On top of erosion -- bad behavior on trails

[CWA]

Without a well-thought out, holistic protection and preservation plan for the White Pond watershed and water quality, there exists the potential for many negative impacts on this water body and its surrounding environment. Some sources of pollution from human activities, both point and non-point, can be controlled, such as pesticide application and maintenance of septic systems. More challenging in managing are people’s attitudes and behavior and how that impacts natural resources.

Consider for example the recent front page article in the Sunday (July 1, 2007) Boston Globe on “Rage on the Bikeway”. The path here is the Minuteman bikeway, a rail to trail conversion. To highlight my point of bad behavior on trails and sometimes adjacent to these trails, here is an excerpt from that article (emphasis added):

“Community leaders who oversee the trail [Minuteman Bikeway] say its popularity is higher now than in any of the 14 years it's been open, and the Washington-based Rails-to-Trails Conservancy estimates that there are 2 million annual users, making it the second-busiest trail of its kind in the country.

But as thousands each day compete for space on the trail's 12-foot-wide strip of asphalt, passing through meadows, suburban town centers, and manicured backyards, confrontations have become increasingly common. Police have been called out so often to resolve angry, and sometimes bizarre, disputes that they have coined a new term.
"We have road rage," said Arlington Police Chief Fred Ryan. "And now we have bikeway rage."”

People certainly should enjoy open space and natural resource, BUT responsibility and ever mindful of future needs as well as impacts. This leads me to why I’m bringing this to your attention. The article also notes: “Local officials also hope to one day connect the Minuteman to other paths, such as the Central Mass. Rail Trail and the trails along the Charles and Mystic rivers.”

As you are aware, the Central Mass. Rail Trail at this time includes the Bruce Freedom rail trail proposal, the one in debate here. And so, what this article portrays will undoubtedly spill over and affect the quality of life (residents and natural habitat) at White Pond if people are not vigilant to the developments of this proposal.

[Shore]

Originally Posted by CWA

“Community leaders who oversee the trail [Minuteman Bikeway] say its popularity is higher now than in any of the 14 years it's been open, and the Washington-based Rails-to-Trails Conservancy estimates that there are 2 million annual users, making it the second-busiest trail of its kind in the country.

But as thousands each day compete for space on the trail's 12-foot-wide strip of asphalt, passing through meadows, suburban town centers, and manicured backyards, confrontations have become increasingly common. Police have been called out so often to resolve angry, and sometimes bizarre, disputes that they have coined a new term.
"We have road rage," said Arlington Police Chief Fred Ryan. "And now we have bikeway rage."”

People certainly should enjoy open space and natural resource, BUT responsibility and ever mindful of future needs as well as impacts. This leads me to why I’m bringing this to your attention. The article also notes: “Local officials also hope to one day connect the Minuteman to other paths, such as the Central Mass. Rail Trail and the trails along the Charles and Mystic rivers.”

As you are aware, the Central Mass. Rail Trail at this time includes the Bruce Freedom rail trail proposal, the one in debate here. And so, what this article portrays will undoubtedly spill over and affect the quality of life (residents and natural habitat) at White Pond if people are not vigilant to the developments of this proposal.

Thanks for posting this!
Was on television (Lexington bike path issues) - & a subject that's probably not coming up at the next "bruce freeman" meeting

[juliem]

The only way to effect the kind of trail and whether it goes near White Pond is to get your voice heard.

Print the following, sign it and send it in

http://concordruraltrails.org/documents/petition.pdf


The proponents of a Trail For All are working to push for paving all the way through so WE need to have a louder voice.


julie

[vics]

Originally Posted by juliem

The only way to effect the kind of trail and whether it goes near White Pond is to get your voice heard.

Print the following, sign it and send it in

http://concordruraltrails.org/documents/petition.pdf


The proponents of a Trail For All are working to push for paving all the way through so WE need to have a louder voice.


julie

JulieM; this petition's also posted here ( in "your" forum ).

Certainly it's one way but not the only way in terms of whether trail types are considered. Hence the rational for these WhitePond.org forums, and the collaborative apparatus of it's intent....Unlike that of a "static" Website for example.

Currently it's in "beta" & not yet made public to a significant audience - though that is changing (shortly) with a mass mailing, a linking to the ConcordNet.org site & with volunteers now in "discussions", the ability to "discuss" these types of alternatives will be more widely accessible/available - unlike in recent years where the majority of very organized groups within 8:00AM meetings gaveled the future for the majority.

As also found there, alternative ways of voicing an opinion or effecting an outcome:

Get Active

Many citizens in town who are in favor of a rail trail are still unaware that we have an opportunity to preserve the character of our open space while at the same time providing a nice recreational path for walking, running and biking. You can help!

1) Send mail to the Selectmen: Concord Board of Selectman Town House PO Box 535 Concord, MA
01742

2) Send Email to Jim Terry, Chairman of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Advisory Committee at jimterryjr@aol.com

3) Write a letter to the Concord Journal
4) Talk to your neighbors and make them aware of this project
5) Sign our petition if you haven't. It's now available on-line on our website

[CWA]

As noted by others, it is so very important to be active and have a voice in such a critical decision. It would be extremely, if not impossible, to undo a change in the natural landscape.

When a poor land-use plan is implemented, it is usually poorly managed as well. Generally speaking, it is up to the local community – and in many situations, the residents impacted by the project – to oversee the up-keep and proper usage. Either the impacted residents will have to foot the bill to assure the land-use project – here, the trail – is functioning the way it was designed or the town must allocate yearly funding as part of its budget for things such as maintenance; e.g., environmental clean-up and extra police or rangers to respond to bad behavior on and adjacent to the trail, including trespassers on neighboring property. Aside from the potential for negative impacts to the environment and local residents, there could also be this hidden financial burden if the project is ill-conceived. That is, the need for extra expenditures resulting from a project that doesn’t have the necessary pollution prevention measures during and after construction as well as a supported and funded town management and operation plan.

Affected residents should not be spending personal and/or contributing additional tax dollars for other people’s short-sightedness and bad behavior.