What goes up, must come down -- riding downhill isn't just for downhillers!

{EDIT: please see our response to the 9/21/09 revised management plan}

On Sept. 3, 2009, Jefferson County Open Space (JCOS) released its recommended, revised management plan for improving visitor experiences at Apex Park. The Colorado Mountain Bike Association (COMBA) believes the plan needs substantial revision in order to be fair and equitable to mountain bikers. To that end, COMBA is actively engaging JCOS and hopes to reach a solution which benefits our cherished Open Space parks, land managers, and all park visitors.

The recommended Apex plan needs approval from the Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC) on October 1st. WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW to ensure that our voices are heard. Please help us encourage JCOS to seriously reconsider this plan by taking these simple steps:

• Attend the OSAC meeting on October 1, 2009 at 7pm where the management plan will be presented (700 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80401)
• Call JCOS at 303-271-5925 to voice your concerns.
• Send your concerns to SaveApex@COMBA.org. Make sure to include your full name and the city you live in. Your comments will automatically be routed to appropriate JCOS management along with a copy to COMBA.
• Let your voice be heard through IMBA's Apex Action Alert
• Spread the word! Please make your friends, riding group and local bike shop aware of this serious situation and ask them to get involved.
• There is strength in numbers, please consider joining COMBA.
• Email volunteer@comba.org for other ways to help.

If adopted in its current state, the proposed JCOS plan would be a huge loss for the mountain bike community and create a precedent which could threaten access elsewhere. The only travel restrictions imposed by this plan are against cyclists, and those restrictions would take from us one of the jewels of the JCOS park system – the Enchanted Forest descent.

COMBA firmly believes this plan, including the recent revisions, is a major shift away from Jefferson County Open Space's stated mission of retaining multiple uses on all trails. COMBA will oppose this plan as a threat to our access, not only at Apex Park, but as a threat to our access on all multi-use trails in the JCOS park system.

Remember that we all love these parks and managing them is a difficult task. Be polite and considerate in all communication to JCOS. Please visit our Jefferson County Open Space Advocacy page for COMBA's full response to the JCOS plan, our proposed alternative, the accompanying Open Space Advisory Committee presentation, an overview of the JCOS political landscape, and other JCOS related news.