop and fire roads. Another groups of bikers began tackling the Mayapple \ Lenape section and will move into oakdale once Lenape is finished.

During clean up there were many more bikers that saw the work and offered to bring their saws back and clear which is great.

I have made the conservancy well aware of the work that bikers are doing in the reservation and lack there of hikers... it is well received by them and appreciated.

Stay safe,
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I was out working my way up Blues Ave. I am sure we have met before or run into you in SoMO.

Funny how the MTB community is leading the clean up
 
This is a great story, both as reported and on the ground. And, quite honestly, what happened at both Somo and Hilltop (and probably many other places where trail riding is banned) is the cycle I mentioned earlier: county neglects and bikers resurrect! Would love to get the reaction quotes from the haters and antis now that they can walk their favorite trails again.
 
stilluf said:
This is a great story, both as reported and on the ground. And, quite honestly, what happened at both Somo and Hilltop (and probably many other places where trail riding is banned) is the cycle I mentioned earlier: county neglects and bikers resurrect! Would love to get the reaction quotes from the haters and antis now that they can walk their favorite trails again.
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I had a complaint from someone in Somo because of my bike while I was removing trees and debris.
 
Mathers said:
I had a complaint from someone in Somo because of my bike while I was removing trees and debris.
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Recently? Where? I have made it very obvious to the conservancy that bikers cleared the majority of trails at SoMo. I am out of town the next few weeks, but hope they recognize the work publicly.
 
I know we'll never win 100% of the vote from hikers, but do recognize most appreciate us.

A few weeks ago (pre tropical storm) I stopped to let a hiker pass by on lower turtle back loop. We started chatting and she was a former committee member for Essex County (Joe D.).... Not Karen. I mentioned to her I am the trailkeeper for this trail and that a lot of bikers keep up these trails. Her response was recognizing the biker community and while on the committee always had discussions whether this would eventually occur (bikers taking care of trails)... The positive vibes we are doing in both of these "forbidden biking" trails is truly amazing and the article pays perfect respect for the many, many hours and sweat poured into cleaning up the trails we love.
 
RIDEr said:
Recently? Where? I have made it very obvious to the conservancy that bikers cleared the majority of trails at SoMo. I am out of town the next few weeks, but hope they recognize the work publicly.
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On the top of yellow near Bear lane. It was about 3 days after the storm.
 
RIDEr said:
I know we'll never win 100% of the vote from hikers, but do recognize most appreciate us.

A few weeks ago (pre tropical storm) I stopped to let a hiker pass by on lower turtle back loop. We started chatting and she was a former committee member for Essex County (Joe D.).... Not Karen. I mentioned to her I am the trailkeeper for this trail and that a lot of bikers keep up these trails. Her response was recognizing the biker community and while on the committee always had discussions whether this would eventually occur (bikers taking care of trails)... The positive vibes we are doing in both of these "forbidden biking" trails is truly amazing and the article pays perfect respect for the many, many hours and sweat poured into cleaning up the trails we love.
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OK...so they continue the bike ban but recognize that bikers will do the trail maintenance anyway. Something does not compute.
 
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