I am a resident of Albemarle County/Charlottesville City, deeply affected by the recent changes in user access at Ragged Mountain Reservoir. The decision to prohibit cyclists from enjoying this natural treasure is not only disappointing but also is against our community's wishes. 

From 2015 to 2017, there was extensive public input from all types trail users regarding the use of this area.  The consensus was clear, and City Council voted in favor of preserving access for all user groups, including cyclists. Despite this democratic process and the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority's statement that biking posed no concerns to water quality, our City and County have recently chosen to eliminate bike access.

This decision has stripped us of our rights as users of public land without any substantial reason or evidence supporting its necessity. It is a step backwards for inclusivity in outdoor recreation in Albemarle County.

We are not asking for special privileges; we simply want equal rights as other users - hikers, bird watchers, runners - who continue to enjoy unrestricted access.  We simply want to implement the trail plan that we all collaboratively developed back in 2016 which includes hiker only trails as well as shared use trails.

The solution is simple: please change the code at Ragged Mountain Reservoir to prohibit uses that threaten our water supply, and not discriminate a specific type of user via County Code (Section 11-303).

We all know that recreational uses including bikes, running do not threaten our water supply. We urge Albemarle County officials to recognize the City's professional and public consideration of uses and reinstate mountain biking at Ragged Mountain Reservoir.