Team Roaring Mouse

Mark Davidson, President, Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz sent out this notice after state officials announced they would be cutting funding at Demo:

Greetings mountain bikers,

We have all heard about how this State budget mess is impacting State
Parks but now it’s impacting CDF and specifically Soquel Demonstration
Forest (a.k.a Demo).

If you’re a mountain biker then you know that Demo is the best LEGAL
place to do technical/DH style riding. We received notification that
due to the budget problems the funding at Demo will be severely cut
and all their remaining resources appear to be focused on the timber
harvest – which brings in revenue.

Also, the porta potty – which is generously provided to the community
by Specialized Bikes – was vandalized recently and this was the “last
straw” for a decision made to close the parking lot. This parking lot
was threatened due to Fish and Game concerns over the runoff and
erosion from the lot getting into the streams. Also, this parking lot
is the scene of many full moon raves – which has been an ongoing
problem for the forest management.

How does these two issues impact mountain biking at Demo? Severely.

* Trail work and any activities not associated with the timber harvest
will cease.

* They are planning a spring timber harvest in the Tractor area. They
plan to turn the Tractor Trail into a logging road (bye, bye
singletrack).

* The parking lot will be closed this winter thereby creating a
shortage of parking along Highland Way – which is less safe (break
ins, traffic).

Clearly, this issues are a serious threat to our enjoyment of Demo and
our way of life.

What can we do about it?

We have been in contact with Ed Orre – the Forest Manager of SDF – and
he has agreed to show up at the MBOSC meeting at Seabright Brewery on
Monday at 7 pm. He is a friend of mountain biking and is willing to
allow the MTB community to help out. We will be discussing these
issues and look for solutions. This meeting is only the beginning of
this process.

Clearly, this issue is bigger than MBOSC. I urge you speak to your
friends who enjoy demo who are not on these lists to get engaged in
this issue.

In the meantime, I’ll be riding Demo tomorrow and appreciating the
trails and terrain.

Thanks,

–Mark

President, Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz

If you would like to help, contact MBOSC and let them know.