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Residents and volunteers press commission for Lime Ridge mountain-bike pilot; others warn about preserve status and wildfire risk
Summary
Residents and volunteer coaches urged the commission to pilot an organized mountain-bike program at Lime Ridge, citing Briones as a model; other residents and open-space representatives warned Lime Ridge includes preserve areas, wildfire risks and trail-sharing conflicts with equestrians.
At the Feb. 2 commission meeting, resident Jarrett King urged the Park, Recreation and Open Space Commission to consider a mountain-bike pilot project at Lime Ridge, saying local youth and competitive teams use the area and that existing legal trails do not meet their training needs. "I would urge all of you guys to look into the success of the Briones pilot project," King said, offering to help organize a similar effort in Walnut Creek.
Barbara Genes, a longtime resident, told commissioners she had submitted videos showing motorcycles and rider-built jumps in open space and thanked staff for removing some structures; she emphasized that parts of Lime Ridge are designated Lime Ridge Wildlife Preserve and expressed concern about inviting more mountain-bike and e-bike use near sensitive habitat. "It's not in the best interest of the taxpaying residents to open a new multi-use trail," Genes said, citing safety and wildfire concerns and noting she believes a mountain biker died there in 2023.
David, a coach with Contra Costa Composite who also spoke in favor of a pilot, said the Briones pilot has generated strong volunteer engagement (he cited more than 4,500 volunteer hours and recent dig days) and argued that an organized program can provide safer, coordinated use rather than ad hoc trail-building. "It is working," David said of the Briones model.
Kaim Smith, president of the Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation, said the foundation accepts all user groups "where it's appropriate and legal," and described the foundation's volunteer and stewardship role across roughly 2,700 acres of open space. Equestrian speakers and representatives raised concerns about trail-sharing and safety, noting horses are prey animals and that collisions or surprise encounters on single-track trails can be dangerous.
Commissioners and staff did not vote on a Lime Ridge pilot at the Feb. 2 meeting. Commissioners and foundation representatives said future work could include targeted, docent-led hikes, educational outreach, and use of experts to design trail-sharing or separation where appropriate.
