After a long and drawn-out process, the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council on Tuesday voted to approve most of a staff recommendation to open additional trails in the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve to bicycles. With leadership and guidance from CORBA’s Palos Verdes contingent (CORBA PV), including Troy Braswell, the newly approved trail plan opens the following to bikes:
Source: Palos Verdes Patch:
Filiorum Reserve (Previously Undesignated):
- 6 trails encompassing 3.1 miles designated multiuse (pedestrian, equestrian, bicycle).
- 2 trails encompassing 0.5 miles designated pedestrian and equestrian only.
Abalone Cove Reserve
- Via de Campo Trail: Changed from pedestrian only to pedestrian/bicycle.
- Chapel View Trail: Changed from pedestrian/equestrian to multiuse.
- Beach School Trail: Changed from pedestrian to pedestrian/bicycle.
- Harden Trail: Trail closed completely due to erosion.
- Portuguese Point Loop Trail: Changed from pedestrian only to pedestrian/bicycle.
Three Sisters Reserve
- Trail plan changed to include multiuse connector trail between the Three Sisters and Filiorum Reserve.
Portuguese Bend Reserve
- Burma Road Overlook: New multiuse trail added to lead to an overlook.
- Pine Grove Trail: Trail to be closed due to a fire that burned the pine grove.
- Landslide Scarp Trail: Will remain pedestrian/equestrian only.
- Ishibashi Farm Trail: Eastern branch will remain pedestrian/equestrian only.
Ocean Trails Reserve
- Sagebrush Walk Trail: Changed from pedestrian only to pedestrian/bicycle.
Some additional stipulations were made, including a few “walk your bike” zones on some “dangerous” sections of trail. Two trails which had been recommended by City Staff to open to bikes were overturned by City Council, including the Landslide Scarp trail and the eastern Ishibashi Farm trail, due to safety concerns.
Throughout the process there were many setbacks, numerous delays, and much heated debate from both sides of the argument. CORBA and local advocates have been unwavering and diligent in their participation and resolve in the process, and it is thanks to them that we have this new trail plan. There were fears that the trail plan, years in the making, would be tossed out and the process begun anew with a committee. Thankfully, the years of work put in to this trail plan were kept.
There were some disappointments, however. Eucalyptus and Jack’s Brim trails in Filiorium Preserve were not considered, perhaps due to the Council’s unfamiliarity with them. Landslide in Portuguese Bend Preserve was also not considered, due to safety and sight-line issues. However, despite these losses, the net result is very positive for the mountain biking community.
Since this process began, CORBA PV and local advocates have developed good relationships with City Council members and City staff. Recommendations were made to form a public trails committee, implement a bike patrol program, and to encourage the use of bike bells. CORBA PV expects to be working with them as the plan is implemented, and to sort out remaining issues, such as enforcement.
City staff were directed to develop a plan for enforcement within 90 days. The onus now falls on local mountain bikers to be good ambassadors for the sport and stewards of the trails, through their behavior while riding, by exercising good courtesy and respect for other trail users, and by riding on open trails only.
We thank the CORBA PV team for their continued efforts, and to the Palos Verdes City Council for working with cyclists on this process.
