_" We understand the desire for a variety of riding experiences on the North Shore including expert level lines. We are actively working with the other North Shore land managers and the mountain bike community to achieve this within the confines of a legacy of degraded trails and our management plans." -Yours truly, Metro
_Well golly, isn't that swell! Can we be friends?
That sounds good and fine and all, until you get to this part-
"_Metro will be working on a 2015 maintenance plan that will address a large majority of the Seymour trails in the LSCR . The goal will be to bring the trails to a sustainable standard, initiate a annual maintenance plan, that incorporates annual budget, LSCR crews and volunteer organizations this will help coordinate work and priorities. Until the trails have been brought up to a sustainable standard, we will not be entertaining new trail development."
_Well, again that sounds reasonable except for one part. What does "sustainable standard" actually mean in real terms? What is this new standard and can it be defined or described somehow? If so, please would they be so kind to share it with the public? Is that too much to ask from our public servants? Will this sustainable standard fundamentally alter the character of most of the existing LSCR mountain bike trails? From their obtuse language and lack of clarify, and judging by the work that has been done so far, it seems that the existing trails will not be maintained they will be effectively decommissioned and wholly replaced piece by piece. If they've determined that is what they're going to do, their lawyers and insurance policy requires it, whatever, just freaking tell us. If they haven't figured it out yet and really don't know about the future of CBC, Neds, TNT, etc, fine, just tell us.
To say that this lack of real info is frustrating and undermines public trust is a huge understatement. And at least as far as LSCR trails, neither Metro or NSMBA is telling us much, so it rings hollow to hear only the good news from NSMBA, hey, everything is hunky dory, isn't the shore awesome! The shore will go on, is awesome and will still be awesome even if a few long time LSCR classics ultimately end up completely destroyed/lobotomized or whatever the hell they intend to do with them. In the big picture, the future of the shore is bright, and for that we should all be very grateful and supportive of the NSMBA. But if these trails are effectively eliminated from LSCR tenure in their present form, what is this going to do to trail usage on Fromme which is already through the roof, and unsanctioned trail use, etc?
Maybe NSMBA valiantly tried to fight the good fight and failed, and now they've decided for tactical reasons to cut their losses and effectively give up on saving these trails. If so, they should just come out and tell us straight up. All the feel good success stories on district and CMHC land is great, but how about a little sobering honesty and straight talk about what is actually going on with Metro? And if they haven't given up, then what are they doing to steer things in a sensible and reasonable way?
Closing trails, putting up renovation signs and then, surprise, don't you just love our new machine built sidewalk that we cut through the forest? This just shows Metro has no real intention of listening and working with the public, which btw is part of their job. If this is not what is actually happening, if they really have a plan and do honestly intend to listen to public input and work with trail users, then Metro and/or NSMBA should stop treating us like children, and please share with us what they're actually doing and where this is all heading in real terms. Defining and elaborating on their so called sustainable standard would be a good first step.