Loch Raven mountain bikers forced from their homes

Alex Staneski, a recreational mountain biker from Baltimore, Md., is searching for new trails to ride. A ban on biking Loch Raven Reservoir trails has left many Baltimore bikers wondering why they are being singled out. (Photo by: Bojo Bauer/October 16,2011)

By Bojo Bauer – October 18, 2011

On a late Monday afternoon, unsuspecting mountain bikers dropped into Loch Raven Reservoir’s trails off of Seminary Road. Unaware this ride would be his last, James Maskell, 23 of Baltimore, sat in shock upon his bike seat.

“Are you serious?” Maskell said.

Maskell was holding a ticket for the amount of 60 dollars in his hand. Though the issuing reservoir ranger refused to comment, James had something to say.

“Well the ranger got his point across,” Maskell said. “I’ll never be coming back here again.”

The number of Baltimore mountain bikers like James is now dwindling at Loch Raven Reservoir. The seven reservoir rangers hired by the City of Baltimore in 2008 could not be happier about this. Issuing over 2,500 citations in 2010 alone, the message is slowly yet steadily spreading throughout the Baltimore community.

“The main function of the reservoir forest buffer is for source water protection,” said Clark Howells, Acting Watershed Manager of Baltimore City.

Clark and his team have an important job to do—maintain the highest quality drinking water for 1.8 million Baltimore residents. On average Baltimore residents consume 218 million gallons of water from the 2,400 acre watershed each day.

Mountain bikers pose a risk to water protection by loosening the soil and creating erosion. This occurs while riding unauthorized trails surrounding the reservoir’s edge. Yet a 2006 study by Dr. Jeff Marion of Virginia Tech estimated that mountain bikers cause less trail erosion when compared to other recreational trails including hiking trails, horseback riding trails and ATV trails. The message is becoming clear bikers are not wanted. Still the Baltimore mountain biking community does not understand why they are being targeted.

Mountain biking enthusiast Joshua Murdock of Baldwin, Maryland commented, “We all agree that the real silt problem stems from other areas like golf courses, agriculture, development, etc. But we’re not content just sitting back and letting the city use us as a scapegoat.”

Baltimore mountain bikers are not the only ones being used as scapegoats. Areas like Santa Cruz, CA, Boulder, CO and many others have experienced similar mountain biking bans. The Wilderness Act of 1964 prohibits the use of “mechanical transport” in federal wilderness areas. Many local governments across the country are using this literature as reason to ban mountain bikers from trails. Mountain biking groups across the country are raising protest claiming they are willing to work out compromises as opposed to being out-right banned.

Local groups in Baltimore such as Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts (MORE) have been standing up for the right to ride in Loch Raven Reservoir for over 3 years. This non-profit organization averages over 1,000 hours of trail maintenance per year on trails throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. MORE also works to constantly develop new trail building techniques to limit soil erosion and habitat alteration. As negotiations are ongoing, there remains a dwindling population of mountain bikers taking to the Loch Raven Reservoir.

Though city officials are trying to make their point clear about the Loch Raven Reservoir, a few mountain bikers continue to use the illegal trails. Some mountain bikers are unaware of the regulations. Others ride with a renegade attitude. Simon VanLeuven had a recent run in with reservoir rangers.

“I showed him my badge and made an effort to tell him actual police carry guns,” said VanLeuven.

Matthew Lepito of Baltimore said, “I still ride there. I haven’t gotten a ticket yet.”

For others the days of riding in Loch Raven are over. At least until the city of Baltimore and mountain bikers settle the pending negotiations. Kevin Bozman of White Marsh expressed his disappointment.

“It just sucks because I knew every trail at Loch Raven like the back of my hand. I guess I’ll just have to learn at Patapsco,” Bozman said.

It is an attitude like Bozman’s that led Don Griswold, 24 of Baltimore to explore other terrain around the Gunpowder Falls. Don explained his discoveries.

“I have found some trails I would call better,” Griswold said. “I still miss Loch Raven though. I grew up on that lake and held a job there for 5 years.”

While mountain bikers react differently to the way the city has handled the ban on trail use at the Loch Raven, the city holds firm to its position. If mountain bikers want their sport and their passion to live on, they better step up and speak up.

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