This is an update on the September 24, 2020 Orange County Parks Trails Management Subcommittee meeting. It was held by phone conference. Kevin Schmitz from the Electric Mountain Bike Association's OC Parks Action Committee spoke on our behalf. Here is a link to his detailed report on the
Here is a link to the Agenda.
Here is a link to an application to be on the Orange County Parks Trails Management
I attended the meeting. Here is my take on it.
The Orange County Parks Trails Management Subcommittee seems to be who is going to make recommendations to the O. C. Parks advisory committee. They will then make final recommendations to the O. C. Board of Supervisors. It is the O. C. Board of Supervisors are who voted to approve the ban on ebikes in O. C. Parks (based on staff recommendations). Reason given was they they have always been banned. We don't agree. AB1096 stated that class one and two low power pedal assist can go on any bike trail or path that a traditional bike can go on.
My take was that O.C.Parks management referred to as "staff" under the direction of Stacy Blackwell the OC Parks Director is looking to make good on her hidden agenda to limit public access to the park trails. She told me that this was her plan last year after a O.C. Parks advisory committee meeting when I pointed out to her that the laws were changing to allow class one and two ebikes to go anywhere that a traditional bike can go.
At the Sept.24, 2020 Trails management meeting Staff suggested that they explore the options to have pilot programs that would change multi-use trails to single user group trails and in some cases single direction trails. The reason given was due to trail conflicts. The board approved the request to allow staff to explore and make some proposals along these lines.
The problem with this is that there was no information discussed about the trail conflicts. In fact when staff was asked by a board member for the results of an expensive study with extensive interviews of trail users done about a year ago on the subject, staff said they had not seen the report or seemed to know anything about the results. The board directed staff to look into it.
A board member stated that trail use has increased and is not sustainable. Staff said that it is resulting in trails being widened. Of course some of this is due to COVID 19. It was mentioned by a board member that Staff does not have the personal to enforce limiting trail user groups on a trail by trail bases as they are stretched thin now. Also that trail maintenance was limited or not being done due to COVID 19.
Our position given the increased demand is to allow more trail access to all user groups including EMTB users not less. We feel that the The Orange County Parks Trails Management Subcommittee is blindly going down the wrong road at the behest of staff. We will apply for a seat on the board to represent EMTB users because we are not being represented now. We will also send our petition and arguments and studies supporting EMTBs use on bike trails.
In another shocking development after Kevin drove home the point that the OC Parks advisory committee has been non-responsive to our efforts to have ebikes included as a user group for access to all bike trails and paths per AB1096. Staff told the advisory committee almost a year ago that they would seek advice from Fish and Wildlife (or is it Fish and Game?) and sent a letter to them. It was revealed by staff at eh Sept. 24 2020 meeting that Fish and Wildlife did respond to staff with a letter stating that e-bikes would be permitted if certain conditions were met. These conditions were not disclosed to us or the board members of the Orange County Parks Trails Management Subcommittee during the meeting. It was suggested by a board member that staff post the letter on their web site or do whatever is their protocol. We will be requesting a copy of the letter in a FOIA request if it is not posted or if we don't otherwise obtain a copy. We need to see what Fish and Wildlife said in response to the question if ebikes can be allowed and under what conditions they would be allowed. Staff was hiding the letter which we dragged out of them the existence of and the conditions needing to be met for EMTB access to bike trails. We also will be seeking to determine the official relationship between O.C. Parks and Fish and Wildlife. As we are not sure how the federal agency has any jurisdiction over CA county park land.
There is a lot to unpack. Bottom line is staff appears to be driving the ship and everyone else just seems to be falling in line behind their recommendations. That is not the way it is supposed to work.
Stay tuned for more drama on the front lines. Please support The Electric Mountain Bike Association. We will keep yo informed and continue to fight for your right to ride on natural surface bike trails and paths.
In the mean time you may qualify to ride your EMTB in OC Parks under an exception. That is the DOJ 2011 Rule. If you have a mobility disability your class one or two ebike is your OPDMD (other power driven mobility device). If you have an injury, or medical condition that severely limits your mobility such as arthritis, apprehension, back pain, heart disease or any other medical condition such as can only walk a short distance or that severely limits your mobility you likely qualify for the exception. If that is the case all you have to do is state you have a mobility disability and the ebike is your OPDMD to the ranger in OC Parks and he or she will pass you on. No public employee is allowed to ask you for further proof or about your disability. If you want us to send you a 2"x2" mobility disability sticker for your down tube please help support us with your one time or recurring donation. Members that support us with a recurring donation will also receive an emergency thermal blanket. This is critical to have in the case of injury causing shock until rescue can arrive. Rescue personal can take a while on the trails to find you. It is critical to keep anyone injured warm until help arrives. This should be a part of all EMTB owners pack. They are packaged so small they can even fit in your back or shirt pocket.
Thank you for your support!