SF Bay Area, petition request Re: Zero Emission Park in SJ

[ecarfan]

So is anyone going to sign the petition or am I wasting my time promoting replacing gas vehicles with zero emission vehicles here? People are going to keep buying these and using them. The more that are electric and the more legal places to ride them, the better for everyone.

Now that I have a fuller understanding of your plan I can see that it makes a lot of sense. I'm onboard, thanks!

 

[DS 5/15]

I live near a California State Park which is "undeveloped" but has great terrain for mountain biking and cross country skiing. Motorized vehicles are prohibited. I like it that way.
I don't want motorized vehicles (even electric ones) tearing up the terrain. Just yesterday I encountered two dirt bikes on the trails. I tried to signal them that they were not permitted in the park but they refused to stop or acknowledge my presence. This happens occasionally since there is no regular patrol in the park. Most of the time the drivers are complete jerks. In the summer we get dirt bikes. In the winter, snowmobiles. They are all jerks with a strong sense of entitlement.
Sorry, I don't want to encourage motorized off highway vehicle use in any form. It would be much better for the environment (and their personal health) if they got off their motorized machines and used their own muscles to move around.

Ok, I addressed the exercise part above and I think restoring former sludge ponds to nature, the funding and staff for species and habitat stewardship, etc in exchange for 2% of the land for trails is a fair deal. If others do not, don't sign.

These parks can and do coexist with nature. Santa Clara County Metcalf Motorcycle park has won environmental stewardship awards.

As far as your issue, I'm not sure having the tags helps because law enforcement didn't witness it except it may get them a letter sent like the CHP does with similar complaints. The CHP may have jurisdiction off-highway, I think they do. A call couldn't hurt.

As far as state parks it may be a little more difficult to deal with because the Off Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHMVR) Division is a separate division from the main State Parks as is Boating and Waterways. This is changing as the State Parks is modernizing and consolidating into one unit.

I don't know where you live or what park it is but here are some things you can try if willing.

1. Call and escalate your concerns with the local State Park up to whatever higher level you can all the way up to the Director's office.

2. Contact the OHMVR division with contact info at the bottom of the page at http://ohv.parks.ca.gov and let them know. They will take it seriously as it affects the whole sport and the Division's reputation.

2a. PM me your name, email, city and the park name and I will put you in contact with the Commission Chairman directly, Cc'd on an email.

3. the OHMVR Division has law enforcement grants for situations like this. Go to your city council and tell them this and ask them to apply. If they are too lazy fill out the form for them and get some others to speak in favor. The county can apply too. They can hire LEOs and purchase their own vehicles to catch these guy before they get in the park. Local LE may be able to work out a deal where they help patrol the park. A job I wouldn't mind having, The next grant cycle is in April.

4. It may seem counter-intuitive to you but advocate a for a different area or a corner of this park being opened for OHV use so people have a legal, environmentally planned and maintained park to ride in. More and more cities and counties are realizing that if you give users a place to ride they won't have to break the law and are looking at opening parks using state grant funds. State parks is contemplating sharing more activities in the parks just as at Holister Hills OHV park has mountain bike trails. This is where electric bikes would shine without noise and pollution.

That's all I can think of for now. Good luck.

 

[DS 5/15]

Sounds like an interesting proposal I can get behind. Signed it

Now that I have a fuller understanding of your plan I can see that it makes a lot of sense. I'm onboard, thanks!

Thanks! Here is a larger map.. Now I need to get back to work.

 

[mspohr]

Ok, I addressed the exercise part above and I think restoring former sludge ponds to nature, the funding and staff for species and habitat stewardship, etc in exchange for 2% of the land for trails is a fair deal. If others do not, don't sign.

These parks can and do coexist with nature. Santa Clara County Metcalf Motorcycle park has won environmental stewardship awards.

As far as your issue, I'm not sure having the tags helps because law enforcement didn't witness it except it may get them a letter sent like the CHP does with similar complaints. The CHP may have jurisdiction off-highway, I think they do. A call couldn't hurt.

As far as state parks it may be a little more difficult to deal with because the Off Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHMVR) Division is a separate division from the main State Parks as is Boating and Waterways. This is changing as the State Parks is modernizing and consolidating into one unit.

I don't know where you live or what park it is but here are some things you can try if willing.

1. Call and escalate your concerns with the local State Park up to whatever higher level you can all the way up to the Director's office.

2. Contact the OHMVR division with contact info at the bottom of the page at http://ohv.parks.ca.gov and let them know. They will take it seriously as it affects the whole sport and the Division's reputation.

2a. PM me your name, email, city and the park name and I will put you in contact with the Commission Chairman directly, Cc'd on an email.

3. the OHMVR Division has law enforcement grants for situations like this. Go to your city council and tell them this and ask them to apply. If they are too lazy fill out the form for them and get some others to speak in favor. The county can apply too. They can hire LEOs and purchase their own vehicles to catch these guy before they get in the park. Local LE may be able to work out a deal where they help patrol the park. A job I wouldn't mind having, The next grant cycle is in April.

4. It may seem counter-intuitive to you but advocate a for a different area or a corner of this park being opened for OHV use so people have a legal, environmentally planned and maintained park to ride in. More and more cities and counties are realizing that if you give users a place to ride they won't have to break the law and are looking at opening parks using state grant funds. State parks is contemplating sharing more activities in the parks just as at Holister Hills OHV park has mountain bike trails. This is where electric bikes would shine without noise and pollution.

That's all I can think of for now. Good luck.

Thanks very much for this information. I'll send you a PM with my contact information.
I'll contact the OHMVR division with my concerns. I'm not sure the problem is large enough to warrant patrols (and the patrols might be more disturbing than the trespassers).
The park is surrounded by National Forest which is open to OHV use so it's not really a problem that these people don't have a place to go... they just enter from the surrounding NF or use the park as access to the NF. Might be good to have some sort of control on access points.

 

[DS 5/15]

Thanks very much for this information. I'll send you a PM with my contact information.
I'll contact the OHMVR division with my concerns. I'm not sure the problem is large enough to warrant patrols (and the patrols might be more disturbing than the trespassers).
The park is surrounded by National Forest which is open to OHV use so it's not really a problem that these people don't have a place to go... they just enter from the surrounding NF or use the park as access to the NF. Might be good to have some sort of control on access points.

This actually may make it easier. The BLM uses those same grant funds to facilitate OHV use on their land so the State Parks OMVR division is already in contact with the BLM. The BLM shows up to every division meeting so I have a couple of more suggestions.

5. Contact the local BLM office and remind them that they receive State Park grants for law enforcement and that they need to step up enforcement or use the OHV operating grant funds to build barriers or whatever it takes.

6. When you contact the OHMVR Division let them know it's BLM land adjacent to the park and exactly where it's happening.

7. Attend the next OHMVR Division Commission meeting and speak during the BLM report or non-agenda item public comment periods and tell them both what is going on yourself and ask that they address it. I've seen your same issue addressed regarding the Pacific Ridge Trail(?) and it works. Fill out the comment forms before the meeting starts if you can.

The next meeting is in Sacramento, October 21st, See Commission meeting page

 

[DS 5/15]

Back on topic... 122 signatures so far. Please sign and share. This is at a critical point and time is of the essence. Thanks!

 

[DS 5/15]

Hello fellow Tesla owners and fans especially in the SF Bay Area. I have been working on an unusual cleantech project and could use some help.

I need help convincing San Jose to allow the opening of an all electric Off Highway Vehicle motorcycle park along the bay in San Jose.

I need to show that there are plenty of people that would prefer this park to cricket or ball fields and ultimately a larger park over industrial development.

Please take a moment to sign the linked petition. It doesn't matter if you're registered to vote. National and international signatures are welcome.

Thanks in Advance!

Link to petition

California State Parks is interested in opening the world's first solar powered, zero emission recreational vehicle public park in San Jose, California.

Link to Park Summary

Phase one is a 40 acre demonstration park that proves that zero emission recreational vehicles are a viable alternative.

Phase two would environmentally restore the land (reclaimed from waste water treatment plant operations) and expand the park into hundreds of acres along San Francisco Bay. If a park is not established the land could become industrial development.

The goals of the Zero Emission Park proposal are to promote electric vehicles and prove their viability for recreation, entice buyers to chose electric over gas powered vehicles, reduce travel trips to reduce emissions system wide and provide recreational and nature educational opportunities in an urban environment for families and all users.

California State Parks and a nonprofit foundation will be responsible for all environmental restoration, habitat and species stewardship, planning the park and building the trails, nature education center and kiosks.

Most of the land will remain open space. For the use of a fraction of the land for trails the park will provide all of the funding, staff and expertise to restore, maintain and provide stewardship for all of the land.

This would be a regionally attractive recreational destination and an excellent use of the land and fits in well with San Jose’s Green Vision Goals and high tech reputation.

Let San Jose know that you support stopping development and opening this innovative park in the heart of silicon valley.

Below is an email excerpt from State Parks outlining their interest in this proposal.

All,

I would like to restate my desire to get this project moving forward. The concept of urban parks was considered extremely important by the Parks Forward Commission’s report.

That report is driving the Transformation Team towards the future of California State Parks and your proposed OHV park would mark off a number of important boxes on the list.

First, partnerships are a priority and the State through the OHMVR Division of State Parks would partner with a non-profit and local government to develop and manage the facility.

Secondly, the urban parks mandate would be covered with the proposed location.

Thirdly, the environmental mandates would be stricter than a typical State Park due to the requirements of the OHV laws in California.

And lastly, the OHMVR Division is moving towards a future plan with Electric/Low Emission OHVs.

I will make myself available to meet with you and any local city officials as we move forward.

Sincerely,

State Parks OHMVR Commissioner