ARR meeting to discuss Barton Creek Greenbelt trail closures scheduled

I've been loosely following the BCGB trail closings I mentioned last week and it looks like the Austin Ridge Riders mountain bike club are going to be hosting a meeting to discuss the issue and try to figure out how to peacefully co-exist with all the other special interest groups looking out for the land.

The meeting will be occuring on the 14th of May. I don't know the time or place yet, but keep an eye on this BikeMojo thread to get all the latest info, or just email the ARR Prez and ask them directly.

This meeting is open to all mountain bikers concerned about the BCGB trail closures and future trail development in the area. If you'd like to review the BCP Trail master plan, here's the PDF document.

If you want the full back-story, read this BikeMojo thread. Sounds like the BCGB trail struggle has been going for a long time now.

Update: Here's some official word from park officials regarding the trail blockage situation...

On Monday BCP staff erected a cable across a recently constructed unauthorized trail on Barton Creek Greenbelt. It is my understanding this unauthorized trail was cleared last summer without any coordination with BCP or PARD. Over the past year this unauthorized trail continued to be expanded, and on several occasions staff attempted to disguise the trail and restrict access by pulling the cut brush over it.

Unfortunately, these attempts only resulted in the brush being repeatedly removed and hauled into the woods. This cable is another attempt to block access to this unauthorized trail. As this action was occurring, our staff encountered a gentleman on a mountain bike, with a saw, who was removing brush from the trail. Furthermore, blog entries in the Austin Voodo section of BikeMojo seem to imply that this trail was built by mountain bikers.

As you may be aware, BCGB has at least 55 miles of trails on it. The vast majority of which are unauthorized. This was simply an attempt to keep this problem from getting worse. It does not imply any wholesale effort to close previously existing trails on BCGB or other sites managed jointly by BCP and PARD. We will however, continue act to
close new unauthorized trails in BCP as we find them. For more information about how old and new authorized trails in BCP will be addressed please refer to the BCCP Trail Master plan at the attached link.

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/wildland/bccptrailplan.htm

Willy Conrad
Division Manager
Wildland Conservation
Austin Water Utility

Thanks for forwarding this Matt!