Ragged Mountain Access Meeting - THIS Wednesday.

I've written already about Ragged Mountain, and the nature of public land, and the concept of shared use trail access, and the struggle that our local brass has been battling to try to get reasonable, common-sense, shared-use policies for trail access applied there.  The kind of lesson about sharing that you'd teach your 4 year old.

And it would seem that situation is coming to its necessary and mysterious finale.
You gotta get there.
There being here.

5:30 PM, Wednesday, July 20

Jefferson School, African American Heritage Center

233 4th st nw, 2nd floor

Charlottesville va 22903

SHOWING UP.
That's half of loving something.
Probably the hardest half.

After that, most things tend to fall into place.  Or sometimes they don't.  But the only part of the equation that you can control, you must.

For me and mine, I'll abandon the lectern here, turn the mic over to my beautiful, well-spoken, kind, forward-thinking, calm-yet-firm, love of my life to represent the family while I manage the kids and try to explain to them the same concept of sharing that Shannon will try to explain to grown-ass adults.  Hopefully at least one of us will be successful.

And as long as you do the same, and so does your neighbor, and so does your riding buddy, and so even do the people who oppose shared-use access to Ragged Mountain, and as long as we're all there as voices of reason and sanity, even if those voices disagree on some of the specifics, I'm pretty sure we'll get a deal done.

Here's the good word, straight from the tippy top of CAMBC, and I'll sign off:

Fellow Mountain Bikers: Parks Advisory Board (PAB) public meeting on Ragged Mountain is scheduled for THIS Wednesday, July 20, 5:30 pm (details/location below).  At this meeting the PAB will open the floor to public comments for Ragged Mountain.  Speakers are limited to 3 minutes each.   First, let me catch you up on what we believe is the current process The PAB currently has the list of options B, C, D, and E to work from.  At this meeting next week, they will hear public comments, but will not make a vote. A 30 day comment period will follow this meeting At the next PAB meeting (August 17), they will take a vote, and that recommendation will go to the Parks Department, and ultimately City Council.   At some point in the early Fall, the Parks Department will recommend to City Council/Planning Commision a plan.  Council will likely accept that plan.  Our intent is to cover every issue, in a factual, non-confrontational, way.  We intend to be courteous and respectful of the wishes of the hiking only advocates, but we also are firm in our belief that a shared use system as outlined in Option E meets the goals and the preferences of our community.  Jon calls this a WIN, WIN, WIN strategy; WIN for Ragged Mountain ecology (large areas set aside for environmental protection) WIN for Passive Use (specific trails for hiking only, quiet, scenic spots) WIN for Active Use (responsibly designed shared use trails that support mountain biking) Thank you for your support over the last few years;  we are on the homestretch, but the outcome is very far from certain.  We need to finish strong.  Please let us know one way or another if you are able to speak at the meeting and by all means, hit us up for questions.   Meeting details: 5:30 PM, Wednesday, July 20 Jefferson School, African American Heritage Center 233 4th st nw, 2nd floor Charlottesville va 22903 Front door is on Commerce Street