SDRP Mtb Patrol 2.0

Well it's been two years now since the San Dieguito River Park mountain bike patrol came into existence. Over the past couple years we have made great strides on bringing the mountain bike community to the fore front of trail advocacy and protection. The patrol has put in over 1,200 hours on the trails covering countless miles and offering assistance whenever needed. They have been on hand directing emergency crews to downed riders, they have assisted in many of the events the park has hosted throughout the years and they have effectively established themselves as a visual presence within the park. Many park users have taken notice and appreciate the the added sense of security the patrols bring.

They have also been an invaluable resource for me. Having the patrol out there helps me and the park stay on top of the many issues that can come up on the trails. If a tree goes down it usually gets reported within hours, if a section is overgrown same thing. This ability to receive issues in real time lets us react quickly to it before it becomes a bigger problem. The number one goal in an open space preserve is resource protection, the best way to do that is to keep the trails in great shape, the volunteer patrol is helping us accomplish that goal.

Thanks to the many people and companies within the bike community (North of the Border bike shop, SockGuy, Ranchos Cycling, San Diego Mountain Bike Association, Spy Optics, Hero Kit, Nite Rider, WD-40 Bike and the Quick n Dirty Mtb series) we have been able to keep the wheels turning. Without their support we could not have made it this far.

So what does all that mean? I want to see good things continue to happen, I want to see programs like this progress and become the norm not the exception. I will be holding another open training for new patrollers on July 19th and invite anybody with an interest to come. If you ride the trails of the San Dieguito River Park and want to help preserve them I need your help. The training will run from 8 to 10 at the San Dieguito River Park office located at 18372 Sycamore Creek Rd. Escondido, 92025. We will have a group patrol ride after the training.

If any of this sounds interesting to you then get a hold of me at david@sdrp.org to get on the email list.