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 run up on walkers. and bikers to slow down or stop for walkers and riders. As a rider I have not had problems with walkers and runners , and some bikers are very polite but many just dont know how to safely pass horses. I also some designating areas for the separate sports is also an idea to consider.
On Mon, Jun 20, 2022 at 7:40 PM Gordon Woodington <alpinemeado...@gmail.com> wrote: > 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 round of changes comes close to doing). The logic of separating > usages in some places is still a valid operating principle. LIncoln need > not be generized while remaining appropriate in its choices. There are > lots of places in the world where bikes and walkers are separated, and not > all are "road" cases; many are in Nature in places which has been > consciously and appropriately set aside for a subset of all potential > users. I personally would veto all suggested changes at this juncture. > > Minimally, I would not like trail usage to change in a manner that > encourages "rally" and "speed" behavior. IMHO some of the trail changes > do this. > > The two arguments are basically the same. 1) to not be exclusive, trails > should allow all types of user modes. 2) to not be exclusive, all zoning > in Lincoln should permit all types of personal incomes with equal number of > small lots. Should Lincoln give up 2 acre zoning, should I give up the > tranquility of most trails without bikers? > > I believe Sara Mattes point still holds water, at least it corresponds > with my recent personal experience. Lincoln is already serving the wishes > of large numbers of users coming from other towns as well as from Lincoln. > No need to change trail usage AT ALL. > > Gordon Woodington > > On Mon, Jun 20, 2022 at 6:31 PM John Mendelson <johntmendel...@gmail.com> > wrote: > >> 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 the >> environment as those wanting quiet contemplation. Why should we make a >> value judgement that one use is more important than another? Why is >> walking and horseback riding more important to the community than biking? >> Our current and proposed trail use policy says that walking and horseback >> riding are in fact more important and I think that is plain wrong and not >> in sync with the values the town otherwise espouses. >> >> John >> >> On Mon, Jun 20, 2022, 5:09 PM Sara Mattes <samat...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> 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 relative peacefulness of our trails, as >>> opposed to those towns that have a larger number of bikes on them. >>> >>> The number of fast moving bikes and mountain bikes that were here during >>> Mike Farney’s tenure, and after, led to many complaints and to the >>> degradation of the trails. >>> The bike ruts led to erosion and degradation of flora and vegetation, >>> and made walking often uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe. >>> >>> Subsequent hearings were filled with very passionate folks from the >>> out-of-town biking community and those in town, with a similar charge of >>> elitism deployed. >>> It did not dissuade the stewards of our lands and the introduction of >>> more restricted use, and the return of peace and healthier trails for the >>> rest. >>> >>> It seems history is repeating itself and we may, once again, relearn a >>> hard lesson, unless our stewards are very, vary careful as they thread the >>> needle. >>> >>> Sara >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ------ >>> Sara Mattes >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Jun 20, 2022, at 4:45 PM, John Mendelson <johntmendel...@gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>> 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 otherwise, of a town that is the opposite of welcoming and >>> open-minded. We are an island of exclusion when it comes to trail use >>> policy in the area. >>> >>> Further, there are many trail bike specific destinations in the area >>> that attract enthusiasts and an incremental increase in bike access here >>> will not significantly increase use nor impact wildlife. >>> >>> John >>> >>> On Mon, Jun 20, 2022, 4:25 PM Barbara Peskin <bpeski...@gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> 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 protecting habitat will negatively impact Lincoln wildlife - I don't >>>> think Concord or Weston will in exchange protect trails if we open ours. >>>> Lincoln has something special because of the generosity of conservation and >>>> hard work of stewardship that came before us, and I wish it could continue. >>>> I am sending in another letter on behalf of walkers and wildlife before >>>> 6/22 and hope you might, too. If you are interested in seeing my letter >>>> please let me know. >>>> >>>> >>>> Re: Trails Continuance from Lincoln Digest, Vol 117, Issue 20 >>>> >>>> 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 meeting on the evening of >>>> this Wednesday, June 22, also over Zoom. You can find the agenda for that >>>> meeting here: >>>> https://www.lincolntown.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06222022-4573 >>>> >>>> Further discussion and a vote on the trails issue is scheduled for 8:15 >>>> pm, and the Zoom link for the meeting is on the agenda, or here: >>>> >>>> >>>> Zoom Meeting Link: >>>> >>>> >>>> https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88063247875?pwd=SFJFd1pKcVJZSDFXUDkxdGVyYzBQZz09 >>>> >>>> or Dial In: 1-646-876-9923 >>>> >>>> Meeting ID: 880 6324 7875 Passcode: 894034 >>>> >>>> >>>> Written comments on the proposed draft trails policy are a matter of >>>> public record; Michelle Grzenda suggested that anyone interested in reading >>>> those comments should call or email her or Stacy Carter for the link. (The >>>> Conservation Dept. prefers to get individual requests for the link rather >>>> than broadcasting it, because private emails are included with the >>>> comments). >>>> >>>> >>>> I have read the comments, and think they’re worth the read, as they >>>> give a wide range of opinions on trail use in Lincoln. (I noticed that some >>>> quite extensive comments came from residents of Lexington, Wayland, Weston, >>>> Concord, Belmont and Andover — there’s quite a lot of interest outside >>>> Lincoln in Lincoln’s trail policies.) And of course it’s always good to >>>> hear the voices and views of others on the ConComm Zoom, and to voice your >>>> own. >>>> >>>> >>>> Best, >>>> >>>> >>>> Deb Howe >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >>>> Barbara Peskin >>>> >>>> *My Moments in Nature Photo Gallery: barbarapeskin.com >>>> <http://barbarapeskin.com/>* >>>> -- >>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>>> 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 Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>> 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 Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> 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 Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. > 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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