Trail bikers make voices heard
at Middlesex Fells workshop

The 6.3-mile trail bike loop on the west side of Route 93 - which is currently the only area of the reservation where biking is allowed - circles the North, Middle, and South reservoirs, the drinking water supply for the Town of Winchester. Biking advocates say fewer than two miles of the loop is singletrack trail.

On Monday, attendees were broken into 10 small groups to identify problems at the Fells and brainstorm possible solutions. Despite instructions by DCR Director of Greenways and Trails Program Paul Jahnige to "move beyond" the debate of biker access, many of the groups were divided by their stance on the issue.

In one corner of Medford's McGlynn School cafeteria, NEMBA member Michael Penza argued that current trail regulations favor hikers and make other users feel unwelcome even when they adhere to the rules.

"It's a very unbalanced amount of access for the two user groups," he said, adding that the park's lack of signage makes it difficult for bikers to know what trail they're on.

NEMBA has advocated for equal usage among the park's trails for years, attempting to convert a spiderweb of trails surrounding Dark Hollow Pond into legitimate bike trails for skilled cyclists. In a letter to the DCR, NEMBA's Greater Boston Chapter President Adam Glick wrote that the project would "re-engineer existing trails to help mitigate erosion," and bring positive usage to an area of the park known for disreputable activity.

Although the DCR initially approved the project, Friends members identified environmental statutes that prevented the plan from moving forward. On Monday, Friends advocates and environmentalists expressed continued concern for the future of the park's natural resources given increased trail usage.

Biologist Matthew Burne of Malden, vice president of the nonprofit Vernal Pools Association, has identified rare species at the Fells in the past and said future policy at the park should focus on protecting its ecosystems.

"I'm fine with increased mountain biker access," he said. "But I want to make sure it does not impact the natural features of the park."

According to Glick, it won't. Many trails at the Fells are in bad condition due to natural causes and poor trail design rather than bike use, he said, although bicycles have become a popular scapegoat for trail damage.

In its winter newsletter, Friends of the Fells stated that increased bike access would threaten the tranquility of the park and cause serious problems of "increased habitat fragmentation, increased erosion and threats to wildlife."

Medford resident Kenneth Krause, a member of the Friends of the Fells and the state Bicycle Coalition, said the speed at which bicycles travel separates them from hikers when discussing trail impact.

"We have to understand that these are different types of uses," he said. "They don't necessarily have the same effect on the trail."

Although voices were raised within many small groups during the hour of discussion, residents spoke positively of the workshop as a way to bring discussion off the Internet and into a public space.

"There's never been an opportunity for everybody to be in one room and share ideas," Krause said. "I think it's a good start."

Mike Ryan, Friends of the Fells executive director, said he was pleased with the workshop although Friends representatives were outnumbered by NEMBA advocates.

"It was a stacked deck," he said. "They came from far and wide."

Although he received criticism from the audience during his presentation, Penza said he hoped members of both user groups could find a way to work together in determining the park's fate.

"If we can share our strengths rather than always butting heads with one another we could probably get a lot more done," he said.

The meeting was part of the DCR's planning and assessment process for the Fells, which will result in a Trail System Plan to guide future management of the park and its resources. A draft of the plan is scheduled to be presented to the public in April. If approved, the plan would go into effect by the summer months.

Public comments can be e-mailed to Paul.jahnige@state.ma.us.