Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a route where mountain bikers could ride between the valley and Skyline without encountering easily spooked horses?
Maybe there could be. A group of equestrian organizations has come up with a proposal that — San Francisco willing — might break the impasse between bicyclists and horseback riders feuding over access to trails in San Mateo County parks.
The proposed “Edgewood-Purisima Trail Corridor” would run through San Francisco Watershed property from the stone gates at the corner of Canada and Edgewoood roads through San Francisco watershed property about four miles up to Skyline Boulevard at the north entrance to Purisima Creek Redwood Open Space Preserve — a popular destination for mountain bicyclists.
The route would run between Filoli and the Phleger Estate in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It would not be in Woodside — which is getting increasingly unhappy with bicycles — nor would it cross any other trails.
“This is one proposal where horse people could support bikers,” said Menlo Park architect Ernst Meissner, a longtime horseman who served on San Mateo County’s defunct Trails Committee.
Mr. Meissner helped organize ETRAC (Equestrian Trail Riders Action Committee) about three years ago. The coalition of 12 Peninsula horse organizations promotes creation and maintenance of a comprehensive regional trail system on the Peninsula for trail riders.
ETRAC just submitted its proposal for the Edgewood Purisima Trail Corridor to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), which owns the land. It will also need approval from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which holds a conservation easement over the entire watershed.
Tony Winnicker, communications director for the SFPUC, had not seen the proposal, but said the agency was interested. “We are open to increasing recreational access in watershed lands, especially for bicycle and horse users,” he said.
However, the PUC needs to guarantee that new uses do not damage the water supply or impact endangered species, Mr. Winnicker warned.
“We hope this will start a dialogue and lead to a solution,” Mr. Meissner said. “There isn’t anything like this up and down the whole Peninsula.”
Master plan
The proposed bicycle route grew out of several years of debate over a new master plan for Huddart and Wunderlich parks above Woodside. These woodland parks have a system of beautiful trails that have traditionally been used by hikers, joggers and equestrians.Now, mountain bikers want their share of access to county parks and trails. They have been pushing for a trail through Huddart Park that would give them a way to get from the valley to Skyline, where several open space preserves allow off-road riding.
In April the county Parks and Recreation Commission approved a draft master plan, but cut out a proposed bicycle trail to Skyline that would run partially through Huddart Park. The debate had been fierce. One meeting in Redwood City was attended by more than 400 people, with 79 speakers, and the county received more than 300 letters — all focused on bicycles vs. horses.
The argument flared again on September 12, when the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors considered the draft master plan for the two parks, and authorized preparation of an environmental impact report for the master plan. No bicycle trail is included.
Environmental Sciences Associates will prepare the EIR for $118,371. It should take about eight months, county park planner Sam Herzberg told the board.
Ten speakers — seven equestrians and three bicyclists — repeated familiar arguments.
Horse riders are afraid of bicyclists; they worry that any place a bicycle trail crosses a horse trail, some bicyclists may take the horse trail and cause accidents. “Parks are open to everyone, but not every mode of transportation,” said Rebekah Witter of Woodside. Neither horses nor bicycles can ride on golf courses.
Mountain bicyclists, who estimate there may be some 30,000 of them in San Mateo County, were disappointed the Huddart Park route was dropped; they want a fair share of access to county parks. “This is a 20-year plan. It’s short-sighted not to address our concerns,” said Josh Moore, president of ROMP (Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers).
County Parks Director Dave Holland promised to appoint a blue ribbon committee soon to study trails in a regional context, and include different user groups. “We need to update the Trail Plan of 2001,” he said.
Al Filice of Menlo Park, president of the San Mateo County Horsemen’s Association, promised to help with the ETRAC proposal. “Everybody is willing to work with the mountain bikers to get this built,” he said.
Mr. Moore of ROMP welcomed the proposal, along with the blue ribbon committee. “It’s a good beginning,” he said.
INFORMATION
• For more information, call county park planner Sam Herzberg at 363-1823, or download the master plan at www.sanmateocountyparks.org (click on “Park Planning” link on the left). Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers is at www.romp.org.• The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is holding an open house on park and trail issues in Pacifica on Tuesday, September 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Sanchez Concert Hall, 1220 Linda Mar Blvd. (1.5 miles east of Highway 1.) For more information, go to parkplanning.nps.gov/goga.
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