Our organization strongly supports the position that is advocated by the Genesee Valley Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (GVC/ADK).

We wholeheartedly agree with the strongest statement made in the ADK report is that mountain biking trails must be separate from hiking trails.  It was then stated that mountain biking can have a negative environmental effect on MC Parks and all other Monroe County open space areas. This must be addressed in the ruling which will establish the trail policy along with the construction and maintenance process. An example of this is the Thousand Acre Swamp area owned by the Western and Central NY Nature Conservancy.

FMCE feels that there are additional issues that need to be dealt with to assure that parks are environmentally protected; safety issues are considered for all users of the park trails and finally proper and timely maintenance of trails is principal to the solution.  We feel that if a comprehensive environmental and safety approach is defined, approved and enforced by Monroe County Parks, the hiking, and biking users of the parks along with the condition of the park lands will strongly benefit.

Issues and Concerns designated by the FMCE

1. Mountain biking in County Parks presents serious potential hazards.  For example, unregulated mountain biking can be especially hazardous to sandy soils on the east side of Irondequoit Bay where any further erosion and/or damage to the remaining ground cover and root systems can definitely exacerbate landslides.  For this reason the FMCE is opposed to mountain biking in the Irondequoit Bay East Park at the beginning of this overall project.
   In support of this position, monitoring must be conducted in the initial mountain biking parks to assure that safe biking practices are followed and trails are maintained in compliance with previously established standards.
   
   
2. In the event that mountain biking is deemed to be an acceptable risk in County Parks, it should be permitted on a trial basis, in a restricted area, where regulation of the trails can be accomplished and damages can be accurately assessed and also to assure that safe biking practices are followed and trails are maintained according to previously established standards which also enforce stated environmental regulations.
   
   
3. At the end of the one year trial period an evaluation of the effect of mountain biking on the first designated County Park should be conducted.  This requires that the MC Parks department along with designated volunteers inspect and evaluate compliance to all established stipulations regarding soil integrity, safety regulations and maintenance requirements. If certain maintenance and compliance responsibilities are to be assigned to the bikers and their groups, a procedure must be in place to ensure that these duties are accomplished correctly and continually. The evaluation of the effect of the designated policy and process after one year should be crucial to the future designation of additional mountain biking trails.
   
   
4. The Monroe County legislature will need to assure that funding is made to provide maintenance and evaluation of the environmental and safety conditions of the trail systems.  Volunteers can have a role but the County Parks must manage this.
   
   
5. As an example of concerns about mountain biking, consider the effects of mountain biking in the Washington Grove of Cobbs Hill Park.  For years bikers have cut new trails, crushed wild flowers, and cut grooves in steep moraine hills leading to serious erosion.
   
   
6. It is also recommended that Monroe County advocate and support similar restrictions and where possible aid in enforcement of environmental protection of Monroe County open space areas that are not county parks where mountain biking is detrimental.  The County position should also recommend that these other organizations develop and enforce environmental and safety recommendations.
   
   
7. We also strongly recommend that if the designated and agreed upon conditions are not met by bikers and their organizations, trails will be closed to them and authorization of usage by mountain bikers will be withdrawn.  Also prohibition of mountain bikes from unauthorized areas should be strictly enforced with strict penalties for violators.