Bikes and runners should be permitted at Ragged Mountain. There appears to be no evidence of environmental harm from either bikes or runners. In fact, CAMBC has shown itself to be committed to building and maintaining environmentally sustainable trails. I am not a biker. I run on the local trails all the time, however, and come across bikers frequently. They are respectful and yield to all other users.
I encourage the Board to amend County Code Section 11-303 in a manner that would allow mountain biking, dog walking, and other appropriate recreational uses at Ragged Mountain.
I'm an environmental lawyer and I appreciate the importance of protecting water quality and balancing multiple uses of our public lands. I've spent years of my life fighting to protect streams, wetlands, and drinking water supplies from sediment pollution. The fact is that everyone knows mountain biking, trail running, and other similar recreational uses don’t harm water quality. The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority charged with managing Ragged Mountain predicted in December 2016 that there would be no adverse water quality impacts from recreational uses at the reservoir—and reiterated that view just two months ago with the benefit of years of experience testing its prediction. That alone could resolve any questions about water quality impacts.
I would like to voice my support for opening the trails back up to running and biking. As you can see from all of the comments, the trails are highly valued by both the biking and running communities, and CAMBC has been essential for keeping the trails well-maintained. As a runner and hiker who often frequents the reservoir, I have never once had an issue with a biker--when my young children are on the trail with me, bikers have always been exceptionally careful and respectful. And if the trails are going to continue to exist, I don't see how allowing different uses of them adds much (if any) to the ecological burden. I sincerely hope you will consider opening back up this wonderful resource to the entirety of our outdoor community!
Another avid hiker and biker here and division is not the answer. We should be able to amicably work together for us ALL to enjoy the Ragged Mountain beauty, that has only become more beautious since bikers were allowed (Resident of 20+ years, and I remember how it USE to look). Please reconsider, thank you
Access to the Ragged Mountain trails for ALL users is hugely important. It is a system of trails that connects the city to nature for so many. Mountain bikers and trail runners alike use these trails for fitness and wellbeing in the same manner as hikers and picnickers. Preddy Creek trails have successfully demonstrated that multi user trails can be successful and meet all needs and be open to the public, there is no reason that Ragged Mountain trails (maintained predominantly by the biking community) shouldn’t have access as well. I use Preddy Creek as an example but NOT as an alternative because for many it is too far to travel. The key for Ragged is that is is accessible to city dwellers who have limited access to vehicles. Please listen to the biker community who, back in 2014, devised a plan which allowed for hiker only trails, within the network of trails around Ragged, so allowing for all trail users to feel comfortable utilizing the area.
As a 20 year resident of the Charlottesville-City, our trail system has been one of the reasons I have stayed here and invested much of my time helping others be able to enjoy them. Sadly, the current code divides the vibrant trail community that resides here. It is clear through all that have spoken that we all in truly do have the same goal of enjoying time in the stunning nature that is at Ragged. The County has listed one of its strategic goals is to “encourage a vibrant community with economic and recreational opportunities that serve all community members”. This helps the physical/mental health of everyone. Changing the code to allow access for all users, hikers, runners and biking falls in line with this and does not cause a threat to the water supply or the ecology there, as it can happen using the trails that already exist there. I ask the Board of Supervisors to support changing the code to reflect the current times, research and desires of the community as a whole.
I grew up in this county, I went to it's public schools, have used all of its trails, swam in its rivers, creeks, ponds and lakes. I urge all of you to change the ordinance concerning the ragged mountain trail system to allow use for bikers, and trail runners. If there is anything the pandemic has taught us it's that we all need our outdoor spaces and this trail system is one of the most accessible and beautiful areas that we have. Please vote to change this ordinance, as a lifelong resident I truly believe albemarle county residents deserve to be able to recreate in this space under there own power how they choose, whether that be hiking, biking, running, boating, or just enjoying the breeze over the reservoir.
As a long term - 36 year - resident of Albemarle County, I strongly oppose use of Ragged Mountain Natural Area for bicycle trails. We have 15 parks in Albemarle County, all but two of them allow bicycle usage. Access to 30 miles of biking trails is within 5 miles of RMNA and most of these trails are closer to the City. A new park, Biscuit Run, is under construction with 4 miles of bike trails and a mountain bikers challenge course. How many bike trails does this group need to satisfy their need and displace those who just want a quiet place to hike and enjoy nature.. There are many trails for biker use. How many do they need?
RMNA was opened in 1999 for public use and to protect our water supply from sediment contamination. It was intended to be a natural area preserve with trails for quiet hiking, bird watching and fishing. Let us keep it Natural!! No bikes please. Honor those who come before you and keep the promises made.
I am a mountain biker that takes my kids out on the trails and have been a county resident going on three years now. It gives them a chance to get out in nature and burn off some of that energy. I use the trails at Ragged because of the convenience and all the different levels of difficulty that the loop offers. The CAMBC has put many countless hours in to helping maintain and develop new trails around the reservoir. Please reconsider your ordinances to allow running and mountain biking around Ragged Mountain Reservoir.
I am a mom of two, trail runner, wife of a mountain biker and Alb Cnty native. My family and I are very active trail users and absolutely love having such incredible access to trails so close to home. I recently trained for and completed a 50k trail running race where most of my training runs I squeezed in while my kids were at preschool for a few hours. I couldn't have accomplished what I did without Ragged, the volunteers tirelessly building new trails, and the supportive community of trail users. I was saddened on my very last run before my race to see the signs that running was not permitted in Ragged and I had to go elsewhere. Ive never had a problem being a runner on the trails with other users, including mountain bikers. Ragged benefits the health and lives of so many trail users, who are in the woods to get exercise, be amongst nature, and share the trail with family & friends. Its a special place that should be shared. Please reconsider and allow runners and bikers at Ragged.
Ragged Mountain - Please consider amending the ordinance that only allows walking on all the Ragged mountain trails. We (the Cville Mountain Biking Club, The Cville area trail runners club) all want and need these trails to be designated as multi use trails (hiking, biking and running) because they are so beautiful to be on and such a joy no matter how you are accessing them! Close to town, yes, a real positive outdoor activity, yes, entry level running and biking, yes. Our community needs this lovely space, please make this happen for us.
Mountain biking has provided a wonderful outlet for our children and their friends to take ‘acceptable risks’ in a healthy, outdoor environment. I have mentored not only my own children but other middle and high school children who learned the physical skills and acquired the fitness required for this wonderful sport which kept them from exploring less healthy activities. Now these young adults continue to build on their love of the outdoors and love of physical fitness in far flung areas throughout the US. There are only 2 beginner mountain bike trails in our area with enough terrain for young children and older adults to acquire these skills and Ragged mountain is the one closest to the largest population center. Eliminating this area significantly degrades the appeal of Charlottesville as a location for outdoor enthusiasts. Charlottesville lags behind other communities in its development of mountain bike/multiuse trails. Attract our children back! Keep our seniors here.
I fully support the use of these trails for walking, hiking, running, and mountain biking. As a community we should be encouraging anything we can to keep people outdoors and physically active. Runners and bikers need "off road" places to run and ride, away from cars, and off pavement. These groups (walkers, runners, bikers) can easily share this trail system.
-Robert H. Thiele
As long term resident of Charlottesville, I have previously enjoyed running and mountain biking at Ragged after work. The trails are easily accessible from town which is very convenient after long shifts at UVA hospital. Having safe, well maintained trails close to home is so important for the physical and mental health of EVERYONE in our community. I urge the County BOS to update the current code to allow for activities such as running, hiking and mountain biking.
Please Albemarle county work on providing safe bike lanes before taking away the safest trail in the county. I have been flicked off and told to stay off the road when commuting to work, even though I was on the very edge. The roads are not safe and nor are Biscuit Run, RTC, and OHill to be alone, especially as a female. I recently returned from Boulder where they had trails that didn't allow biking on Wednesdays and Saturdays. I think this would be a nice compromise. Please consider working with all of us in the community to make Ragged Mountain a happy place for all of those who love it.
I am a young girl who lives in Crozet, and I love to mountain bike. It is my whole world and I couldn’t imagine a life without it. Ragged Mountain is an amazing outdoor area for all people, no matter your sport, to have fun. Ragged Mountain was a great place to improve my riding and not only do I want to experience more of it, I want other young riders to experience the immense fun to be had at Ragged Mountain! Please allow riders back onto the Ragged trails. They mean a ton to the outdoor community!
-Tenley Kramer
I ask that the Board please allow full access to the Reservoir, to include hiking, mountain biking, running, and animal watching. It is not a huge inconvenience to the community to ask that all users respectfully share access. Thank you.
Geoff Keenan, Age 53. I support running, biking and hiking and animal watching activities in Ragged Mountain Resevoir. This area is a close in area with wide accessibility to city and county residents. I would like the board to know that myself and many others who are now being denied access to the property for biking were the ones that provided the tools, planning, and boots on the ground labor for the development of the trails within this property. It is not fair that many of us who were this involved are being denied access for our desired uses. It is sad that one of the main reasons for the county's current position is due to a NIMBY (not in my back yard) attitude of surrounding landowners.
I would really love to see biking and running return to Ragged Mountain. One of the things that drew me back to the area after college was the great trail access for being able to run with my dogs, and mountain bike after work. However if these restrictions stay in place, Charlottesville will become a less appealing place for active individuals to live and will deter people from moving to the area. Charlottesville prides itself on promoting healthy, active lifestyles and encouraging folks to get involved with their community. The amount of people that will no longer go to Ragged Mountain under the current restrictions is huge, and sadly, those are people that are no longer going to encourage their friends and neighbors to get out on the trails with them. I do hope you will strongly reconsider this and return to allowing Charlottesville's hikers, runners, and bikers to all enjoy this treasure that we love, together! -Malorie Kemmerer
Bikes and runners should be permitted at Ragged Mountain. There appears to be no evidence of environmental harm from either bikes or runners. In fact, CAMBC has shown itself to be committed to building and maintaining environmentally sustainable trails. I am not a biker. I run on the local trails all the time, however, and come across bikers frequently. They are respectful and yield to all other users.
Hello, as a passionate trail advocate, I’d very much like to see a solution for all trail users to be able to utilize the ragged mountain area.
I encourage the Board to amend County Code Section 11-303 in a manner that would allow mountain biking, dog walking, and other appropriate recreational uses at Ragged Mountain.
I'm an environmental lawyer and I appreciate the importance of protecting water quality and balancing multiple uses of our public lands. I've spent years of my life fighting to protect streams, wetlands, and drinking water supplies from sediment pollution. The fact is that everyone knows mountain biking, trail running, and other similar recreational uses don’t harm water quality. The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority charged with managing Ragged Mountain predicted in December 2016 that there would be no adverse water quality impacts from recreational uses at the reservoir—and reiterated that view just two months ago with the benefit of years of experience testing its prediction. That alone could resolve any questions about water quality impacts.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Spencer Gall
I would like to voice my support for opening the trails back up to running and biking. As you can see from all of the comments, the trails are highly valued by both the biking and running communities, and CAMBC has been essential for keeping the trails well-maintained. As a runner and hiker who often frequents the reservoir, I have never once had an issue with a biker--when my young children are on the trail with me, bikers have always been exceptionally careful and respectful. And if the trails are going to continue to exist, I don't see how allowing different uses of them adds much (if any) to the ecological burden. I sincerely hope you will consider opening back up this wonderful resource to the entirety of our outdoor community!
Another avid hiker and biker here and division is not the answer. We should be able to amicably work together for us ALL to enjoy the Ragged Mountain beauty, that has only become more beautious since bikers were allowed (Resident of 20+ years, and I remember how it USE to look). Please reconsider, thank you
Access to the Ragged Mountain trails for ALL users is hugely important. It is a system of trails that connects the city to nature for so many. Mountain bikers and trail runners alike use these trails for fitness and wellbeing in the same manner as hikers and picnickers. Preddy Creek trails have successfully demonstrated that multi user trails can be successful and meet all needs and be open to the public, there is no reason that Ragged Mountain trails (maintained predominantly by the biking community) shouldn’t have access as well. I use Preddy Creek as an example but NOT as an alternative because for many it is too far to travel. The key for Ragged is that is is accessible to city dwellers who have limited access to vehicles. Please listen to the biker community who, back in 2014, devised a plan which allowed for hiker only trails, within the network of trails around Ragged, so allowing for all trail users to feel comfortable utilizing the area.
As a 20 year resident of the Charlottesville-City, our trail system has been one of the reasons I have stayed here and invested much of my time helping others be able to enjoy them. Sadly, the current code divides the vibrant trail community that resides here. It is clear through all that have spoken that we all in truly do have the same goal of enjoying time in the stunning nature that is at Ragged. The County has listed one of its strategic goals is to “encourage a vibrant community with economic and recreational opportunities that serve all community members”. This helps the physical/mental health of everyone. Changing the code to allow access for all users, hikers, runners and biking falls in line with this and does not cause a threat to the water supply or the ecology there, as it can happen using the trails that already exist there. I ask the Board of Supervisors to support changing the code to reflect the current times, research and desires of the community as a whole.
I grew up in this county, I went to it's public schools, have used all of its trails, swam in its rivers, creeks, ponds and lakes. I urge all of you to change the ordinance concerning the ragged mountain trail system to allow use for bikers, and trail runners. If there is anything the pandemic has taught us it's that we all need our outdoor spaces and this trail system is one of the most accessible and beautiful areas that we have. Please vote to change this ordinance, as a lifelong resident I truly believe albemarle county residents deserve to be able to recreate in this space under there own power how they choose, whether that be hiking, biking, running, boating, or just enjoying the breeze over the reservoir.
As a long term - 36 year - resident of Albemarle County, I strongly oppose use of Ragged Mountain Natural Area for bicycle trails. We have 15 parks in Albemarle County, all but two of them allow bicycle usage. Access to 30 miles of biking trails is within 5 miles of RMNA and most of these trails are closer to the City. A new park, Biscuit Run, is under construction with 4 miles of bike trails and a mountain bikers challenge course. How many bike trails does this group need to satisfy their need and displace those who just want a quiet place to hike and enjoy nature.. There are many trails for biker use. How many do they need?
RMNA was opened in 1999 for public use and to protect our water supply from sediment contamination. It was intended to be a natural area preserve with trails for quiet hiking, bird watching and fishing. Let us keep it Natural!! No bikes please. Honor those who come before you and keep the promises made.
I am a mountain biker that takes my kids out on the trails and have been a county resident going on three years now. It gives them a chance to get out in nature and burn off some of that energy. I use the trails at Ragged because of the convenience and all the different levels of difficulty that the loop offers. The CAMBC has put many countless hours in to helping maintain and develop new trails around the reservoir. Please reconsider your ordinances to allow running and mountain biking around Ragged Mountain Reservoir.
I am a mom of two, trail runner, wife of a mountain biker and Alb Cnty native. My family and I are very active trail users and absolutely love having such incredible access to trails so close to home. I recently trained for and completed a 50k trail running race where most of my training runs I squeezed in while my kids were at preschool for a few hours. I couldn't have accomplished what I did without Ragged, the volunteers tirelessly building new trails, and the supportive community of trail users. I was saddened on my very last run before my race to see the signs that running was not permitted in Ragged and I had to go elsewhere. Ive never had a problem being a runner on the trails with other users, including mountain bikers. Ragged benefits the health and lives of so many trail users, who are in the woods to get exercise, be amongst nature, and share the trail with family & friends. Its a special place that should be shared. Please reconsider and allow runners and bikers at Ragged.
Ragged Mountain - Please consider amending the ordinance that only allows walking on all the Ragged mountain trails. We (the Cville Mountain Biking Club, The Cville area trail runners club) all want and need these trails to be designated as multi use trails (hiking, biking and running) because they are so beautiful to be on and such a joy no matter how you are accessing them! Close to town, yes, a real positive outdoor activity, yes, entry level running and biking, yes. Our community needs this lovely space, please make this happen for us.
Mountain biking has provided a wonderful outlet for our children and their friends to take ‘acceptable risks’ in a healthy, outdoor environment. I have mentored not only my own children but other middle and high school children who learned the physical skills and acquired the fitness required for this wonderful sport which kept them from exploring less healthy activities. Now these young adults continue to build on their love of the outdoors and love of physical fitness in far flung areas throughout the US. There are only 2 beginner mountain bike trails in our area with enough terrain for young children and older adults to acquire these skills and Ragged mountain is the one closest to the largest population center. Eliminating this area significantly degrades the appeal of Charlottesville as a location for outdoor enthusiasts. Charlottesville lags behind other communities in its development of mountain bike/multiuse trails. Attract our children back! Keep our seniors here.
I fully support the use of these trails for walking, hiking, running, and mountain biking. As a community we should be encouraging anything we can to keep people outdoors and physically active. Runners and bikers need "off road" places to run and ride, away from cars, and off pavement. These groups (walkers, runners, bikers) can easily share this trail system.
-Robert H. Thiele
As long term resident of Charlottesville, I have previously enjoyed running and mountain biking at Ragged after work. The trails are easily accessible from town which is very convenient after long shifts at UVA hospital. Having safe, well maintained trails close to home is so important for the physical and mental health of EVERYONE in our community. I urge the County BOS to update the current code to allow for activities such as running, hiking and mountain biking.
Please Albemarle county work on providing safe bike lanes before taking away the safest trail in the county. I have been flicked off and told to stay off the road when commuting to work, even though I was on the very edge. The roads are not safe and nor are Biscuit Run, RTC, and OHill to be alone, especially as a female. I recently returned from Boulder where they had trails that didn't allow biking on Wednesdays and Saturdays. I think this would be a nice compromise. Please consider working with all of us in the community to make Ragged Mountain a happy place for all of those who love it.
I am a young girl who lives in Crozet, and I love to mountain bike. It is my whole world and I couldn’t imagine a life without it. Ragged Mountain is an amazing outdoor area for all people, no matter your sport, to have fun. Ragged Mountain was a great place to improve my riding and not only do I want to experience more of it, I want other young riders to experience the immense fun to be had at Ragged Mountain! Please allow riders back onto the Ragged trails. They mean a ton to the outdoor community!
-Tenley Kramer
I ask that the Board please allow full access to the Reservoir, to include hiking, mountain biking, running, and animal watching. It is not a huge inconvenience to the community to ask that all users respectfully share access. Thank you.
Jason E. Weiseman, 52,
Albemarle County resident
Geoff Keenan, Age 53. I support running, biking and hiking and animal watching activities in Ragged Mountain Resevoir. This area is a close in area with wide accessibility to city and county residents. I would like the board to know that myself and many others who are now being denied access to the property for biking were the ones that provided the tools, planning, and boots on the ground labor for the development of the trails within this property. It is not fair that many of us who were this involved are being denied access for our desired uses. It is sad that one of the main reasons for the county's current position is due to a NIMBY (not in my back yard) attitude of surrounding landowners.
I would really love to see biking and running return to Ragged Mountain. One of the things that drew me back to the area after college was the great trail access for being able to run with my dogs, and mountain bike after work. However if these restrictions stay in place, Charlottesville will become a less appealing place for active individuals to live and will deter people from moving to the area. Charlottesville prides itself on promoting healthy, active lifestyles and encouraging folks to get involved with their community. The amount of people that will no longer go to Ragged Mountain under the current restrictions is huge, and sadly, those are people that are no longer going to encourage their friends and neighbors to get out on the trails with them. I do hope you will strongly reconsider this and return to allowing Charlottesville's hikers, runners, and bikers to all enjoy this treasure that we love, together! -Malorie Kemmerer